116: How to Turn an Invention into a Product Business Product Startup

Tom Gray is the Founder and Executive Producer of the Make48 TV Show, a show where contestants have 48 hours to come up with an invention idea and build a prototype to showcase it to the judges. The show is on PBS, Amazon Prime, and many other networks around the world. I will actually be one of the judges on the upcoming season, so stay tuned for that release date in coming months! Today Tom is going to share some valuable knowledge on how inventors, startups, and small manufacturers can grow from being an inventor, maker, tinkerer, or product ideator into being a real product business success via either product licensing or starting a product manufacturing business.
Today you will hear us talk about:

Two choices: License or build a startup

Licensing still requires you to move down the

4 things to present an invention idea

Your first prototype is never the final one, do a few to get it right

Make sure to have a quick and clean video

Sales sheet, just one page

Some IP protection, done well

Small stepping stones in developing the product


EPISODE LINKS
Tom Gray / Make48 Links:


LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tom-gray-a0948a77



Company: https://make48.com/



Twitter: https://twitter.com/gomake48



Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gomake48/



YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/Make48



The Product Startup Podcast Links:


Website: https://www.ProductStartup.com/



Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ProductStartup/



LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/ProductStartup/



Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/ProductStartup/



Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/ProductStartup/



Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/ProductStartup/



Twitter: https://twitter.com/ProductStartup



YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/MakoInvent



Mako Design Links:


Website: https://www.makodesign.com/



YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/MakoInvent



Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/MakoInvent/



LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/MakoDesign/



Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MakoInvent/



Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/MakoInvent/



Twitter: https://twitter.com/MakoInvent/



Kevin Mako Links:


Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/Entrepreneurs/



LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/KevMako/



Quora: https://www.quora.com/profile/Kevin-Mako



Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KevMakoPage/



Twitter: https://twitter.com/KevMako/



About: MAKO Design + Invent is the original firm providing world-class consumer product development services tailored to startups, small manufacturers, and inventors. Simply put, we are the leading one-stop-shop for developing your physical product from idea to store shelves, all in a high-quality, cost-effective, and timely manner. We operate as one powerhouse 30-person product design team spread across 4 offices to serve you (Austin, Miami, San Francisco, & Toronto). We have full-stack in-house industrial design, mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, patent referral, prototyping, and manufacturing services. To assist our startup and inventor clients, in addition to above, we help with business strategy, product strategy, marketing, and sales/distribution for all consumer product categories. Also, our founder Kevin Mako hosts The Product Startup Podcast, the industry’s leading hardware podcast. Check it out for tips, interviews, and best practices for hardware startups, inventors, and product developers. Click HERE to learn more about Mako Design + Invent!