How Licensing Deals Can Pay You for Years - Plus What’s Coming Up in the Community

This Week in HQ:

• 🛠️ Inventor Tip: How licensing can generate passive income for inventors

• 🎤 Replay posted: Watch Inventors Got Talent and meet the winning pitches

• 🎙️ Podcast Update: Inventor Spotlight Ep. 16 with Deanna Ratnikova is now live

• 🗓️ Next Event: Live Q&A with Brian Fried — Thursday, July 24 @ 8 PM ET
  → Save your spot in the app

• 📣 Coming Soon: SBA Special Event — “Turn Your Invention Into a Business”
  📆 Tuesday, July 29 @ 8 PM ET

• 💬 New on InventorChat: Share your recent wins, ask questions, and connect

• 🙌 Welcome New Members: BrilliantMindz, Paul Vee, Sheryl the Inventor & Conceptivity

• 💡 Community Spotlight: Meet Vicky Chaleff, patent-holder and Messenger of Hope for Health

• 📸 Profile Boost: Add your photo to the app and get a thank-you gift from Team HQ

• 📅 Inventor History: The first air conditioner—Willis Carrier’s 1903 blueprint

• 🌐 Reminder: The Inventor Smart App is open 24/7—jump in, share, build, repeat

Ask the Inventor Coach – Live Q&A with Brian Fried

📅 Thursday, July 24
🕗 8:00 PM ET
📍 Live on Zoom | Premium Insider Exclusive
👉 Become a Premium Insider »

This Thursday night, grab your notebook and your big questions. because Brian Fried is going live for our Premium Insider Q&A, and you don’t want to miss it.

Have a question about licensing? Stuck on your prototype? Wondering if your pitch is ready for prime time? This is your chance to ask Brian—live. He’s the Inventor Coach for a reason, and in these small-group Zoom sessions, he brings real answers, straight talk, and decades of insider know-how.

💡 Here’s the wild part: A private meeting with Brian typically costs 20x more. But as a Premium Insider, you get direct access to this Q&A (and others like it every month) for just $9.99/month. That’s not just smart. that’s inventor-smart.

Plus, you’ll join a growing community of serious inventors who ask great questions, share helpful experiences, and push each other forward. If you’re building something, this is the room you want to be in.

🔐 Already a Premium Insider? The Zoom link is available now on the event page inside the app:
👉 View Event Details & Zoom Link »
Access to the Zoom link is exclusive to Premium Insider members.

🧠 Not a member yet? Join today and get instant access to this Thursday’s Q&A—and a whole lot more.

Future Inventors, Big Ideas: Meet the 2024 Young Inventor Challenge Winners!

🎥 Watch Now » YouTube Replay

You’ve got to meet these three brilliant young minds, winners of the 2024 Young Inventor Challenge, hosted by People of Play and spotlighted in a brand-new episode of the Got Invention Show with Brian Fried!

🎲 Gideon Koffman – Skirmish-Battle-War (Senior Best Pitch)
🧸 Maria Schwartze – Calming Cuddlees (Junior Most Engaging)
🎮 Olivia Scheetz – Smack It! (Junior Best Potential)

From creating card games to emotional support toys, these kids aren’t just imagining the future, they’re inventing it. Tune in to hear how they brought their ideas to life, overcame real development challenges, and inspired a generation of inventors (including us!).

👀 Bonus: Get a sneak peek at what’s coming for the 2025 Young Inventor Challenge this November, and learn how to get involved!

📍 Watch the episode now and share with the next young inventor you know!
👉 Watch on YouTube »

Got an Idea? A Question? A Win to Share?

Join the Conversation at InventorChat.com

Welcome to InventorChat, your 24/7 inventor hangout where ideas fly, questions get answers, and real inventors talk shop.

Whether you’ve got a prototype in progress, a pitch to perfect, or a spark that’s just starting to sizzle, this is the space to drop in and jam with fellow creators.

🧪 Share what you're building
💡 Ask anything (seriously, anything)
🎉 Celebrate wins and breakthroughs
🧠 Get and give real advice in real time

We built InventorChat.com to go deeper than social media and keep the momentum going between events. It’s free, it’s buzzing, and your voice is missing.

👉 Join now at InventorChat.com, and jump into the Launch Pad thread to say hey!

You’ve got ideas. We’ve got the community. Let’s build something amazing, together.

Inventor Spotlight Ep. 16 – From Nature Walks to Product Launches

Deanna Ratnikova turned outdoor adventures with her daughter into GoDeck. a 52-card deck that helps people explore their city, one week at a time. In this episode, Deanna shares how she bootstrapped her idea, landed retail placement, and overcame self-doubt to build something families love. It’s a story about nature, creativity, and the power of community.

👉 Watch on YouTube | 🎙️ Also on Spotify, Apple & more
🔗 Explore her product: thegodeck.com

Inventors Got Talent 2025 – Replay Now Live!

What a night! Over a dozen NIC members brought their inventions to the virtual stage, pitching everything from floating lessons to diaper hacks. Big congrats to our winners: Beth Goldman (PicChair), Melon Dash (Learn to Float Station), and Turahn Williams (One Wipe Wonder). The creativity was next-level, and now you can catch every moment.

👉 Watch the full replay here

Welcome Aboard – New Members This Week!

Whether you’re celebrating National Junk Food Day with a donut in hand or gearing up for National Tequila Day with a creative twist on invention, we’ve got something even better to toast, new members joining the Inventor Smart Community!

Let’s give a warm welcome to this week’s new innovators:

• Dictionary Gates
• Tink Laura
• Shawna (Stamm4674)
• Craig (FatCoyote)
• Sana (r_sana)
• Leeandre Mahomes (andre.esq.)
• Patrick (Mitch)

🚀 You’re here. now it’s time to take advantage!
Introduce yourself inside the app, update your profile pic, and let the community know what you’re working on. The more you engage, the more you’ll gain.

💬 Ready to connect? Jump into InventorChat.com and start a convo, or ask a question. We’re all in this together.

Here’s to fresh ideas, new connections, and your next big breakthrough. 👏

Community Spotlight: Vicky Chaleff (@Vicky)

This week, we're shining the spotlight on Vicky Chaleff, an inventor whose story is rooted in perseverance, purpose, and passion.

As the founder of Palm Life Protection LLC, Vicky designed a custom-fitted, medical-grade disposable cover for a specific PEMF medical device. After over 3 years of dedicated development, her utility patent was officially issued on January 30, 2024, a true milestone in her journey as a Messenger of Hope for Health.

Vicky brings both heart and energy to the Inventor Smart Community. Whether she’s celebrating others in a “Shuffle-Meet n Greet” or offering powerful reminders like “Energy flows where attention goes,” she embodies the spirit of community and forward motion.

She’s currently seeking the right licensee or contract manufacturer to take her product line to the next level—and we know the right fit is out there.

📌 Connect with Vicky & follow her journey:
https://app.inventorsmart.com/profile/357

Vicky, we’re inspired by your dedication and your light, thank you for showing up fully and helping lift the tide for all.

✨ Want to be featured in a future Community Spotlight? Stay active, share your story, and support fellow inventors, you could be next!

Inventor Tip of the Week — Know When to License

Thinking about taking your invention to market yourself? That’s great, but don’t overlook the power of licensing.

According to Brian Fried, one of the most overlooked money-making strategies for inventors is licensing your invention to an established company. Why? Because it allows you to:

• Leverage existing resources (like manufacturing, distribution, and retail relationships)

• Minimize financial risk and workload

• Earn royalties—passive income—while you focus on your next big idea

You don’t have to do it all yourself to be a successful inventor.

🚀 Action step: Start researching companies in your industry that already sell products similar to yours. Make a list of 3–5 potential licensees who might benefit from adding your invention to their product line.

Licensing might just be the smartest move you haven’t considered yet.

Tip adapted from Brian Fried’s book How to Make Money with Your Invention Idea (Inventor Smart Publishing).

On This Day in Inventor History – Monday, July 21

The Air Conditioner Patent That Changed Summer Forever

July 21, 1903 – On this day, inventor Willis Haviland Carrier finalized the plans that would become the world’s first modern air conditioning system. While his official patent (U.S. Patent No. 808,897) would be granted in 1906, July 21, 1903 is recognized as the birthdate of air conditioning—when Carrier submitted his design for controlling temperature and humidity at a printing plant in Brooklyn, New York.

His goal? Fix paper misalignment due to humidity. The result? A system that changed everything from manufacturing to medicine to modern home life.

Why it matters to modern inventors

Carrier didn’t set out to make people more comfortable, he set out to solve a specific industrial problem. His invention ended up transforming entire industries and became a staple of daily life in hot climates around the world.

So consider:

💡 Are you solving a specific pain point that could have broader applications?

🌡️ Could your invention serve unexpected markets beyond your original audience?

Big shifts often start with small fixes. And sometimes, solving a niche need can lead to a global standard.

What’s Coming Up This Week

We’re gearing up for a big week ahead, so if you’ve got questions, ideas, or momentum you’re ready to build on, now’s the time to plug in.

🎯 Ask the Inventor Coach: Live Q&A with Brian Fried
📆 Thursday, July 24 @ 8 PM ET
🧠 Bring your toughest questions and get real-time answers from Brian Fried, the Inventor Coach. Whether you’re stuck, scaling, or just starting out—this is the space to get unstuck and move forward with confidence.
📍 Save your spot in the app → app.inventorsmart.com

👀 Also Coming Soon...
🛠️ Turn Your Invention Into a Business — with the SBA
📆 Tuesday, July 29 @ 8 PM ET
🎙️ Join us for a special livestream featuring Paul Fitzpatrick from the U.S. Small Business Administration. Learn how to transform your invention into a business, access SBA funding, and take action with expert insights.

🧭 Tip: All events are listed in the app!
Just open app.inventorsmart.com, tap Events to stay in the loop.

Let’s keep building momentum, together!

Show Your Face, Share Your Spark

We’re a growing community of real inventors, creators, and problem-solvers, and nothing brings us together like seeing who’s in the room.

Now’s the perfect time to upload your profile photo in the app:

• 🆕 We just welcomed new members, help them put a face to your name and start real connections

• 🎤 This week’s Live Q&A with Brian Fried (July 24 @ 8 PM ET) is a chance to be seen and supported

• 🤝 Networking is better when we know who we’re talking to—avatars don’t make eye contact 😉

👉 Add or update your photo here

🎁 Snap it, upload it, and shoot us a DM, we’ll send a small thank-you gift your way for showing up as you.

Let’s keep building a community that’s real, relatable, and ready to invent, together.

Inventor Smart Community — Made for Inventors Like You

Whether you're sketching your first idea or getting ready to license your invention, you don't have to figure it out alone. The Inventor Smart Community App is your go-to hub for support, strategy, and real inventor connections, all in one place.

Here’s what’s happening this July:
✅ A steady stream of new members, seasoned pros, and curious creators ready to connect
✅ Live Q&A events (like this week’s July 24 session with Brian Fried) and expert-led livestreams
✅ Fresh tools each week: NDAs, pitch templates, contracts, and real-world resources
✅ A place to stay accountable, get unstuck, and build momentum with people who get it

🛠 No fees. No fluff. Just a smart, supportive space built to help you move forward faster.

👉 Jump in here → inventorsmart.com

Everything we build, we build for inventors.
Let’s turn your ideas into action, together.

Take your invention to the next level with Inventor Smart 'Premium Insider'!

Enjoy monthly Q&A sessions with Brian Fried and industry experts, share your story on the Inventor Spotlight Podcast, and gain access to exclusive events and discounts, including a 10% discount at InventorMart and on services at brianfried.com.

🔗 Learn more and join today: Premium Insider

Meet Brian Fried - Your Inventor Coach, Author, Speaker, and Founder

Get to know Brian Fried, the Inventor Coach. With 15 patents and a successful licensing history, he has dedicated 18 years to coaching inventors. Explore his ventures like the Got Invention Show, National Inventor Club, and Inventor Smart Community app. Schedule a call with Brian at brianfried.com.

Thank You to Our Sponsors!

We’re grateful to our amazing sponsors for their unwavering support of the Inventor Smart Community. Your contributions empower us to continue offering essential resources, tools, and opportunities to inventors around the world. Together, we’re turning ideas into reality!