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- Inventor Smart Monthly: July 2025 Highlights & Headlines
Inventor Smart Monthly: July 2025 Highlights & Headlines
A curated dose of invention news, tools, inspiration, and community wins from the month.
Inventor Smart
July 15, 2025 • Estimated Reading Time: 24 minutes
In partnership with
July 2025
Whether you're a seasoned inventor or just had your very first lightbulb moment, the Inventor Smart Monthly Newsletter is here for you.
🧠 What’s Inside This Week’s Update
💡 Bright Idea – Protect your invention with confidence
🚀 Turning Ideas Into Impact – How frustration sparks innovation
🎤 Podcast Feature – Deanna Ratnikova on creating GoDeck
🛠️ Got Invention Show – Alibaba.com’s Michael Lee on sourcing smart
📝 FAQ Highlight – What is industrial design, really?
🎉 Event Recap – Inventors Got Talent 2025 Showcase & Awards
💬 Words of Wisdom – Don’t wait 22 years to act on your idea
🕰️ Invention History – William Coolidge & the X-ray breakthrough
🛠️ USPTO Update – A new Trademark Center is coming
Protect Your Invention Idea with Confidence
Many first-time inventors make the mistake of sharing their ideas too broadly before taking steps to secure their intellectual property. While excitement is natural, premature disclosure can jeopardize your ability to obtain a patent or effectively license your invention.
Before You Share, Secure Your Rights
Before you pitch, before you prototype, and even before you discuss your idea with anyone outside a trusted circle of advisors (under NDA, of course!), seriously consider filing a provisional patent application.
Why File a Provisional Patent?
A provisional patent application is a relatively inexpensive way to establish an early filing date for your invention. It allows you to use the term "patent pending" and gives you 12 months to further develop your invention, conduct market research, and seek investment, all while preserving that crucial priority date.
Take the Next Step
It’s a powerful tool for safeguarding your concept in its early stages.
For more insights from Brian Fried, visit his Invention Playbook at https://inventionplaybook.com/
Turning Ideas Into Impact
How Everyday Frustrations Can Spark Successful Inventions
Big Ideas Often Start Small
Many great inventions don’t come from labs or big budgets, they start with a simple annoyance. A leaky bottle, a clunky container, or an inefficient routine can be the spark. But turning that spark into a real product is where most inventors get stuck.
The Real Challenge: What Comes Next
The journey from idea to market is filled with confusion and costly mistakes. Often, the biggest obstacle isn’t the idea itself—it’s knowing what to do next. That’s why more inventors are turning to tools, guidance, and a business-focused mindset.
Think Like a Strategic Inventor
The most successful inventors don’t just build, they ask smart questions:
• Does this solve a real need?
• Is there a market for it?
• What else exists, and how is this different?
• What’s the return on investment?
Avoid Emotion-Driven Decisions
One common mistake is rushing forward without proper planning. Acting on excitement instead of research often leads to wasted time and money. Smart inventing is about preparation, validation, and treating your invention like a business investment.
Be Flexible, Not Stubborn
Not every idea works in its original form, and that’s okay. Great inventors know when to pivot. The goal isn’t just to build something cool, but something useful, something that genuinely improves people’s lives.
Persistence Pays Off
The best advice for beginners? Be relentless. Keep going. Back up your ideas with thoughtful research and continuous improvement. Seek feedback, apply design thinking, and never skip the business side of inventing.
Even small frustrations can lead to life-changing products, if you’re willing to do the work.
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Inventor Spotlight Podcast Ep. 16
Deanna Ratnikova — Creator of the GoDeck
Turning Everyday Moments Into Market-Ready Products
How do you turn walks with a 3-year-old into a retail-ready invention? In Episode 16 of Inventor Spotlight, host Samantha St. Raymond sits down with Deanna Ratnikova, San Diego-based entrepreneur and creator of GoDeck, a 52-card deck designed to guide families to a new local outdoor adventure each week.
From Inspiration to In-Store
Deanna shares her journey from a simple pandemic idea to building a real product: prototyping, launching, and expanding GoDeck from San Diego all the way to Knoxville. Along the way, she landed retail placements, battled self-doubt, and bootstrapped her way forward, proving that great products can come from life’s everyday rhythms.
Built with Heart, Backed by Community
This episode is packed with insights on creativity, perseverance, and the power of local adventures. Hear how Deanna leveraged community support to keep going, and keep growing.
🎯 Discover more: @thegodeck
Want to Meet Inventors Like Deanna?
Join the Inventor Smart Community at app.inventorsmart.com, a vibrant space for collaboration, learning, and support on every step of your inventor journey.
🎥 Watch the Full Episode on YouTube:
Inventor Spotlight Podcast — Episode 16
📱 Now Streaming On:
📧 Interested in sponsoring the podcast?
Email: [email protected]
🌟 Become a Premium Insider in the Inventor Smart Community App for your chance to be featured in an upcoming episode!
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Industrial Design and what kind of products can benefit from it?
In a legal sense, an industrial design constitutes the ornamental aspect of an article.
An industrial design may consist of:
Three-dimensional features, such as the shape of an article
Two-dimensional features, such as patterns, lines, or color
Industrial designs are applied to a wide variety of products from both industry and handicraft, including:
Packages and containers
Furnishings and household goods
Lighting equipment
Jewelry
Electronic devices
Textiles
Industrial designs may also be relevant to:
Graphic symbols
Graphical user interfaces (GUI)
Logos
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Recap for National Inventor Club: Inventors Got Talent
The Inventors Got Talent 2025 Showcase & Awards, hosted by the National Inventor Club, lit up the virtual stage—bringing together a dynamic mix of inventors, entrepreneurs, and innovation enthusiasts from across the country.
This high-energy, live-streamed event featured a lineup of talented inventors presenting their prototypes, retail-ready products, and ideas in search of licensing deals, funding, or manufacturing partnerships.
A panel of expert judges, along with an engaged live audience, offered feedback, encouragement, and votes to help recognize standout inventions.
🔍 Highlights from the Showcase
Creative and impactful invention pitches
Real-time audience voting and interaction
Judges’ insights and expert feedback
Inventors making real connections with potential partners
From consumer products to clever problem-solving innovations, the showcase was a powerful reminder of the creativity and drive within the inventor community.
Missed the Event? Be Part of the Next One!
If you weren’t able to join us this time, don’t worry—more events are on the way!
Whether you’re an inventor ready to present, a curious viewer, or an industry professional, our upcoming showcases and meetups are open to you.
➤ Want to present your invention at a future event?
Apply here: https://forms.gle/3oYmCEu9BNPuUqoQ7
Spots fill quickly, so we’ll keep your application on file for upcoming opportunities.
➤ Want to join the audience next time?
Make sure you're subscribed to National Inventor Club updates to get the next event invite straight to your inbox.
Events like Inventors Got Talent are what make the inventor community thrive—through sharing ideas, building connections, and supporting innovation at every stage.
Stay tuned for more exciting events ahead!
📅 Upcoming NIC Event: Waiting for Announcement
Stay tuned! Our next exciting event is coming soon.
👉 Check the latest event listings at: app.inventorsmart.com/events
📬 And keep an eye on your inbox — we’ll be announcing all the details shortly.
We promise another engaging and informative session, and we can’t wait to share what’s next!
The Got Invention Show
The Got Invention Show features a 30-minute interview where inventors promote their inventions, seek licensing deals, or explore distribution opportunities.
Hosted by Brian Fried, each episode dives into the guest’s:
Challenges & solutions
Invention journey
Lessons learned
Future plans
Guests also share valuable insights for fellow inventors and entrepreneurs.
Listen to This Featured Episode with Alibaba.com – Source Your Invention Overseas
Michael Lee, Director of Global Marketing
About the Episode
Michael is the Director of Global Marketing for Alibaba.com, where his mission is to help businesses with sourcing needs understand how Alibaba.com’s services can support their growth.
With over 15 years of marketing experience, Michael brings a wealth of knowledge and insight to the role—particularly in the areas of product marketing and demand generation. Prior to joining Alibaba.com, he held leadership roles at several Fortune 500 companies, including Dell and Hewlett-Packard.
🎧 Listen to the full interview:
Alibaba.com – Source Your Invention Overseas
Michael Lee, Director of Global Marketing
on Got Invention Radio →
https://www.gotinventionradio.com/2015/08/28/michael-lee-director-of-global-marketing-alibaba-com-inventor-resources/
About the Got Invention Show
The show is a platform for inventors to:
Showcase their products
Share their stories
Gain exposure to licensing, distribution, and investment opportunities
📡 Available on:
Spotify, iHeartRadio, Apple Podcasts, and more
Interested in Becoming a Guest?
If you're an inventor looking to:
Pitch your idea
Attract investors
Share your journey
Sign up at: GotInventionShow.com
Meet the Host: Brian Fried
As an inventor mentor and founder of Inventor Smart, Brian has helped inventors bring their products to market for over 15 years.
🌐 Learn more at brianfried.com
📢 Subscribe to the Got Invention Show on YouTube for more inspiring stories and inventor journeys!
USPTO: Trademark Center — A New Way to Apply to Register Your Trademark
The Trademark Center is USPTO’s new centralized platform for drafting, filing, and managing trademark applications, set to fully replace the legacy TEAS system starting January 18, 2025.
Launched in open beta, it incorporates extensive user feedback—especially from attorneys, entrepreneurs, and paralegals—to:
Streamline filing
Boost data quality
Support collaboration between legal teams
Reduce application pendency
Future enhancements will include:
Collaboration tools
Customizable views for practitioners
Ongoing user testing to refine the system
The USPTO is encouraging users—whether filing for the first time or seasoned professionals—to participate in feedback sessions and training opportunities to help shape the platform’s development.
📖 To learn more, read here:
Trademark Center — A New Way to Apply to Register Your Trademark
Accelerate Your Invention Journey with Premium Insider Access
Ready to transform your ideas into reality faster? Become a Premium Insider and gain exclusive access to tailored resources, expert guidance, and special opportunities designed specifically to support inventors like you.
Advice from an Inventor
Sometimes the best advice comes from those who’ve lived it. Inventor Rhett Lucas reminds us how easy it is to let time slip by when you have an idea, and how important it is to take action.
“If I had it to do over again, I definitely would not wait 22 years to move forward with my idea, so go for it now!”
Whether you’re just starting or picking something back up, let this be your sign: Start today.
Invention History
William Coolidge obtained a patent for the X-ray tube, popularly called the Coolidge tube.
🗓️ On July 4, 1933, William Coolidge was granted a patent for the X-ray tube, commonly known as the Coolidge tube.
Originally developed in 1913, this groundbreaking invention revolutionized X-ray technology and became the foundation for all modern medical X-ray tubes.
The Coolidge tube allowed for:
Greater control over intensity and penetration of X-rays
Safer, more reliable use in medical diagnosis and treatment
🔗 Learn more:
https://www.invent.org/inductees/william-d-coolidge
Stay Connected with the Inventor Smart Community
Read on for more upcoming events and highlights from the Inventor Smart Community App. Don't miss out on our latest workshops, networking opportunities, and exclusive resources designed to propel your inventing journey forward!
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Thank You to Our Sponsors!
We extend our heartfelt thanks to our sponsors for their invaluable support to the Inventor Smart Community. Their contributions help us provide essential services and resources to inventors everywhere.
Sponsorship Opportunities
Interested in promoting your product or service in our future newsletters? We offer exclusive sponsorship opportunities to help you reach a targeted audience of inventors and innovators.
Email Us or call (631) 565-7074
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Stay connected, unlock exclusive resources, and become part of a vibrant network of inventors. The Inventor Smart Community website is your central hub for networking, learning, and sharing innovative ideas.
Don't miss out—join now and take your invention journey to the next level!
Brian Fried's Latest Book - Now Available on Audio!
Discover the insights and strategies from Brian Fried, "The Inventor Coach," in his latest book. Whether you're just starting out or looking to enhance your invention journey, this book is packed with valuable advice. And now, it's available in audiobook format for your convenience!
Listen to the audiobook on Audible: Get it on Audible here
InventorMart
A shop for Inventors, innovators, and patent holders. You've worked hard on your invention, now you can wear DESIGNS & MERCH made with you in mind! Find shirts, hoodies, sweatshirts, hats, stickers, blankets, and over 1,000 unique items to show that you are proud to be an inventor. Check out InventorMart at InventorMart
About Brian Fried
Brian Fried, widely recognized as "The Inventor Coach," is an accomplished innovator, author, and speaker with over 20 years of experience guiding inventors on their journey from idea to reality.
With 15 patents to his name, Brian has successfully licensed and manufactured his own inventions, earning recognition through QVC, infomercials, catalogs, and major retailers. As an invention licensing agent, Brian offers personalized coaching to help inventors commercialize their ideas into tangible products.
Brian is the founder of the National Inventor Club, a thriving community for inventors to collaborate, network, and access valuable resources. He also serves as the Chief Invention Officer at Inventor Smart, where he supports inventors through product development, licensing, and commercialization strategies.
In October 2023, Brian launched the Inventor Smart Community app, available on Google Play and the Apple App Store. This innovative platform serves as a social network and resource hub exclusively for inventors, fostering connections and providing tools to support their creative endeavors.
As an engaging speaker, Brian captivates audiences with his expertise on invention and innovation. He has authored three practical books for aspiring inventors and hosts the "Got Invention Show," a platform showcasing inventors and their creations, offering them valuable exposure.
With his extensive experience, resourcefulness, and passion for helping inventors succeed, Brian Fried is a trusted figure in the invention community, dedicated to turning ideas into reality.
📩 Contact Brian:
🌐 brianfried.com
📱 Inventor Smart App
📧 [email protected]
🤝 Connect on LinkedIn
Thank You for Reading
We hope you enjoyed the July 2025 edition of the Inventor Smart Community Newsletter!
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🌐 Visit: inventorsmart.com | app.inventorsmart.com
Inventively Yours,
Brian & The Inventor Smart Team
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