This thread is your place to introduce yourself to the community. Whether you’re a new inventor, a seasoned entrepreneur, or just curious — we want to know who’s in the room.
Feel free to share:
What you’re working on or inventing
What brings you here (and what you’re hoping to find!)
Any past inventions, successes, or lessons learned
Something fun or random about you (optional but always welcome!)
No pressure to write a novel — a few lines is great.
We’re building something special here, and you’re a part of it. Let’s support each other, spark ideas, and grow together.
Hello, I’m Derek Thompson and may have some of you last night. I invented the Sputter, which attaches to any extension pole. The Sputter is a ladder less gutter unclogging tool you use safely from the ground. Annually, there are over 500,000 emergency room visits due to ladder falls, and over 300 deaths.
Hey @dthomp007, great to see you here and thanks for introducing yourself!
It was awesome learning about the Sputter, such a smart solution to a very real (and dangerous) problem. The stats you shared are shocking and really highlight how important innovations like yours are. I actually just cleaned my gutters yesterday (before rainy season hits in Florida) and climbing that ladder is always a bit of a risk, no doubt!
Out of curiosity, are you currently selling the Sputter online or in stores? Would love to hear more about how you’re getting it out there and what kind of feedback you’ve been getting so far.
Hi @Anthony, welcome to the Inventor Smart Forum! Thanks for dropping-in and saying hello.
I’d love to hear more about the projects you’re working on. I always find it inspiring to learn what others are creating and thinking about, maybe other members feel the same.
It’s great to hear you’ve made valuable connections here. That’s truly one of the core purposes of the Inventor Smart Community: to make the inventor’s journey less lonely by connecting members at every stage. Thanks for sharing your experience!
And yes, @BrianFried is incredibly generous with his expertise, we’re lucky to have him.
Hello everyone! Jim O’Brien here rom Tampa Florida. I am a former NJ CPA turned software inventor. My first US patent 8799022 creates financial data differently by replacing everyone’s identities and payment information with a once used token permanently protecting our user’s financial information as they communicate, do business and store their data with our marketplace and communication platforms. The communication platform is in testing and when done we will start on the marketplace. The second US patent 12069050 reciprocal authentication proves who everyone or every IOT device is to each other prior to allowing access making secure remote access and maintaining secure remote control possible. Automatically generating identical AES 256 symmetric encryption keys between our user’s and our network allows them to securely communicate without needing the asymmetric encryption that quantum computers will destroy. When we finish our communication and marketplace platforms we will be looking to open up our secure capabilities to third party software developers that want to build secure versions of the internets most popular software offerrings.
Welcome to the community! Really great to have you here. Your inventions sound incredibly smart and timely — the kind of innovation that can really make a difference. Wishing you all the best as you move through testing and beyond. Definitely keep us posted on your progress, and if you ever want to bounce ideas around or need support, you’ve got a whole community rooting for you.
My name is Ben. I work in the medical field and have ideas about how to modify or invent a new product to help in my line of work. Unsure of my abilities to move forward making it happen on my own or pitching those ideas to medical manufacturing companies and totally giving up my idea to a third party . How do i even pitch it without ensuring that the idea wont get stolen?
It’s great to hear that you’re thinking about ways to improve things in the medical field. A lot of the most successful inventions come from people like you, those working on the front lines who see the real problems that need solving!
You brought up some really common (and smart) questions, that I think many of us have. Here’s a clear path you can take to start moving forward while protecting your ideas:
1. Keep good records.
Write everything down—your idea, sketches, notes, progress—just make sure it’s dated and saved. That way, you have a clear timeline of your work.
2. Look into a provisional patent.
This gives you 12 months of “patent pending” status and a layer of protection while you explore next steps. It’s one of the more affordable ways to protect your idea early on.
Here’s where you can file it directly with the USPTO: Provisional Application for Patent | USPTO
3. Use an NDA when sharing your idea.
Before talking to companies or anyone outside your circle, have them sign a Non-Disclosure Agreement. It’s a simple way to show your idea is protected and that you take it seriously.
Here’s a free NDA template from @BrianFried that you can use: download-nda - Brian Fried
4. Decide what path feels right.
You can:
– Pitch your idea to companies and try to license it
– Sell it outright
– Or build and launch it yourself
There’s no one-size-fits-all answer, but starting with licensing is a popular path because it’s lower risk and doesn’t require as much money upfront.
5. Ask questions and get feedback.
This community is full of people who’ve been right where you are. Don’t hesitate to share more details (as much as you’re comfortable with), and we’ll do our best to support you.
You’ve already on the right track just by showing up and asking questions—that’s huge. We’re excited to see where your idea goes from here.
I’m Kara Mac and I invented the world’s first instantly customizable women’s shoes from heel to toe. A single pair of our shoes, boots and sandals can become multiple looks by swapping out the heel covers, sandal straps and toe clips.
I’d love to connect with other product people, especially if in the conscious fashion arena, for possible collabs. Feel free to reach out. Kara@KaraMac.com and @KaraMacShoes on social.
Welcome, @KaraMac! So glad to see you here — your customizable shoes sound amazing and right on point with innovation and sustainability.
Love that you’re open to collaborations! This community is full of passionate product people, and I’m sure you’ll make some great connections.
By the way, have you seen this yet? We’re hosting a live virtual showcase called Inventors Got Talent where members get 4 minutes to present their invention to a live audience — would love to see you share your product there if you’re interested!
What you’re working on or inventing
What brings you here (and what you’re hoping to find!)
Any past inventions, successes, or lessons learned
Something fun or random about you (optional but always welcome!)
Looking forward to meeting you!
We’re really glad you’re here.
