How to find out if your idea is not already there and find someone who can help you to make a prototype and fund it

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How to find out if your idea is not already there, and find someone who can help you to make a prototype and fund it.

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Would love to have these answered!

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Hi @angelfun2002 and @conilnj - welcome to the community! Great to have you both here :slight_smile:

Your question is a smart one, and something every inventor should think about early on. Here’s a simple 3-step path to help you get started:

1. Check if your idea already exists

You want to know if your invention is new (or different enough). Try these tools:

:light_bulb: Tip: Don’t be discouraged if similar products exist. Focus on how yours improves on them.

2. Find help with prototyping

Once you’re confident your idea has potential, it’s time to bring it to life.

  • :pencil: TinkerCAD (https://www.tinkercad.com/) — A free, beginner-friendly tool for simple 3D designs
  • :wrench: Fiverr or Upwork — Hire freelance engineers or designers for CAD drawings or 3D modeling
  • :toolbox: Brian Fried – Invention Help: Invention Help - Brian Fried — Get guidance from an experienced inventor and product developer
  • :school: Local Makerspaces — Find a nearby makerspace where you can build prototypes or get help (search on https://makexyz.com or https://www.nationofmakers.us)
  • :handshake: Post here in the forum! Lots of fellow inventors have gone through the same journey and may have contacts or advice.

3. Funding your invention

Funding can come from many places, here are a few starting points:

  • :money_with_wings: Kickstarter (https://kickstarter.com) or Indiegogo (https://indiegogo.com) — Crowdfunding platforms for early-stage ideas
  • :books: SBDC (Small Business Development Center) — Offers free help with business planning and can connect you to funding resources (https://americassbdc.org/find-your-sbdc/)
  • :loudspeaker: Pitch Competitions — Local incubators, universities, and business groups often host events where you can win funding or support
  • :light_bulb: Inventor Smart Community App — This very platform! We often post about funding resources, events, and opportunities you can tap into.

If you’re not sure which step to take next, feel free to share more (just be cautious about sharing too much in public before protecting your idea). We’re here to help!

Keep going!

— Andy

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Thanks Andy… Sorry for the late reply. Is this information also on the phone app that you mentioned? What is the name of the app.

Is there any free money to help you out?

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You’re very welcome, and yes! The Inventor Smart Community App is exactly where you can find a lot of this helpful info, plus connect with others who are navigating the same journey. You can access it on your phone or computer at app.inventorsmart.com :mobile_phone_with_arrow:

As for your question about free money:
There are grants and pitch competitions out there, but they can be competitive and usually require a clear plan or working prototype. Crowdfunding is also a popular route to raise early funds, platforms like Kickstarter or Indiegogo can help you get both money and market feedback.

If you’re just starting out, you might want to:

  • Connect with a local Small Business Development Center (SBDC) or SCORE chapter, they offer free mentoring and funding advice.
  • Post in the Build Help or Launch & Promotion categories in this forum to get targeted advice.

Let me know what stage you’re at, I’d be happy to help point you to more specific resources!

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When I was going through this process, I heard countless amount of times how I was going to fail if I “didnt buy this product or service” for $40-$60k. I brought my product to the market for $8k. That was website, prototype, patent, 3d/4D designs, video models, packaging and marketing. So PLEASE do not fall for the inventors dream packages that most of these “invent help” type offer. I’m more than willing to help in any form possible.