Invention City Information

Message to First Time Inventors

Throughout the invention process an inventor must push aside the no-men and doubters who clog every pathway. The adage 1% inspiration 99% perspiration is true. Rugged persistence is a necessary ingredient for success. Each proceeding step in the invention process requires geometrically greater investment in time and money. The inventor should listen attentively. Why does this person like this invention? Would she actually buy it. Would he actually use it? What price? What features? There is no room for emotion when analyzing a project's merits for the marketplace. If at any point the inventor concludes that the market will not support the invention then either a) the invention must be changed or b) the project should be stopped. Even when every signal is a bright green "go" the road is hard and uncertain. Don't be afraid. Be informed.

Invention City Licensing and Development Program

Invention City would like to hear about your new product invention idea and have the chance of offering you a royalty deal. If we say yes, you do not risk another penny and you will make money when we do. There is no obligation.

Here is the fine print in bold:

  • You pay $95 to make a submission.
  • Please understand that we say no more often than yes.
  • If we reject your invention, you get feedback that's worth a lot.
  • If we say yes, we offer either:



      1. Licensing Deal - Invention City licenses your invention and pays you a royalty with no further investment from you. Royalty percentage depends on many details including how developed the invention is, patent protection, risk, competition and investment requirements or;
      2. Representation Deal - Invention City presents your invention to other potential licensees and shares revenue with you (the rev-share split varies from deal to deal depending on the size of opportunity, investment required and risk). You may be asked to further refine your invention or make a prototype or apply for patent protection. I-City may advise you how to do this on your own and/or refer you to other companies who can do this work for you. I-City does not provide prototyping or patent services. This keeps our interests aligned with yours - the only reason for us to encourage you to go forward is if we think we can both make money together.
  • We're rated A+ with the BBB and will work hard to fulfill our promises.
  • Have a question about the process? Call Dan Fulford at 1-612-808-8081 or send him an email: at dan@inventioncity.com.
  • Sign our Confidentiality Agreement electronically and get started now.

    • Brutally Honest Review from Invention City on Vimeo.

    Learn how to file a patent and protect your ideas and inventions with Nolo's Inventors' Bundle.

    I-City recommended!

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    COMMENTS

    I developed a new medical technologies

    I developed a new medical technologies. Always wanted to link research institutions to do the test, but could not find. I now open the product's production method. Would like to draw more attention. This product is a revolutionary technology. Expected to overcome cancer

    by: pingguo002

    iT'S LIKE "INK TO A PEN" No One Has Tho Everybody Can Use.....yet...MAJOR COMPANIES HAVEN'T THOUGHT OF YET

    I have a unique invention () but dont have the money to get to the next step. Are there any honest, independent, individuals, "invention angels" that with the investment, and just need the idea, and prototype, or govergnment program (easily accessable) to help me?

    by: Desia Clements

    concern

    Thank you for your video. I am very impressed by the direct and correct information you provide in your website. However, i have concern. As inventor i am not foreigner in a field and have savored experience concerning a process of invention. Investors brain isn't better or smarter than other people brains, but it operates differently. The inventors brain are curious- about every thing, especially it become intensely curious when meet problem If you show any idea, under any agreement restrictions to truly inventive minds- the possibility for that person to rethink your solution and the problem it resolve is 99%. Such person don't have any need to steal- they simply do it resolve it faster, better, and from very different level. In today world one don't have to steal or copy solution, in contemporary world one need to find problem, solution of which would be appreciated on the market! Because of it i personally cant see it possible to share any idea, not priory to patenting it. I am sure that i am not the first person who rises that question, do you have solution to that? Thank you!

    by: Mega

    Licensing Deal?

    Dan, I mean no offense, but don't I need a lawyer to review "YOUR" Licensing Deal? And, if you're hear to "help" inventors why not make your sources for "licensing deals" available to inventors and let the marketplace decide which new mouse trp to buy or build? Where does that list exist? And what if you just have an idea or an improvement on an existing product? I have to pay you $85.00 every time I submit an idea to you? Man, that can get pretty expensive, quick! We've all heard that if there asking you for money up-front, ($85.00)? Where did you come up with that number? (especially when YOU tell people you say "NO" more often than "YES" to ideas), then it's probably a scam! Sorry, no offense meant again, but that kind of scare me off, would it you too? You know some poor sap, will gladly hand over his $85.00 because "IT'S HIS REVOLUTIONARY INVENTION IDEA"! and you're a great guy who just hear to help, and might give him that deal? See what I mean buddy? Sorry to be so skeptical. That's the Inventors biggest problem! Where do you go first?, a patent, a lawyer, a prototype, YOU? Most don't have the wherewithal to manufacture, distribute, advertise, market, is a losing battle for most, but you already know that, and you have my $85.00 so????? See what I mean! So Dan, where do I find those folks who will offer me a "Licensing Deal" based on the merits of the idea or product, without having to send them $85.00, every time I have an idea? Any comments? We'd a love to hear them!

    by: Tim Collins

    Response to Tim Collins

    Hey Tim - Thanks for the questions. Here are answers: 1. "Don't I need a lawyer to review "YOUR" Licensing Deal?" We suggest you have one for any deal offered by anyone - including I-City. The only thing I'll add is that any deal we offer is one we'd accept ourselves. 2. "If you're here to 'help' inventors why not make your sources for 'licensing deals' available to inventors and let the marketplace decide which new mouse trp to buy or build? Where does that list exist?" - Our website is filled with hundreds of pages of free information based on real experience. That is how we help inventors for free, Read what's here. It's the best info you'll find anywhere. Start with Inventing 101. - Most of the invention ideas we receive are confidential and most of our inventors want a professional opinion (and a deal) while keeping their info confidential. - Our contacts and business relationships have been built over 25 years. We don't give them away free. However, if you have a Brutally Honest Review and we say "no" we'll give you suggestions on where you might take your invention idea (and how you might modify it before taking it elsewhere). - The Marketplace ultimately determines success. Someone needs to spend the time and money getting a product to the marketplace. Invention City does that by either a) licensing and further developing inventions itself or b) seeking a licensing deal on the inventor's behalf. 3. "And what if you just have an idea or an improvement on an existing product? I have to pay you $85.00 every time I submit an idea to you? Man, that can get pretty expensive, quick!" - Stand alone product ideas are more likely to succeed than improvements. But improvements can be successful too. - We used to accept submissions for free and spent a lot of time reviewing bad ideas. We couldn't afford to continue business that way. Now that we're charging $85 the quality of submissions is much higher and we can give good feedback. It's still not a profit center but it makes it possible for us to help inventors in a real way. 4. "We've all heard that if there asking you for money up-front, ($85.00)? Where did you come up with that number? (especially when YOU tell people you say "NO" more often than "YES" to ideas), then it's probably a scam! Sorry, no offense meant again, but that kind of scare me off, would it you too? " - No offense taken. It typically costs between $25,000-$200,000 to take the invention ideas we work with from concept to manufactured product. That's a big bet on something that isn't guaranteed to succeed. - The $85 offsets approx 1/2 of our cost in reviewing inventions. It's not a profit center. - Anyone who says "yes" more than "no" is almost surely scammer (including patent attorneys). Very few inventions succeed - even the best of them fail more often than not. Inventors who spend $85 and get a "no" can save themselves the thousands they'd spend on being flattered with a "yes" from another invention service provider. They also get ideas on how to improve their inventions and on ways to move forward. We often invite inventors to re-submit at no extra charge. 5. "You know some poor sap, will gladly hand over his $85.00 because 'IT'S HIS REVOLUTIONARY INVENTION IDEA!' and you're a great guy who's just here to help, and might give him that deal? See what I mean buddy? Sorry to be so skeptical." Inventors tell us all the time that their idea will change the world, make millions or billions etc. We tell them no most of the time. They don't like it but appreciate hearing the truth. 6. "That's the Inventors biggest problem! Where do you go first?, a patent, a lawyer, a prototype, YOU? Most don't have the wherewithal to manufacture, distribute, advertise, market, is a losing battle for most, but you already know that, and you have my $85.00 so????? See what I mean! " - Well, of course you and all other inventors should come here first. You spend $85 to present us with your best idea and see how it goes. We believe you'll find our review to be a great value even if you get a "no." But, if you're unhappy for any reason, we'll give you your $85 back. 7. "So... where do I find those folks who will offer me a "Licensing Deal" based on the merits of the idea or product, without having to send them $85.00, every time I have an idea?" - For now, Quirky would be the place for you to go. In the near future Invention City will offer a FREE submission option - without feedback or suggestions. Good luck! Mike

    by: ICity Mike