ThinkMedTek

That magical idea pops in your head and you feel the sudden wave of excitement as you think about how this idea, this invention could help the lives of so many people. But how do you take that idea and make it a reality?

Here are 5 tips to take your invention from idea to reality

Document Your Idea

A big way to kick off your idea is to begin by documenting it. A great way to document your idea is to use an inventor’s journal. In this journal document everything you can think of. Record your thoughts, ideas, and conversations. Write down what your invention is, how it works, and how you want it made.(1) This will help you bring clarity to your idea. In addition to describing your invention and keeping notes you will also want to sketch some concepts. These sketches don’t have to be perfect (my sketches usually look like they were done by a child), they are there to serve as a way to communicate your idea.

Do your research

Do some research. Do some more research. Then after that do even more research. This is perhaps the most important step in getting your idea off the ground. You will want to research everything about your idea. First you will want to do a preliminary market and patent search to see if your idea has already been patented.. Some additional research you will want to do ise market research to see if your idea is sellable and whether it is worth pursuing the invention.(2) Also, research technology and other products that are similar to yours. This will give you a baseline of what your product could do and what the market looks like

Build a prototype

This is my favorite step. There are several ways you can mock up a prototype of your invention. Each one has its benefits and different costs. Perhaps the least expensive way to begin is to make it out of cardboard and scraps around the house. This version of a prototype will give you a baseline for what the prototype will look like and how it will function. Another great way to make a prototype is to create a 3D model. Whether you have 3D modeling skills yourself or you hire it out this will allow you to see the part more realistically without spending lots of money to have parts made. Then you can easily make changes with the 3D model and you can see accurate measurements and details to the part. Finally you will want to make a prototype that is near to what you plan to sell. You can have this made at home if you have the know-how and tools or you can hire it out to a job shop that specializes in one off parts.

Get a patent

In order to protect your idea from others profiting from it you will want to get a patent. The best way to get a patent is to get with a patent attorney. They will be able to provide the advice you need and help you to file your patent. When filing your patent claim you can start with a provisional patent. This will allow you to file for patent protection without an official patent for up to 12 months. This is a good option if you are short on capital or if you want to get your patent idea out there before investing too much money.(1)

Decide how you want to go forward

After you have a prototype, done your research, and have your patent you will need to make the choice to either license your idea or build a business around it. If you are wanting to have more passive income, licensing is the better route. This allows you to collect money off the idea without having to hassle with building a business. If however you have an entrepreneurial streak to you and decide to build a business you can turn your idea into a business. Building a business means you can profit more from the idea, but it also means you have more risk and a lot more work. To start a business you will want to build a business plan, market your invention, figure out how to manufacture it, and figure out how to get investments. Building is a fun and exciting venture but also can be exhausting and difficult.

Bringing your invention to life is an exciting and difficult endeavor. These 5 steps will help you get started. I wish you luck on your journey.

Sources

1. Pierce, Sarah. “5 Steps for Turning Your Invention Idea into a Product.” Entrepreneur, Entrepreneur, 16 Jan. 2020, https://www.entrepreneur.com/starting-a-business/5-steps-for-turning-your-invention-idea-into-a-product/299456. 
2. “9 Key Steps to Bring Your Invention to Life.” Sourcify, 20 Apr. 2020, https://www.sourcify.com/bring-your-invention-to-life/.