In partnership with
Inventor Smart Community Newsletter
October 2026
Whether you’re developing your first idea or working toward your next product launch, welcome to your October Inventor Smart Community update.
This month, we’re sharing advice on understanding your intellectual property, preparing your product for sale, and building your inventor team. Plus, join us for two upcoming live events, including a conversation with Shark Tank executive producer Barry Poznick!
Bright Idea: Protect Your Invention Before You Share It
From Brian Fried, The Inventor Coach™
“Do you have intellectual property protection?” is one of the first questions I ask inventors who reach out to me.
Many say, “Yes, I have a patent,” or “I filed for a patent.” But when I ask what type of application they filed or whether a patent has actually been issued, they often aren’t sure.
That distinction matters. Before showing your invention, understand what you filed, what it covers, and which deadlines come next.
Know What You Filed
A provisional patent application is not an issued patent. It establishes a filing date for the invention disclosed in the application and generally gives you a 12-month window to pursue a corresponding non-provisional application.
During that time, you may be testing your prototype, gathering feedback, making improvements, and deciding whether to pursue licensing, manufacturing, or another path. Keep your application’s scope and deadlines in mind as you make those decisions.
A non-provisional utility patent application includes claims defining the protection you are seeking. Filing an application does not mean a patent has been granted.
Ask yourself:
Did I file a provisional patent application?
Did I file a non-provisional patent application?
Did I apply for a design patent?
Has a patent actually been issued?
When was my application filed?
What exactly is included in the application?
What deadlines do I need to meet?
Don’t rush to show your invention before you understand your intellectual property position.
If you plan to license your invention, your intellectual property may be one of your most important assets. Take the time to understand your application and discuss questions about disclosure, coverage, and deadlines with a qualified patent professional.
Protect your bright idea and give yourself the opportunity to turn it into something more!
Two Upcoming Live Events
Turn Your Idea Into a Hit: Live with a Shark Tank Producer
Tuesday, October 27 | 7 PM ET | Free for everyone
Join Brian Fried and Barry Poznick, the executive producer behind Shark Tank and The Voice, for a conversation about what helps an idea stand out and grow into a lasting success.
Whether you’re developing a prototype, preparing a pitch, or deciding what comes next, join us for insights from someone who has spent his career spotting potential.
Ask the Inventor Coach: Live Q&A with Brian Fried
Thursday, October 29 | 7–8 PM ET | Premium Insider Exclusive
Keep the conversation going! Dig deeper into takeaways from the National Inventor Club event and bring your own invention questions to Brian.
This Premium Insider exclusive offers a small-group setting for personalized feedback on licensing, pitching, product development, and your next steps.
Blu Dot surpasses 2,000% ROAS with self-serve CTV ads
Home furniture brand Blu Dot blew up on CTV with help from Roku Ads Manager. Here’s how:
After a test campaign reached 211,000 households and achieved 1,010% ROAS, the brand went all in to promote its annual sales event. It removed age and income constraints to expand reach and shifted budget to custom audiences and retargeting, where intent was strongest.
The results speak for themselves. As Blu Dot increased their investment by 10x, ROAS jumped to 2,308% and more page-view conversions surpassed 50,000.
“For CTV campaigns, Roku has been a top performer,” said Claire Folkestad, Paid Media Strategist, Blu Dot. “Comping to our other platforms, we have seen really strong ROAS… and highly efficient CPMs, lower than any other CTV partner we've worked with.”
Using Roku Ads Manager, the campaign moved from a pilot to a permanent performance engine for the brand.
Before You Launch: Know Your GTINs and U.P.C.s
Planning to sell through retailers, distributors, or online marketplaces like Amazon? Product identification belongs on your preparation list.
Learn how GTINs and U.P.C. barcodes work, why product variations matter, and what to consider before you’re ready to sell.
A GTIN, or Global Trade Item Number, identifies a trade item. A U.P.C. barcode carries product identification information in a form that can be scanned.
As your business grows, you may introduce different sizes, colors, package quantities, or other variations. Those differences can affect which products need separate identifiers.
Understanding product identification early can help you prepare for retailer and marketplace requirements.
The inventor’s tip: Don’t wait until launch day to learn about product identification. Make it part of your planning as your product and packaging take shape.
Brian Fried’s Invention Playbook
Build Your Inventor Team in the Right Order
Before hiring an attorney, designer, prototype maker, or manufacturer, make sure you have the right expertise for your current stage.
Brian shares how to build your team step by step, ask better questions, and avoid spending money before your invention is ready.
Hiring good professionals matters, but timing matters, too.
Researching your invention before investing heavily in branding, starting with a simple prototype before committing to an expensive version, and carefully vetting professionals can help you make better use of your resources.
In this article, Brian explains how he coaches inventors through assembling a team, from patent attorneys and agents to engineers, prototype makers, manufacturers, and marketing professionals.
The goal is to understand what help you need now and what can wait.
You don’t need your entire team on day one. You need the right expertise when your invention is ready for it.
Missed September’s National Inventor Club Meeting?
Brian Fried joined Joan Lefkowitz, founder of Accessory Brainstorms, to discuss what it takes to move an invention from idea to retail shelf.
Their conversation covered licensing, preparing to approach an agent, and the different paths a product can take to market.
From Idea to Retail Shelf: Highlights from the Conversation
Brian and Joan brought perspectives from different sides of the invention and commercialization process, helping inventors understand what happens between developing a concept and seeing a product reach consumers.
Understanding licensing
They discussed what the licensing process can look like from both the inventor’s and licensing agent’s perspectives.
What makes a product stand out
The conversation explored factors that can help an invention attract attention from retailers and potential licensing partners.
Different paths to market
Catalogues, TV shopping, and traditional retail were among the channels discussed.
Lessons from real products
Joan shared experience from products she helped bring to market, including Topsy Tail, Hollywood Fashion Tape, Hairdostick, Lumbarwear, Derma Spring, and Polar Bandit.
Preparing before approaching an agent
Inventors learned why understanding their product, opportunity, and readiness matters before seeking a licensing relationship.
Thinking beyond the invention itself
The discussion emphasized learning the business side of commercialization alongside developing the product.
Hosted by the National Inventor Club and powered by the Inventor Smart Community App, the meeting offered practical lessons for inventors at different stages of their journey.
The Got Invention Show
Meet Andy K., Inventor of the Doorway Cart, Vertex Toothbrush & VerPet Toothbrush
How do everyday problems become product ideas?
In this episode of The Got Invention Show, Brian Fried sits down with inventor and entrepreneur Andy K. to explore the journey behind three products: the Doorway Cart, Vertex Toothbrush, and VerPet Toothbrush.
Andy shares experiences from moving his ideas through development, including the challenges and successes that came with creating products designed to solve everyday problems.
From improving how people move and transport items with the Doorway Cart to developing oral care products for people and pets, his story offers a look at the persistence involved in turning a concept into something tangible.
Explore his products:
Share Your Own Invention Story
Hosted by Brian Fried, The Got Invention Show features 30-minute interviews with inventors about their products, development experiences, lessons learned, and future plans.
It’s an opportunity to introduce your invention, share your journey, and discuss the licensing or distribution opportunities you’re pursuing.
Watch and listen through GotInventionShow.com, GotInventionTube, Spotify, iHeartRadio, Apple Podcasts, and other platforms.
Free USPTO Resources for Inventors and Entrepreneurs
Understanding intellectual property can be an important part of turning an idea into a business.
The United States Patent and Trademark Office offers free educational resources covering patents, trademarks, searching, applications, and other IP topics.
A useful place to begin is the USPTO Video Learning Center, where you can explore educational videos and learn from USPTO experts.
Resources to Explore
Patent and trademark basics
Learn about different forms of intellectual property and how they may relate to your invention or business.
Patent searching
Explore tools and tutorials for researching existing patents and published applications.
Trademark resources
Learn about searching, applying, and protecting your brand.
Licensing information
Explore educational content about licensing intellectual property.
Patent and Trademark Resource Centers
Learn about research assistance, workshops, and other resources available through PTRCs.
Startup resources
Explore information relevant to entrepreneurs, including intellectual property and other business topics.
The inventor’s tip: Start learning before you’re ready to file an application or launch your product. Familiarity with the basics can help you ask more informed questions along the way.
Frequently Asked Questions
What kinds of inventions can be patented, and how does the process begin?
Inventions can come from many fields of technology, from kitchen tools to complex electronic systems. An invention may be a product or a process, and a single product can incorporate multiple inventions.
Whether a particular invention qualifies for a patent depends on the applicable requirements and the details of the invention.
The process generally involves preparing a patent application and submitting it to the appropriate national or regional intellectual property office. The steps, costs, and requirements vary by jurisdiction and application type.
Patent protection is territorial. Inventors considering protection in multiple countries need to plan for the relevant filing procedures, deadlines, and costs.
Invention History
John Logie Baird and the Development of Television
On October 2, 1925, John Logie Baird reached an important milestone in his work on an early television system.
Born in Scotland, Baird studied electrical engineering in Glasgow. In 1922, he began developing ideas for transmitting and receiving pictures.
Working with limited resources, he continued experimenting. In March 1925, he presented a three-week series of demonstrations of moving silhouette images at Selfridge’s department store in London.
His story offers a reminder that invention often advances through repeated experiments, resourcefulness, and persistence.
Stay Connected with the Inventor Smart Community
Keep learning, meet fellow inventors, and stay up to date on community events through the Inventor Smart Community App.
Bring your questions, share your progress, and connect with people working through their own invention journeys.
InventorMart
Made for People Who Love Inventing
You’ve put time and effort into your invention. Show your inventor pride with designs and merchandise created for inventors, innovators, and patent holders.
Explore shirts, hoodies, sweatshirts, hats, stickers, blankets, and more.
Thank You to Our Sponsors
Thank you to the partners supporting the Inventor Smart Community and helping us connect inventors with resources for their next steps.
Our Valued Sponsors
Interested in connecting your business with our inventor community?
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.
Contact: [email protected]
Thank You for Reading
Thank you for being part of the Inventor Smart Community. We look forward to seeing you at an upcoming event and hearing what you’re working on!
Inventively Yours,
Brian & The Inventor Smart Team
Looking for the additional stories, resources, and meeting highlights?
Read the full October edition → https://hq.inventorsmart.com/p/october-2026-inventor-smart-community-newsletter