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Ideas, connections, and your next step
Your Inventor Smart Community newsletter • September 2026
Whether you’re an experienced inventor or just starting with your first big idea, welcome! This month, we’re exploring how to find the right licensing opportunity, learn from fellow inventors, and make informed decisions as you move forward.
First up: tomorrow night’s free National Inventor Club meeting. If licensing is on your mind, bring your questions.
Tomorrow LIVE: From Idea to Retail Shelf
A Conversation on What It Really Takes to License an Invention
Tuesday, September 29, 2026 | 7 PM ET
FREE livestream | All are welcome
What does it take to get an invention licensed and onto a retail shelf?
Join Brian Fried, The Inventor Coach™ and founder of the National Inventor Club, and Joan Lefkowitz, founder of Accessory Brainstorms, for a conversation grounded in decades of experience bringing inventions to market.
Joan has helped bring products including Topsy Tail, which generated more than $100 million in retail sales, and Hollywood Fashion Tape to consumers. Brian holds 15 issued patents and has worked as an inventor, manufacturer, and licensing agent.
Together, they’ll explore:
What licensing looks like from both the inventor’s and the agent’s side.
What helps a product get picked up by retailers.
What to know before approaching a licensing agent.
Whether you’re working through your first idea or growing an established product business, you’re invited.
The best influencer marketing advice never comes from a report
Think about the last thing that got you fired up about your job this year. Odds are it didn't come from a report. It came from someone who does the job, saying what happened when they tried it.
So we've filled a day with people like that.
Maya Shaff, ŌURA. Leah Walker, Adobe. Georgia Humphries, Stanley 1913. Enara Roy, Halfday. Tyler Vaught, Edelman. Josh Rangel, Ogilvy. Sarah Whittle, ex-Crocs and Duolingo.
And that's just the first wave of speakers.
Return on Influence Festival '26 is a free, virtual day dedicated to influencer marketing. Like any good festival, there are stages. But no mud, no queues, and absolutely no porta-potties.
Sign up today, and the rest of the lineup lands in your inbox first.
Meet the people behind the conversation
Joan Lefkowitz has spent decades helping turn inventor ideas into recognizable products. Along with Topsy Tail and Hollywood Fashion Tape, her work includes the Hairdostick, Lumbarwear, Derma Spring, and the Polar Bandit neck gaiter.
She has been featured on CNN, Bloomberg Business, and the NBC Today Show. Women’s Wear Daily called her the “Guru of Novelty Marketing,” and Accessories Magazine named her one of the industry’s 100 most important movers and shakers.
Joan has taught inventors at the Fashion Institute of Technology and spoken for the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, the Chamber of Commerce, and inventor clubs across the country.
Brian Fried, The Inventor Coach™, has spent more than 20 years helping inventors move from idea through commercialization. In addition to licensing and manufacturing his own inventions, he represents inventors as a licensing agent and founded the National Inventor Club, now more than 15,000 members strong.
Their conversation will also cover the roles of catalogs, TV shopping, and traditional retail, plus lessons from products that generated lasting sales.
Bring your questions. This is an opportunity to hear from two people who have worked through the invention process from multiple perspectives.
Choose where to watch
Tuesday, September 29 at 7 PM ET. Free and open to all.
Property Licensing vs. Product Licensing
Which is right for inventors?
Have you ever wondered whether you should pitch your invention directly to a major brand? Before making that call, it helps to understand the difference between property licensing and product licensing.
A major brand, such as a beer company, may license its name and logo to manufacturers. That doesn’t necessarily mean the brand itself manufactures products like your invention.
As an inventor, your opportunity may be with a company that already manufactures products in your category and could add your invention to its product line.
For example, an innovative can opener could potentially be licensed to a kitchen or beverage accessory manufacturer. That manufacturer might then pursue a separate brand licensing opportunity.
The key is knowing who you should pitch your invention to.
Know the Language of Inventing
Patents. Prototypes. Licensing. Royalties. Trademarks.
Learning the terminology can help you understand conversations, ask better questions, and navigate your invention journey with greater confidence.
The National Inventor Club Glossary is a helpful resource whether you’re just getting started or want to brush up on the basics.
Inventor Spotlight Podcast
Get to know the people behind the ideas
Explore inventor stories through the Inventor Spotlight Podcast, available on:
YouTube
Apple Podcasts
Spotify
iHeartRadio
Amazon Music
Want a chance to share your own story? Become a Premium Insider in the Inventor Smart Community app for an opportunity to be featured.
Interested in sponsoring the podcast? Contact [email protected].
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a trade secret?
A trade secret is confidential information that can have intellectual property protection and may be sold or licensed.
According to the World Intellectual Property Organization, information generally qualifies as a trade secret when it:
Has commercial value because it is secret.
Is known only to a limited group of people.
Is protected through reasonable steps to maintain confidentiality, such as confidentiality agreements with business partners and employees.
Unauthorized acquisition, use, or disclosure of that information in ways contrary to honest commercial practices can violate trade secret protection.
Watch the Replay: 2026 Inventor Showcase
Live invention pitches and product demonstrations
Missed the livestream? The full recording is available to watch.
At the 2026 Inventor Showcase, National Inventor Club members took the virtual stage to demonstrate working prototypes and finished products, share their stories, and introduce what they’re working to bring to market.
It was a firsthand look at the creativity, determination, and entrepreneurial spirit within our inventor community.
Inside the showcase
Real inventions, real demonstrations. See how members’ prototypes and finished products work.
Meet the inventors. Hear directly from the people behind the products and learn what inspired them.
See innovation in action. Explore a variety of inventions and product concepts.
Discover what’s next. Find out what participating inventors are developing and working toward.
Celebrate the community. Recognize the effort it takes to move an idea forward and share it with the world.
Hosted by the National Inventor Club and powered by the Inventor Smart Community App, the showcase gave members a platform to put their work in front of an audience.
We look forward to bringing you more opportunities to learn, connect, and showcase your inventions.
The Got Invention Show
Meet Shannon Stevens, inventor of Chairlaxed
This month, discover the story of Shannon Stevens, inventor and owner of Chairlaxed, a business focused on bringing the massage chair experience to events and customers.
Originally from Buffalo, New York, Shannon has called Phoenix, Arizona, home since 1986. He earned a business degree from the State University of New York College at Buffalo and has built a varied entrepreneurial career.
Before Chairlaxed, Shannon founded My Furniture Freak, which he continues to own and operate. His 25 years as a licensed contractor also led him to create Irondrive Coatings, an affordable, one-day garage floor coating system.
He eventually franchised that business and sold it in 2017, opening the door to his next entrepreneurial adventure.
Today, Shannon brings that business experience and entrepreneurial mindset to Chairlaxed.
Have an invention story of your own?
Hosted by Brian Fried, The Inventor Coach™, The Got Invention Show gives inventors a platform to promote their products, share their journeys, and discuss licensing or distribution opportunities.
Each 30-minute interview explores:
The challenges you faced and the solutions you found.
Your invention journey and lessons learned.
Your next steps and future plans.
Insights that could help fellow inventors and entrepreneurs.
Whether you want to showcase your product, attract interest from potential partners or investors, or inspire other inventors, the show offers a place to tell your story.
Watch and listen through GotInventionShow.com, GotInventionTube, Spotify, iHeartRadio, Apple Podcasts, and more.
Get to know the host: Brian has helped inventors work toward bringing products to market for more than 20 years. Learn more about Brian →
USPTO Resource: Protecting Your Intellectual Property
Three steps to keep in mind
If you have intellectual property that may need protection, the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office outlines a process that includes searching, applying, and maintaining your rights.
1. Search
Before applying, investigate whether your intellectual property is protectable. Not every idea is patentable, and not every trademark is registrable.
Searching existing patents and trademark registrations can help you identify potential obstacles before submitting an application.
2. Apply
When you’re ready, submit your application through the appropriate USPTO system, such as Patent Center or Trademark Center.
Watch for official correspondence and respond within the required deadlines.
3. Maintain
Obtaining protection is only the beginning. Understand the requirements for keeping your protection active and learn about enforcing your rights.
Brian Fried’s Invention Playbook
The Research Phase: How to Know If Your Idea Is Worth Pursuing
Before spending money on a prototype, patent, or manufacturing, do your homework.
In this installment of Brian Fried’s Invention Playbook, The Inventor Coach™ shares the research process he teaches inventors, from searching the web and retail sites to exploring patents and using free resources such as Patent and Trademark Resource Centers (PTRCs).
The goal is to:
Find out what already exists.
Understand your market.
Evaluate whether your idea is worth pursuing before making a major investment.
Sometimes, research reveals that an idea already exists. Other times, it uncovers an opportunity or a different way to solve the problem.
Either outcome can help you make a more informed decision and save time, money, and frustration.
This Month in Invention History
September 4, 1888: George Eastman’s Kodak camera
On September 4, 1888, George Eastman received U.S. Patent No. 388,850 for a roll-film camera and registered the Kodak trademark.
Designed with novice photographers in mind, the compact camera helped make photography accessible to people without specialized training.
At approximately 3.75 × 3.25 × 6.5 inches and weighing less than two pounds, the Kodak offered a simpler alternative to earlier cameras that required cumbersome glass plates.
Users pulled a string to arm the shutter, pointed the camera, and pressed the shutter release.
The simplicity extended to developing the photographs. After finishing the preloaded 100-exposure roll, owners could mail the camera to Eastman’s factory in Rochester, New York. The company developed the film and returned the prints, negatives, and camera loaded with fresh film.
Eastman captured the promise in a memorable slogan:
“You press the button, we do the rest.”
An invention-history reminder: making a product easier to use can help bring it to an entirely new audience.
See you tomorrow night
Join Brian Fried, The Inventor Coach™, and Joan Lefkowitz for From Idea to Retail Shelf.
Tuesday, September 29 | 7 PM ET | FREE
Bring your questions, invite a fellow inventor, and join the conversation.
Thank you for being part of the Inventor Smart Community. We look forward to seeing what you create next.
The Inventor Smart Community Team
Meet Brian Fried, “The Inventor Coach”
Brian Fried is The Inventor Coach™, a serial inventor holding 15 patents who has successfully licensed and manufactured his own products sold through major retailers, QVC, and As Seen On TV. In 2026, he was named Coach of the Year at Alibaba.com's Ambassador Awards.
For over 20 years, he has guided thousands of inventors from idea through commercialization. He founded the National Inventor Club (15,000 members), created the Inventor Smart Community app, authored three books on invention commercialization, and built an AI powered ecosystem that takes inventors from validation (HelpMeInvent.com) through visual concept generation and market evaluation (UINVENT.ai) and into patent strategy, licensing representation, and turnkey commercialization. He holds an MBA from the State University of New York at Oswego, where he also serves as an adjunct professor of entrepreneurship and innovation.
Learn more at InventorCoach.com.