Row 1: Pictured, 2008 Gold Medallion Winners Pam Turner, Clint Fruitman, Lee Davis and Grant Hanson.
MIC 2008 ~ The 51st annual event, Invention & Idea Show™
June 13 & 14, 2008
The Minnesota Inventors Congress (MIC) is Reinventing Itself
Inventors from across the globe have test marketed their inventions at the MIC since 1958. Inventors set up their booth like they would at a traditional trade show and have access to thousands of potential customers. Product scouts, manufacturers and investors also attend our expo. We are very excited about what’s new for this years’ event.
IDEAS: One major change: Inventors can promote an invention that is still in the idea stage or maybe the prototype is too expensive or so large that it makes it a challenge to display. This area of the show floor will provide a smaller booth space and lower fee, for presenting your idea.
LOWER REGISTRATION FEES FOR EXHIBITORS: Another change: The early bird registration fee for inventor exhibitors is $295.00. Our motive for making these changes is to make the experience of test marketing your product and exhibiting at the MIC Invention & Idea Show™ 2008 a great value for your money.
TWO DAY EVENT: The show will be open to the public on Friday and Saturday from 11:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. The awards ceremony is held on Friday evening.
FREE INVENTING SUCCESS™ WORKSHOPS FOR EXHIBITORS: On Friday and Saturday, from 8:00 to 10:45 a.m. we will be hosting product development workshops. Our keynote speaker on Friday is Stephen Key, award winning inventor and patent holder; and Saturday features Louis Foreman, Publisher, Inventors Digest. Public is welcome to attend, for a nominal fee. Other workshops start at 12:00 p.m. & 2:00 p.m.
SELL YOUR PRODUCT TO THE PUBLIC. Another change allows inventors to sell market ready products directly from the exhibit booth, whether you are a first time inventor/exhibitor or a coming back as a marketplace exhibitor.
BREAKING NEWS: The MIC is proud to announce that we will be hosting an International Federation of Inventors Associations (IFIA) event. This organization has been networking inventor’s groups for 40 years; we are proud to be a part of their Jubilee celebration. IFIA members from all over the world will be extended an invitation to participate in this joint effort hosted by the MIC and IFIA. 25 countries were represented at the Jubilee kick off event in Bangkok Thailand, February 2-5, 2008.
Press Release: MIC Going Global 2008!
January 23, 2008
Going global is taking the Minnesota Inventors Congress on the road again. This time its Bangkok Thailand.
It wasn’t that many months ago that the Minnesota Inventors Congress (MIC) Executive Director, Deb Hess, returned from an international invention show in Taipei Taiwan. And now she is packing for a trip to Bangkok Thailand. Hess will be participating in the First International Inventor’s Day Convention as a speaker, jury member and exhibitor, Feb. 2-5, 2008. The organizers are hosting an international seminar on Feb. 3rd celebrating “Global Sustainability.” She will be covering initiatives being developed by independent inventors, companies and research facilities in North America. Featured projects will include an aviation fuel that reduces greenhouse emissions; biofuels; hybrid vehicles; sustainable communities; wind power and geothermal manufacturers.
This event also kicks off the year long celebration of the 40th Jubilee of the International Federation of Inventors’ Associations (IFIA), according to the organizations’ President, Dr. András Vedres, Budapest Hungary. Inventors from 23 countries are registered to participate.” The MIC is the first United States organization to join this prestigious international organization,” comments Hess. MIC members were invited to submit their inventions for consideration and these 5 will be showcased:
Invention name and inventor: IRE Rejuvenater Portable Battery Charger, Rafael Ruiz, Poteet Texas USA.
Invention Description: High amp portable battery charger powered by internal combustion engine, that charges and rejuvenates drained lead acid batteries. Charges from one battery, to a series of batteries, in parallel or series. Go Green with the BioDiesel option, also available in gas and propane.
Invention name and inventor: Mass Transit Concept, Bill Kurtz, St Croix Falls Wisconsin USA.
Invention Description: This mass transit concept uses an enclosed system by means of magnetic levitation rail cars that will transport people with their vehicles, powered by electric motors (wind/solar power option available.) This concept offers the independence of using your own vehicle to enter and exit the system.
Invention name and inventor: Stay-Clean Curtains, Donald Darnell, Auburn California USA
Invention Description: To keep dust, debris, sprays and spills from remodel projects for home or businesses safely. Low cost plastic disposable dust curtains that resist falling down and can be quickly installed in under two minutes.
Invention name and inventor: Multi-Function Toilet Tool, Richard Bixby, Ukiah California USA.
Invention Description: Self attached hanger and tool saves water, chemicals, energy, eliminates problem before, during or after you flush. Opens clogs, removes hidden items, no rubber gloves needed, sanitizes in seconds. Wheelchair accessible one hand use, uses rotation inertia.
Invention name and inventor: Invisible Home Gym, Shula Pressler, Northridge California USA
Invention Description: Conversion from furniture to gym configuration takes about 30 seconds. Arms, upper body, legs and thighs can be exercised in the comfort of your living room while watching TV. Single chair and His & Hers configurations are available.
Plans are underway for the 51st Minnesota Inventors Congress event, Invention & Idea Show™ 2008, June 13 & 14, in Redwood Falls MN.
MIC Board of Directors announces changes – 10-30-2007
Inventors: International Exposition is planned for 2008!
The Minnesota Inventors Congress Board of Directors has made progressive changes for 2008.
These changes include YOUR Suggestions that MIC has planned to adopt this coming year,
These changes are designed to meet the ever changing global economy and increase product exposure for local and international inventors. This international visibility to the international markets may open new doors for exports and local product development for export.
Cost Savings: The cost of a booth has been reduced to $295.00 ~ Second booth only $95.00!
Inventors will be able to sell their inventions and products at their booths!
Ideas and concepts will also be allowed without a working prototype keeping with the USPTO current policies regarding patents. MIC will have a new award classification for Ideas and Concepts.
To meet the travel needs of inventors, the MIC Board of Directors decided to keep the congress in 2008 to Friday and Saturday. High Impact, High Visibility, International Exposition at a much lower cost to inventors. MIC is starting to take reservations starting in November, 2007.
Thank you for your suggestions!
Purchase your booth early to assure your product receives International Exposure in 2008.
NOTE: Inventors will be able to pre-display their invention(s) on the MIC website with their booth purchase. This includes web links and custom graphics as needed for a minimum additional fee. The sooner you purchase your booth the more exposure your invention will receive. Call for more details.
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Inventing SuccessTM Workshops 2008
June 13 & 14, 2008
Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 10:45 a.m.
“10 Steps to Invention Success!”*
STEPHEN KEY, Inventor, Entrepreneur.
Sure fire steps to selling your ideas that no one is telling you about. This will be a useful “How To” seminar by successful inventor Stephen Key of inventRight.com. You will learn how to create a marketable product, protect it and submit it to the right companies using simple common sense techniques. You will walk away from this seminar feeling empowered and able to take the next steps toward your invention success.
Friday, 12:00 p.m.
1. Patents – What Inventors Need to Know!
MICHAEL NEUSTEL, Patent Attorney, Neustel Law Office.
Michael Neustel is a U.S. Patent Attorney who counsels inventors and small businesses on various patent matters including patent searches, patent applications and patent infringement. He will discuss the most common mistakes made by inventors with patents and how to avoid them. Michael will also discuss how to effectively protect your patent rights against companies when working on a budget. A Question/Answer session will be held at the end of the seminar.
2. “Licensing: What Potential Licensees Really Want”
BONNIE GRIFFIN KAAKE, President and CEO, Innovative Consulting Group, Inc.
So often inventors create, patent or secure patent pending status with Provisional Applications and then hope a company is interested enough to “take it and run with it”. It takes more than an idea and hope to interest manufacturers. If you want to make money with your inventions, this seminar will give you excellent insights into how to make it happen by someone who has been there many times on behalf of inventors and is an inventor herself.
3. Innovating For Profit!
LORI LORENZ, Founder and President of Grassroots Technology.
Use the Profit Matrix to find the sweet spot in your business for best value and best profit. Are you leaving money on the table? Can you innovate and find a better market? Optimize your time and money while satisfying your passion for your business.
Friday 2:00 p.m.
1. From Inventor to Entrepreneur ~ Choose a Path to Success!
ANDY AMOROSO, Business Development Specialist, US Small Business Administration.
To get your product in the market place, listen! Obtaining money, testing the market and costing out your product will take time and effort. Many inventors expect the boat to come to them full of money, but that’s not reality. Learn tips to make the journey easier.
2. How To Write Your Provisional Patent Application.
MICHAEL NEUSTEL, Patent Attorney, Neustel Law Office.
Michael Neustel is a U.S. Patent Attorney who is the creator of the PatentWizard software program and a co-author of The Patent Writer. Michael will discuss in detail how to effectively write a provisional patent application and how to avoid the most common mistakes made by self-drafters. A Questions/Answer session will be held at the end of the seminar.
3. Design for Manufacturing.
DAVE CLARK, Malco Design & Deliver Group.
This seminar will show you the techniques to design your product to achieve your cost targets and impress potential manufacturers and suppliers. We will show you techniques that can help you avoid costly loop backs and time consuming redesigns, plus you’ll learn how to make it faster, easier, and less expensive to introduce product line extensions in the future.
Saturday, 8:00 a.m. to 10:45 a.m.
You have an idea for a product . . . what’s next?*
LOUIS FOREMAN, Inventor; Publisher, Inventors Digest; Creator, Everyday Edisons.
Everyone has a great idea; yet, creating innovative ideas is just the start. How do you transform a great idea into a great product? And, how do you create a product that provides an economic return? This discussion will shed light on how to examine an idea before investing a dime. You will also learn what 5 questions you should ask before attempting to take your great idea to the next level.
Saturday 12:00 p.m.
1. Licensing or Manufacturing: Which is Best for your Product (and You)?
KARYL LYNCH & DAVE CORMIER, Pelham West Associates.
Product scouts Dave Cormier and Karyl Lynch will take an in depth look at key elements of the product and the individual and relate them to the opportunities presented in licensing or selling a product. We’ll explore the advantages and disadvantages of the options for getting a product to market and provide strategies you can apply to your own situation.
2. Power Networking: How to Solve any Problem by Connecting with the Right Person
RON WACKS, Entrepreneur, CEO, Microbusiness Strategies, and Co-Producer, IssuesLive.
Ask yourself this question: Do you want to call people or do you want them to call you? You’ve heard it many times: “it’s not what you know, it’s who you know”. Whether you’re employed or self-employed . . . in business 20 years or 20 minutes, Power Networking is the most important tool you can have for success. Power Networking is different than any networking seminar or workshop you’ve ever attended – you’ll learn how to cultivate relationships and develop them into long-term relationships and partnerships and pull a rabbit out of a hat . . . and people will call you.
3. Legal Traps and Pitfalls in Intellectual Property for the Entrepreneur.
ROGER BELFAY, Attorney at Law.
Discover the legal errors that entrepreneurs must avoid. Learn about those areas of Law where ignorance is definitely not bliss.
Saturday 2:00 p.m.
1.The Product Prototyping Process.
JOHN JANCSEK, CEO, Solid Design Solutions, Inc.
Find out what your options are for creating a working model of your invention. Having a prototype is one of the most effective ways to prove that your idea functions and to find buyers. Choosing the best prototyping process based on your required functionality, quantity and accuracy will be discussed. You’ll also see a review of the engineering preparations often required to make prototypes.
2. Facts Versus Myths of Invention Commercialization
BONNIE GRIFFIN KAAKE, President and CEO, Innovative Consulting Group, Inc.
Most inventors have unrealistic expectations regarding what it takes to commercialize a product: license, launch, develop, patent, market, sales potential, etc. This seminar will explain some of the realities and help you make better decisions. Many examples of successes and failures will be presented and discussed. Come prepared to interact.
3. Invention to Market on a Shoestring Budget!
JULIA RHODES, Inventor and President, Kleen Slate Concepts.
Inventing is just the first step to the life cycle of a product. What’s next if you choose to take on the challenges of bringing your product to market yourself? How can you get maximize your exposure on a limited budget? What is the real story on doing business with mass market retailers and how can you prepare yourself for the ride so you don’t fall off?
* The 8:00 a.m. sessions on Friday and Saturday are free for 2008 Expo exhibitors. Schedule is subject to change. No pre-registration is necessary for the workshops. $20.00 Fee per session.
Inventing SuccessTM Workshops 2008
June 13 & 14, 2008
Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 10:45 a.m.
“10 Steps to Invention Success!”*
STEPHEN KEY, Inventor, Entrepreneur.
Sure fire steps to selling your ideas that no one is telling you about. This will be a useful “How To” seminar by successful inventor Stephen Key of inventRight.com. You will learn how to create a marketable product, protect it and submit it to the right companies using simple common sense techniques. You will walk away from this seminar feeling empowered and able to take the next steps toward your invention success.
Friday, 12:00 p.m.
1. Patents – What Inventors Need to Know!
MICHAEL NEUSTEL, Patent Attorney, Neustel Law Office.
Michael Neustel is a U.S. Patent Attorney who counsels inventors and small businesses on various patent matters including patent searches, patent applications and patent infringement. He will discuss the most common mistakes made by inventors with patents and how to avoid them. Michael will also discuss how to effectively protect your patent rights against companies when working on a budget. A Question/Answer session will be held at the end of the seminar.
2. “Licensing: What Potential Licensees Really Want”
BONNIE GRIFFIN KAAKE, President and CEO, Innovative Consulting Group, Inc.
So often inventors create, patent or secure patent pending status with Provisional Applications and then hope a company is interested enough to “take it and run with it”. It takes more than an idea and hope to interest manufacturers. If you want to make money with your inventions, this seminar will give you excellent insights into how to make it happen by someone who has been there many times on behalf of inventors and is an inventor herself.
3. Innovating For Profit!
LORI LORENZ, Founder and President of Grassroots Technology.
Use the Profit Matrix to find the sweet spot in your business for best value and best profit. Are you leaving money on the table? Can you innovate and find a better market? Optimize your time and money while satisfying your passion for your business.
Friday 2:00 p.m.
1. From Inventor to Entrepreneur ~ Choose a Path to Success!
ANDY AMOROSO, Business Development Specialist, US Small Business Administration.
To get your product in the market place, listen! Obtaining money, testing the market and costing out your product will take time and effort. Many inventors expect the boat to come to them full of money, but that’s not reality. Learn tips to make the journey easier.
2. How To Write Your Provisional Patent Application.
MICHAEL NEUSTEL, Patent Attorney, Neustel Law Office.
Michael Neustel is a U.S. Patent Attorney who is the creator of the PatentWizard software program and a co-author of The Patent Writer. Michael will discuss in detail how to effectively write a provisional patent application and how to avoid the most common mistakes made by self-drafters. A Questions/Answer session will be held at the end of the seminar.
3. Design for Manufacturing.
DAVE CLARK, Malco Design & Deliver Group.
This seminar will show you the techniques to design your product to achieve your cost targets and impress potential manufacturers and suppliers. We will show you techniques that can help you avoid costly loop backs and time consuming redesigns, plus you’ll learn how to make it faster, easier, and less expensive to introduce product line extensions in the future.
Saturday, 8:00 a.m. to 10:45 a.m.
You have an idea for a product . . . what’s next?*
LOUIS FOREMAN, Inventor; Publisher, Inventors Digest; Creator, Everyday Edisons.
Everyone has a great idea; yet, creating innovative ideas is just the start. How do you transform a great idea into a great product? And, how do you create a product that provides an economic return? This discussion will shed light on how to examine an idea before investing a dime. You will also learn what 5 questions you should ask before attempting to take your great idea to the next level.
Saturday 12:00 p.m.
1. Licensing or Manufacturing: Which is Best for your Product (and You)?
KARYL LYNCH & DAVE CORMIER, Pelham West Associates.
Product scouts Dave Cormier and Karyl Lynch will take an in depth look at key elements of the product and the individual and relate them to the opportunities presented in licensing or selling a product. We’ll explore the advantages and disadvantages of the options for getting a product to market and provide strategies you can apply to your own situation.
2. Power Networking: How to Solve any Problem by Connecting with the Right Person
RON WACKS, Entrepreneur, CEO, Microbusiness Strategies, and Co-Producer, IssuesLive.
Ask yourself this question: Do you want to call people or do you want them to call you? You’ve heard it many times: “it’s not what you know, it’s who you know”. Whether you’re employed or self-employed . . . in business 20 years or 20 minutes, Power Networking is the most important tool you can have for success. Power Networking is different than any networking seminar or workshop you’ve ever attended – you’ll learn how to cultivate relationships and develop them into long-term relationships and partnerships and pull a rabbit out of a hat . . . and people will call you.
3. Legal Traps and Pitfalls in Intellectual Property for the Entrepreneur.
ROGER BELFAY, Attorney at Law.
Discover the legal errors that entrepreneurs must avoid. Learn about those areas of Law where ignorance is definitely not bliss.
Saturday 2:00 p.m.
1.The Product Prototyping Process.
JOHN JANCSEK, CEO, Solid Design Solutions, Inc.
Find out what your options are for creating a working model of your invention. Having a prototype is one of the most effective ways to prove that your idea functions and to find buyers. Choosing the best prototyping process based on your required functionality, quantity and accuracy will be discussed. You’ll also see a review of the engineering preparations often required to make prototypes.
2. Facts Versus Myths of Invention Commercialization
BONNIE GRIFFIN KAAKE, President and CEO, Innovative Consulting Group, Inc.
Most inventors have unrealistic expectations regarding what it takes to commercialize a product: license, launch, develop, patent, market, sales potential, etc. This seminar will explain some of the realities and help you make better decisions. Many examples of successes and failures will be presented and discussed. Come prepared to interact.
3. Invention to Market on a Shoestring Budget!
JULIA RHODES, Inventor and President, Kleen Slate Concepts.
Inventing is just the first step to the life cycle of a product. What’s next if you choose to take on the challenges of bringing your product to market yourself? How can you get maximize your exposure on a limited budget? What is the real story on doing business with mass market retailers and how can you prepare yourself for the ride so you don’t fall off?
* The 8:00 a.m. sessions on Friday and Saturday are free for 2008 Expo exhibitors. Schedule is subject to change. No pre-registration is necessary for the workshops. $20.00 Fee per session.
