Forum Helps ‘Imagineers’ Bring Products To Market
Not every inventor will garner fame like Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Edison or Alexander Graham Bell. But today’s curious thinkers are keeping the tradition of these forefathers alive by creating what they believe are new and improved ways of making things work.
Today, inventors across the nation are trying to push their “creative” products out to the masses, from games and unique gardening equipment to accessories, low-tech consumer products and sophisticated high-tech innovations. Even large corporations are seeking independent inventors to help make their products taste better or operate more effectively.
But, unlike the Ben Franklin era, 21st century inventors often face hurdles in getting their ideas and products developed and accepted by regulators, patent offices, investors and consumers. Locally, inventors can overcome some of these challenges via the San Diego Inventors Forum. The networking group, which has about 250 members, brings together successful inventors and entrepreneurs with the focus of turning great ideas into products and taking them to market.
Inventors participating in the forum learn strategies for developing inventions into products on a limited budget; have opportunities to tap into existing marketing and distribution challenges; have access to professional consultants, product evaluation and hands-on support; and get expert input and help with issues related to prototyping, manufacturing and retail packaging.
“We give a lot of support to the creation of business and marketing plans for these startup inventions,” said Edward Balian, 59, president and co-founder of the San Diego Inventors Forum. “We help them figure out (if) they want to sell the product or do they want to license or franchise it? That changes what their path might be. Some of the inventors just want to sell a toy or product to Mattel, for example.
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Photo by sdinventors.org.













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