InventHelp Sales Representative - Alonzo Rivera

Invention Help at the INPEX® Inventors University™

Pursuing an invention or new product idea can be a daunting task. Marketing, licensing, off-shore manufacturing, intellectual property law – these are just a few of the many subjects that inventors may find themselves struggling to understand. So where is a good place to start learning? If you would like to expand your knowledge in a wide range of inventing-related topics, the INPEX Inventors University may be able to help.

Read more articles from the April 2005 issue of InventHelp's free newsletter for inventors

Each year, InventHelp® produces the INPEX Inventors University at the Invention & New Product Exposition (INPEX). INPEX is America's largest invention trade show, providing a forum for creative individuals to exhibit their inventions, share their ideas and attempt to make contacts with companies interested in new products.

Free to InventHelp clients and complimentary with an INPEX booth purchase, the "university" offers learning opportunities designed to meet the needs of inventors and entrepreneurs. Now in its fifth year, the INPEX Inventors University has grown into a program of seminars, presentations and panel discussions that provide information inventors may find useful in pursuing their ideas. The "curriculum" consists of approximately 20 classes, spread over four days; inventors can pick and choose the sessions they find most interesting.

Those attending the 2005 Invention Show (June 8-11 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania) will have the opportunity to learn about topics such as:

  • The hardships facing inventors
  • Starting a business and being an entrepreneur
  • Keeping motivated
  • Invention trade show display and exhibition
  • Funding and venture capital sources for new inventions
  • Publicity: what reporters look for in a story
  • Licensing an invention or new product idea
  • Television retailing and infomercials
  • Sales techniques
  • Contracts, copyrights and trademarks
  • Import and export issues
  • New product marketing

INPEX Inventors University speakers come from a wide variety of backgrounds and experience. Art Fry, inventor of the Post It® Note, gave the keynote address at last year's University. The 2005 edition will feature brothers Jeff and Rich Sloan as keynote speakers. As small business experts – as well as successful inventors, entrepreneurs and venture capitalists – the Sloans created StartupNation® in 2002 to serve as a comprehensive resource for starting and managing a company. StartupNation employs broadcast, online and print media to provide "in-the-trenches" advice for entrepreneurs and small business owners. The Sloans will wrap up this year's Inventors University with a live taping of their nationally syndicated radio show.

Numerous industry experts will join the Sloan brothers as speakers at the 2005 INPEX Inventors University. Here are a few examples of the presentations that will be available to this year's attendees:

NOTE: INPEX Inventors University speakers participate as industry experts but are not employed by InventHelp or its affiliates. The opinions expressed by the speakers are their own and do not necessarily represent the opinions of InventHelp, INPEX or its affiliate companies.

  • "Guerrilla Publicity: Practical Strategies to Get the Word Out About Your Invention" – Jill Lublin, Promising Promotion. Let's face it; everyone needs to know effective public relations tactics at some point. Jill Lublin, CEO of Promising Promotion, will demonstrate techniques on preparing powerful press releases, as well as outline the seven "must-knows" of guerilla campaign development.
  • "Prototyping Basics" – Thomas Krol, IMET Corporation. If your idea is ready to jump off the paper and you don't know where to turn next, this presentation is right up your alley. Learn the basics of prototyping from industry professional Thomas Krol.
  • "How to Find Industry People" – Don Debelak, Private Consultant and Entrepreneur Magazine Columnist. Are you running into walls trying to figure out how to contact people in industries related to your products? Don Debelak offers his 20-plus years of knowledge to help you chip away at those barriers between you and the individuals you want to know.
  • "How to Sell Your Product on TV...The Seven Tactics of DRTV Marketing" – Greg Sarnow, Direct Response Academy. Using one of his many pioneering educational methods, Greg Sarnow of the Direct Response Academy will offer insight into the world of TV product launching. Greg's hands-on training will attempt to help you navigate some of the pitfalls of DRTV marketing.
  • "Licensing Basics" – Mike Starkweather, Starkweather Associates. Does obtaining more information on some basics about licensing products to larger companies interest you? Be sure to catch up with Mike Starkweather, founder of Starkweather Associates. You will also learn about licensing pitfalls to avoid.

These descriptions represent only a portion of the 20-plus classes available at the INPEX® Inventors University™. For a complete schedule of this year's events, visit the Invention Show Web site.

In addition to the seminar program, the 2005 University will include a product review panel from the Electronic Retailing Association (ERA) – those "As Seen on TV" folks who place products on infomercials and home shopping segments. INPEX® exhibitors with appropriate inventions can make appointments to demonstrate their products to the panel and receive feedback about the television marketing potential of those ideas. Selected inventors will be invited to participate in the ERA New Product Showcase in Las Vegas.

INPEX® Inventors University™ runs concurrently with the Invention & New Product Exposition (INPEX®), America's largest invention trade show. Held annually in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, the four-day event showcases numerous inventions, new products and innovations available to business and industry. The 21st edition of the show will take place June 8-11, 2005. Four-day passes for non-InventHelp®/INPEX® clients are available for $395. Contact info@inpex.com for more information.

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