Inventorship Workshop

Designed for creative individuals, entrepreneurs, inventors and startups, this workshop series covers the essential steps that separate successful ventures from those that fail… what no one teaches in school or on the job. Upon completing these four sessions, you will have a foundation and tools to validate the commercial merits and competitive advantage of your concept, and to make informed decisions before investing time and money.

Workshop series process

Each session addresses two steps of an eight step process to help you validate the merits of your project. Each has a set of objectives, lessons, tips, case studies, and recommended homework. Vetted professionals in relevant product development areas such as patent searching, engineering, market research, marketing, and the like will be invited to share their experience, wisdom, and to answer your questions. Some will participate in person, some by SKYPE, and others will provide topical video segments. A summary guidebook of materials covered will be provided to each participant who completes the series.

Session one

Tuesday, October 4, 6:30 pm - 9:00 pm

 In this class, you will learn:

  1. Analyze and commit resources:
    1. Identify personal, professional, and financial assets required for your project
    2. Locate, screen, and interview potential development service providers
    3. Establish relationships that work with co-inventors, partners, and others
  2. Define the project:
    1. Organize your project by goals, milestones, and priority action steps
    2. Define, articulate, and communicate your concept to service provider, prospects, investors
    3. Protect the idea’s confidentiality during early development and create effective sell sheets 

Session two

Tuesday, October 11, 6:30pm - 9pm  

In this class you will learn:

  1. Choosing business models:
    1. Evaluate viable paths to the marketplace and the barriers to entry for each 
    2. Assess the risk and profit potential of each path
    3. Identify the key concerns of companies and investors when considering new products
  2. Positioning the product:
    1. Explore various applications and markets where your concept can thrive 
    2. Identify who to avoid, who to engage, how to prepare, and what to expect
    3. Protect your concept from scams and the unscrupulous

Session three

Tuesday, October 18, 6:30 pm - 9pm   

In this class you will learn:

  1. Searching for prior art:
    1. Shop the marketplace for competitive products
    2. Search the world of patents using online resources and perform a preliminary patent search
    3. Locate affordable patent search professionals and how to prepare
  2. Researching the marketplace:
    1. Investigate an industry’s vast trade resources and accessible databases
    2.  Seek out potential marketing partners and opportunities to collaborate
    3.  Review the steps required before approaching prospects and sharing your idea

Session four

Tuesday, October 25, 6:30 pm - 9pm

In this class you will learn:

  1. Testing the concept:
    1. Approach target consumers for product acceptance during development
    2. Create effective surveys at an early concept stage
    3. Determine next steps in light of testing results
  2. Proving your theory:
    1. Document product details and determine what is required to prove your theory
    2. Identify professionals and companies as potential resources for development
    3. Generate functional proofs needed for demonstration purposes 
Elizabeth Pierotti

Elizabeth Pierotti is an inventor, strategic product developer, educator, author, and public speaker. As a multiple patent holder, she has designed and developed product innovations that have collectively generated more than $100 million in sales for Fortune 500 companies and small businesses. Having “been there and done that” for more than 30 years, she has given workshops and presentations to thousands, and mentored hundreds of creative individuals and start-ups on what it takes to transform ideas into commercially viable products. Through her company, The Inventing Life, Elizabeth helps serious innovators strategize their path to the marketplace, do their due diligence and evaluate their prospects before prematurely investing in patents, prototypes, and other costly product development services.