Welcome to Virginia Inventors Forum
We are an organization of entrepreneurs, inventors, imagineers, educators and those who help inventors. VIF is a non-profit support group connecting inventors to resources that can guide and inspire the invention process, thereby creating successful commercial ventures. We are a member of the United Inventors Association, a national organization that connects many inventor support groups across America. We invite you to join us.
Objectives:
One. To offer a forum for inventors to meet, to learn, to present prototypes, to share challenges and successes, to provide support and inspiration, to ask and answer questions, and to give-and-take advice.
Two. To continually seek to establish and strengthen relationships in order to build networks which connect inventors to each other and to resources necessary to advance their ideas. Including: service providers, potential licensees, manufacturers, investors, advisors, customers, suppliers, distributors, and new technologies.
Three. To provide educational opportunities on the concept to market process. This includes hosting presentations, panel discussions and open forums on critical topics. Establishing and maintaining a web presence, and a resource library of handout information.
Four. To serve in an advisory capacity to public and private sector institutions and community associations.
What: National Innovation Marketplace (NIM) Workshop
When: August 8, 2009 (8:30 AM - 5:00 PM)
Where: Christopher Newport University, Suntrust Building, 4th Floor
Fee: $35
Participate in this informative workshop to receive a $2,000 grant to upload your protected invention to the National Innovation Marketplace (NIM). The National Innovation Marketplace is where Inventors and Companies speak the same language. Your invention will be placed in front of thousands of companies looking for an idea just like yours. This is an incredible opportunity to take your invention to the next level!
We strongly recommend attending one of our pre-workshop on July 15, 2009 or July 22, 2009 to learn about the importance of protecting your invention before uploading to NIM.
Check out www.planeteureka.com/marketplace for more information.
What: Design-Around Discussion
When: August 12, 2009
Where: 7770 Croaker Road, James City County Library, Williamsburg, VA
Fee: $5 member / $10 public
Design-Around Discussion: Strategic Advantage for Your Business, and Beware of Your Competetors. Come participate in a roundtable discussion with software and mechanical engineers on how to design around your competitor's product. Our panel includes Alison and Rob Heittman of Solertium, Richard Lee (PE), Bruce Ferris (Engineer), and intellectual property legal professionals. Louis Foreman, Executive Producer of the PBS Show "Everday Edison" and CEO of EdisonNation.com, will also be a guest speaker.
Learn more here: http://www.meetup.com/virginiainventors/calendar/10844837/
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
*The USPTO has a Web site specifically designed to address the needs of small
businesses, and informational materials informing small businesses about intellectual property protection and steps they can take to mitigate it. Materials and other information about the awareness campaign are available at www.stopfakes.gov/smallbusiness.
*Call for Patent Submissions: Ocean Tomo is now accepting patent submissions for their upcoming auctions. This proven IP marketplace offers an extensive qualified buyer network with experience selling IP assets across various industries and technology areas. Live IP Auctions have realized approximately $112M in transactions. Click here to submit IP online, or call (312) 377-4851 or e-mail auctions@oceantomo.com
Upcoming Live IP Auction Events:
- Fall November 3-4, Paris
*New (and Free) Online Resource for Inventors
The Academy for Entrepreneurs just launched. It is a free membership site that enables you to access leading experts in patenting, retail sales, marketing, and more. Founded by Jim DeBetta, a UIA Patron and product development expert, the Academy aims to empower you to develop and sell products to major retailers. From exclusive teleseminars to powerful sales and marketing techniques, Jim and other experts teach how to build consumer products business. See www.jimdebetta.com
Attention all Inventors, Entrepreneurs and Small Business Owners...
ABC and Mark Burnett Productions, producers of the TV show "Shark Tank," are looking for "...Inventors, Entrepreneurs, and Small Business Owners. This groundbreaking series will give these people the opportunity of a lifetime...to pitch their ideas to multimillionaires just waiting to invest!" Click here for more information.
Calling Women Inventors...
Milojo Productions (brainchild of Kelly Ripa and Mark Consuelos) is now casting women with fabulous ideas and great personalities from across America for a new series. The show, set to air on TLC, takes a selected female inventor through the journey of realizing their dream. It's an opportunity to get your product developed, manufactured, marketed, and finally sold on The Home Shopping Network.
http://www.gotcast.com/casting-calls/Female-Inventors/54140
The show's casting directors will be accepting submissions through GotCast until the last week of June.