Inventor Smart HQ #43 — Progress, Prototypes & Real-Time Q&A with Brian Fried

This Week in HQ

• 💬 Main Event: Ask the Inventor Coach — Live Q&A with Brian Fried · Oct 22 @ 8 PM ET

• 📥 New Members: 12 new app members + 8 new forum members — say hello and welcome them!

• 🌟 Spotlight: Dan Schlossberg, creator of The PatioPoncho — protecting patios with innovation.

• 🎙️ Podcast: Who’s on Your Invention Team? — Brian shares how to build the right support network.

• 💬 Forum: Join real inventor discussions anytime at InventorChat.com.

• 💡 Tip: Progress Over Perfection — momentum beats waiting for “perfect.”

• 🤖 AI Spotlight: Guidde — turn workflows into instant AI video tutorials.

• 🧭 Resource: ThomasNet — find verified U.S. manufacturers and suppliers.

• 🎁 Bonus: Protect your idea — download Brian’s free NDA template →

• 🕰️ On This Day: Oct 20, 1891 – Elisha Gray patents the Telautograph (pre-fax); 1949 – early barcode patent filed.

• 🗓️ Upcoming Events: Live Q&A (Oct 22) · Licensing & Scaling (Oct 29) · Networking (Oct 29)

💬 Main Event This Week

Ask the Inventor Coach: Live Q&A with Brian Fried
📅 Wednesday, October 22
🕗 8:00 PM ET
📍 Live on Zoom (Premium Insider Exclusive)

Got a question about your invention? Whether you’re working on licensing, preparing a pitch, or just need expert advice, this is your chance to get real-time answers directly from Brian Fried, “The Inventor Coach.”

This live Q&A is an exclusive session for Premium Insider members, designed as a small-group format so you can get personalized guidance from one of the most experienced invention mentors in the industry.

🎤 Open Q&A format
✅ Real-time feedback and strategy
👥 Small, supportive community setting

Premium Insiders: Click the Join Live on Zoom button below for instant access.
Not a Premium Insider yet? Join now, and the Zoom button will magically appear! (Only visible to Premium Insider members.) Don’t miss this opportunity to connect directly with Brian and gain insights that can move your invention forward.

📍 View Event in the App →

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👋 Welcome to Our Newest Members

The Inventor Smart Community keeps growing — and this week we’re so happy to welcome 12 new inventors into the app and 8 new members in the Inventor Chat Forum.

If you’re new here, you’ve just joined a community of creators who get it — people turning napkin sketches into prototypes, and prototypes into real products.

🆕 New in the Inventor Smart App:
ReyA1 (Reynaldo Juan) • Bigcal (Calvin) • Sarzmaree • Jcvcolina (Juan Colina) • Ideas Bouncer (Robert) • Miklean06 (Michael) • Sjjud (Djdiks) • Thaton3 (Jacqueline Maes) • Med Cheikh (Hamme) • Trevorcox00 (Trevor Keith Cox) • Giovanni (John Ballo) • Malinjunior34

💬 New in the Inventor Chat Forum:
Willentco • BioFitnessSystems • guychaifetz • PACITPANTS • csdisciple • Charlen • Margretior • HandyRandal52

Next steps for new members:
👋 Say hello: Post a short intro and share what you’re working on.
🖼️ Add a profile photo: It makes it easier for others to connect with you.
🧠 Share your progress: Post a sketch, prototype, or question — and get real feedback from the community.

👉 Not a member yet? Join the conversation in the Inventor Smart App or at InventorChat.com — your next big idea (and the support to bring it to life) is waiting.

🌟 Community Spotlight: Dan Schlossberg — Creator of The PatioPoncho

This week, we’re shining the spotlight on Dan Schlossberg, an inventor who just launched his very first product: The PatioPoncho — an innovative, retractable outdoor covering designed to protect your patio furniture cushions from the elements with ease and style.

Built for durability and convenience, The PatioPoncho shields your cushions from rain, pollen, UV rays, and other environmental wear so they stay clean, dry, and ready to use year-round. It’s a simple solution to a common problem — and a perfect example of how thoughtful invention meets real-world need.

Dan’s journey reflects what the Inventor Smart Community is all about: turning a practical idea into a market-ready product through persistence, creativity, and a clear focus on solving problems that matter. His excitement and openness about the launch have already inspired other members to take their next steps, too.

🌐 Visit ThePatioPoncho.com →
🔗 View Dan’s Member Profile →

Dan, congratulations on your successful product launch — we’re proud to celebrate this milestone with you!

✨ Want to be featured in a future Community Spotlight? Stay active, post your updates, and share your wins — your story could be next.

🎙️ The Inventor Coach Podcast — New Episode Out Now!

Inventing starts as a solo idea — but bringing it to life takes a team.

In this week’s episode of The Inventor Coach Podcast, Brian Fried breaks down who you need on your invention team, when to bring them in, and how to avoid the most common mistakes that slow inventors down.

Whether you’re just sketching your concept or preparing for manufacturing, this episode is packed with practical steps to help you move smarter — not harder.

📌 What You’ll Learn:

• Who to hire and at what stage

• How to protect your idea early

• The importance of prototypes and design

• What to look for in a manufacturing partner

• Why strong relationships lead to successful products

🎧 Listen or Watch:

• ▶️ Watch on YouTube

• 🎙️ Listen on BrianFried.com

• Also available on Spreaker and all major podcast platforms

✨ New episodes drop every other week — subscribe today so you never miss Brian’s latest tips and inventor insights!

💬 Join the Conversation at InventorChat.com

Big ideas don’t grow in isolation — they grow through connection.

That’s what Inventor Chat is for. It’s your round-the-clock space to ask questions, share updates, get feedback, and celebrate the small wins that keep you moving forward. No noise, no sales pitches — just real inventors helping each other make real progress.

Whether you’re stuck on a prototype, preparing a pitch, or just curious how others are turning ideas into products, the Inventor Chat Forum is where collaboration happens between meetups and events.

👉 Start a thread or jump into the discussion today at InventorChat.com — your next breakthrough could come from a single comment.

💡 Inventor Tip of the Week — Progress Over Perfection

Every great invention starts messy. Waiting until everything feels “perfect” can stall your momentum for months—or years.
As Brian Fried reminds inventors, you don’t need a flawless prototype to move forward—you just need one that proves your concept. From there, each small improvement brings you closer to something market-ready.

📌 Pro Tip:
Build a simple, functional version first—cardboard, 3-D print, or even a rough mock-up. Use it to test your idea, explain your concept, and get feedback. Then refine with every round of input instead of waiting for perfection.

🎯 Action Step:
Set a “Version 1.0 deadline” for your prototype this week. Focus on getting it done, not perfect. Record what works, note what doesn’t, and commit to improving with each iteration.
Momentum beats perfection every time—and that’s how real inventors turn ideas into products.

🤖 AI Spotlight of the Week — Guidde: Create How-To Videos in Minutes

Need to show how your invention works, onboard new users, or explain a process—without spending hours editing videos? Meet Guidde, your new AI assistant for effortless video documentation.

Guidde turns any workflow into a clear, professional video guide — automatically. Just record your screen, and Guidde’s AI instantly generates a polished tutorial with step-by-step captions, voiceovers, and visuals that you can share anywhere.

Built for inventors, startups, and small teams, Guidde helps you explain even the most complex processes 10x faster — perfect for product demos, training, or showing manufacturers how your prototype works.

📌 What You Can Do with Guidde:

• Capture your screen and auto-generate a full walkthrough

• Choose from 200+ AI voices in multiple languages

• Add your own branding, colors, and logo

• Share instantly with a link or embed it in your website

✨ Why Inventors Love It:
Create pitch videos, step-by-step product explainers, and support guides — all without needing a production team.

🔗 Try it free → Guidde.com

🧭 Inventor Resource of the Week — ThomasNet: Find U.S. Manufacturers and Suppliers

When you’re ready to move from prototype to production, finding the right manufacturer is one of the most important steps in your invention journey.
That’s where ThomasNet comes in — a free online directory that connects inventors and product developers with more than 500,000 verified U.S. manufacturers, suppliers, and service providers.

Search by material, process, or location to quickly identify partners who can build, package, or source your product components. Each listing includes company details, certifications, capabilities, and contact information — making your early outreach faster and more professional.

📌 Why It Matters:
As Brian Fried reminds inventors, understanding how and where your product will be made helps you make smarter licensing and cost decisions before committing big money.

🎯 Action Step:
Visit ThomasNet, search for a manufacturer in your product category, and bookmark 3–5 companies that match your needs. Start conversations early — relationships built now can save time and money later.

🔗 Explore the directory → ThomasNet.com

💡 Bonus Tip:
When reaching out to manufacturers, always protect your idea first.
📄 Download Brian Fried’s free NDA template here → brianfried.com/download-nda/

📜 On This Day in Inventor History

On October 20, 1891, American inventor Elisha Gray was granted U.S. Patent 461,472 for his “Art of and Apparatus for Telautographic Communication”—a device that could transmit handwriting over a distance, predating fax machines and paving the way for tele-signature and remote document transmission technologies.

Also, on October 20, 1949, the patent caveat for the “bullseye code” — one of the early systems that would lead to the modern UPC (Universal Product Code) barcode — was filed by inventors Norman Joseph Woodland and Bernard Silver.

🗓️ Upcoming Events at a Glance

💬 Ask the Inventor Coach: Live Q&A
📅 Wed Oct 22 @ 8 PM ET — Get real-time advice from Brian Fried in a small-group setting.
🔗 Join in the App →

🎙️ What Happens After You Have the Idea
📅 Wed Oct 29 @ 8 PM ET — Learn how to license, scale, and plan your exit with Brian and guests.
🔗 Join in the App →

🤝 After Meeting Networking Event
📅 Wed Oct 29 @ 9:10 PM ET — Connect with other inventors and share your next big idea.
🔗 Join in the App →

Let’s See Those Faces, Inventors!

Real people. Real ideas. Real community.

If you haven’t already, take a moment to add or update your profile photo in the app. It’s a simple step that makes a big difference — especially with upcoming meetups and live events where connections matter most.

👉 Update your profile pic here »

💬 Makes networking smoother
🎤 Helps others recognize and connect with you during live events
🎁 Bonus: Send us a quick DM once it’s updated and we’ll send you a small thank-you gift!

Show up. Be seen. This is your inventor community.

Level Up Your Inventor Game with the Inventor Smart Community

Why stay stuck in “idea mode” when you can supercharge your inventor journey?

Inside the Inventor Smart App, you’ll unlock:
✅ Live Q&As + insider events to keep you moving forward
✅ Ready-to-use tools — NDAs, pitch decks & more
✅ A supportive network of inventors who push you to go bigger

No fees. No fluff. Just momentum.

👉 Step into your next level → inventorsmart.com

Your ideas deserve more than the drawing board — they deserve to fly.

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!