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Hi Inventor Smart Community,
Do you have an invention idea that may need funding?
Maybe you need money for a prototype.
Maybe you are thinking about manufacturing.
Maybe someone told you to “find an investor.”
Maybe you are wondering if you should pitch friends and family, angel investors, seed investors, or even go after venture capital.
Before you do any of that, there is one important question to ask:
Do you know what you are really saying yes to?
Tonight, the National Inventor Club Monthly Meeting is focused on one of the most important business conversations an inventor can have:
What Every Inventor Needs to Know Before Saying Yes to Investors
Because funding is not just money.
Funding can come with expectations, equity, control, legal documents, timelines, obligations, and pressure.
And for some inventors, outside investment may not be the best first step at all.
That is exactly what Brian Fried and tonight’s guest, attorney Alon Y. Kapen, will be breaking down live.
📅 Tonight’s Free Live Event
What Every Inventor Needs to Know Before Saying Yes to Investors
National Inventor Club Monthly Meeting
Tonight, Wednesday, June 24
7:00 PM EDT | 6:00 PM CDT | 4:00 PM PDT
Live Stream
Free Event | All Welcome
Hosted by:
Brian Fried
The Inventor Coach
Founder, National Inventor Club
Founder, Inventor Smart
Author of How to Make Money with Your Invention Idea
Featuring:
Alon Y. Kapen
Partner, Farrell Fritz
Attorney for entrepreneurs, startups, emerging growth companies, and founders raising capital
Watch live tonight:
Why This Event Matters
A lot of inventors say the same thing:
“I just need funding.”
That may be true.
But before you bring in money, you need to understand what kind of money you are looking for, what you are offering in return, and whether an investor is even the right path for your invention.
An investor may ask:
What problem does your invention solve?
Who is the customer?
What already exists?
What makes your idea different?
Do you have a prototype?
Do you have intellectual property protection?
How much money do you need?
What will the money be used for?
What is the business model?
How will the investor get paid back?
How much equity are you offering?
What happens if things do not go as planned?
These are not small questions.
They are business questions.
And if you are not ready to answer them, it may be too early to take money from someone else.
Tonight’s Conversation Will Cover
Brian and Alon will walk through the investor conversation from an inventor’s point of view.
They will cover:
Do you actually need outside investors, or are there better options first?
What friends and family funding really means
What angel investors, seed funding, and venture capital actually are
What investors want to see before they say yes
How deals get structured
What inventors are really signing
How much equity may be too much
How to think about valuing your idea before it makes a dollar
What Shark Tank gets right and what real life looks like
What legal documents can help protect you as a founder
What inventors should have ready before pitching anyone
Licensing and other smart paths if outside investment is not the right fit
How one product can become a brand, a company, and maybe something much bigger
What resources Alon recommends for inventors and entrepreneurs today
This is a practical conversation.
Not hype.
Not theory.
Not “just go raise money.”
This is about understanding the deal before you say yes.
A Quick Thought Before Tonight
When you are excited about your invention, it is easy to move fast.
That is normal.
You want someone to believe in it.
You want someone to help fund it.
You want the product to get made.
You want to see it out in the world.
But Brian often reminds inventors to look at the idea from a business perspective.
That means asking better questions before making big decisions.
Before you say yes to investors, ask yourself:
What stage is my invention really in?
What proof do I have that people want it?
What have I done to protect the idea?
What will the money be used for?
What am I willing to give up?
Who is helping me review the deal?
Is investment the best path, or would licensing make more sense?
Those questions can save you time, money, and stress.
Who Should Attend?
This event is for:
Inventors
Product creators
Entrepreneurs
Startup founders
Makers
Patent holders
Prototype-stage inventors
Anyone thinking about raising money
Anyone who has been approached by an investor
Anyone wondering if licensing, manufacturing, or investment is the right path
You do not need to be actively raising money right now.
You do not need to have a finished product.
You do not need to have everything figured out.
If you have an invention idea and want to make smarter decisions around it, this is a conversation worth joining.
Bring Your Questions
Brian and Alon will be taking questions live.
You can ask about:
Funding options
Equity
Investor expectations
Startup legal basics
Deal structure
Founder protection
Licensing versus raising money
What to have ready before you pitch
How to avoid saying yes too quickly
Even if you just listen in, you may hear something that changes how you think about your invention.
Join Us Tonight
We go live tonight at 7:00 PM EDT.
Click here when it is time:
You can also watch on:
Want the reminder on your calendar?
This is one of those events that can help you avoid expensive mistakes before they happen.
Know what you are asking for.
Know what you are signing.
Know what you are giving up.
Know whether investment is the right path for your invention.
We hope to see you live tonight.
Keep inventing,
The Inventor Smart Team
Helping inventors connect, learn, and move forward.
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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.