If you learn no other aconym let it be this one SBIR (Small Business Innovation Research). This is a government program administered by the universities around the country, and it can be very helpful to the person needing to get their project off the ground.
This is an early stage R&D funding program the amounts vary from agency to agency, and one thing that is very important about them, as the inventor you retain all intellectual property rights to your invention. This isn’t for everyone, first and foremost it isn’t fast, figure two years at the minimum, and you will be expected to jump through lots of hoops and have lots of paperwork, there is only one way to do it and that is their way. If you served in the military then you will understand what I am talking about, the right way, the wrong way, and their way. And they always win, so be prepared for a lot of aggravation. But it can be very rewarding; you’re talking with like minded people that understand what you are doing better than most of the people you deal with in real life.
This program is well worth your time to research do it on the internet or by visiting or calling your local university. Google returns 903,000 returns on the letters SBIR, so information is plentiful.
Good Luck and Good Hunting GLGH
Wednesday, January 30, 2008
January 30,2008
Government programs, they are wonderful things, but they do have drawbacks, one they are not the quick way to achieve your goals, they will throw money at your project, but only if you jump threw the hoops they put before you.
One of the main things I have found they want you or one of your team to have the expertise, for what ever your project is. One way to get that expertise is to have someone with that PhD or Masters, they don’t have to be actively involved but they do have to be on the list, of persons that are involved.
That is where the universities come in to play, I have had some very important people offer to be placed on my company list, and the really nice thing is they will do it for free or nearly free. But one must realize that you get what you pay for, they will not do your project for you the most you will get is some advice.
If you become immersed in the university program you will be able to draw on more help, it all boils down to how much your willing to invest in the process, you get as much as you give.
One of the main things I have found they want you or one of your team to have the expertise, for what ever your project is. One way to get that expertise is to have someone with that PhD or Masters, they don’t have to be actively involved but they do have to be on the list, of persons that are involved.
That is where the universities come in to play, I have had some very important people offer to be placed on my company list, and the really nice thing is they will do it for free or nearly free. But one must realize that you get what you pay for, they will not do your project for you the most you will get is some advice.
If you become immersed in the university program you will be able to draw on more help, it all boils down to how much your willing to invest in the process, you get as much as you give.
January 29, 2008
One of the great resources that is not utilized are the universities of this country. You don’t have to be a student to use the schools. I have found all you have to do is ask for help and they will be more than happy to help you for free or nearly so.
I can’t speak for all the universities in the country but the ones in Wyoming are most helpful, there are programs in place just to help the inventor.
No doubt you have seen the infomercials about getting government money for free, they go just send me money and I will be more than happy to tell you about them. Well the reality is all the grant information is available on line or even easier way is go to your state university and ask they have it all compiled. For example did you know that in the western states the Department of Agriculture funds most grants for inventions? It has to do with low population density in the western states.
So if your lost as to what to do next, talk to the people at your local university.
I can’t speak for all the universities in the country but the ones in Wyoming are most helpful, there are programs in place just to help the inventor.
No doubt you have seen the infomercials about getting government money for free, they go just send me money and I will be more than happy to tell you about them. Well the reality is all the grant information is available on line or even easier way is go to your state university and ask they have it all compiled. For example did you know that in the western states the Department of Agriculture funds most grants for inventions? It has to do with low population density in the western states.
So if your lost as to what to do next, talk to the people at your local university.
Tuesday, January 29, 2008
January 28, 2008
Had a great meeting with the engineer this morning, he was a really nice guy. I ask him to sign a non-disclosure form, and he did with no qualms.
Non-disclosure form, if you get nothing else, get a lawyer to make up a non-disclosure form. You can make one up off the information on the internet, but I would advise against it since the different states have subtle nuances in their laws, it is worth the money for one, I don’t have any idea what they cost elsewhere but here it cost me $160.00, money well spent.
They are really simple documents mine is only two pages long. It would be a terrible thing if the love of your life the thing you have spent your soul on, and want to see become a reality, stolen by someone with no scruples and the capital to take it and develop it. Without the non-disclosure your legal battle would be long and expensive, with no guarantee of winning, don’t misunderstand me it would be long and expensive even with the non-disclosure form. But you would have a legal document to stand with you in your fight.
Perhaps it is my lack of belief in the goodness of man, but I want to cover all my bases.
Non-disclosure form, if you get nothing else, get a lawyer to make up a non-disclosure form. You can make one up off the information on the internet, but I would advise against it since the different states have subtle nuances in their laws, it is worth the money for one, I don’t have any idea what they cost elsewhere but here it cost me $160.00, money well spent.
They are really simple documents mine is only two pages long. It would be a terrible thing if the love of your life the thing you have spent your soul on, and want to see become a reality, stolen by someone with no scruples and the capital to take it and develop it. Without the non-disclosure your legal battle would be long and expensive, with no guarantee of winning, don’t misunderstand me it would be long and expensive even with the non-disclosure form. But you would have a legal document to stand with you in your fight.
Perhaps it is my lack of belief in the goodness of man, but I want to cover all my bases.
Sunday, January 27, 2008
January 27,2008
Big meeting tomorrow, I hope. Get to meet with the engineer, now to see if he will tell me what a wonderful idea I have. I have already got letters of interest from several state departments.
I really need to find a LED sign maker that I can work with, been researching the net for a week now, so many choices and so little money, the story of my life.
I always develop the jitters before I meet with someone, you would think after all the meetings I would be use to it, but no, guess I will just have to live with the nervousness.
I really need to find a LED sign maker that I can work with, been researching the net for a week now, so many choices and so little money, the story of my life.
I always develop the jitters before I meet with someone, you would think after all the meetings I would be use to it, but no, guess I will just have to live with the nervousness.
Saturday, January 26, 2008
January 26, 2008
I hate weekends.
I remember when I had to work for someone else I lived just for the weekend, now they suck. It is amazing how little I can get done on the weekend; the only thing to do is more research. Thank god the internet is open 24/7.
I always wonder how I ever got anything done before the internet came along. Then I remember, I can read, books are the most wonderful thing.
I have lots of friends that won’t/can’t read a book; I have even offered to pay them to
read a book and was rebuffed. Some of my greatest pleasure have come from reading I spent a lot of my life immersed in books from the great adventures to the how to do it books, I loved them all.
There have been some memorable books in my life, some of the best were books that helped me see the light, showed me a better way do deal with the problems in my life, to become a problem solver.
One way to discover a problem and find the unique solution, which if pursued can make a difference in you life and the lives of others.
Ask questions and never quit till you get the answer you are seeking, if you ask the question enough times you will get the answer, the last thing that crosses my mind before sleep is, the question and what is the answer, and you know it works
I remember when I had to work for someone else I lived just for the weekend, now they suck. It is amazing how little I can get done on the weekend; the only thing to do is more research. Thank god the internet is open 24/7.
I always wonder how I ever got anything done before the internet came along. Then I remember, I can read, books are the most wonderful thing.
I have lots of friends that won’t/can’t read a book; I have even offered to pay them to
read a book and was rebuffed. Some of my greatest pleasure have come from reading I spent a lot of my life immersed in books from the great adventures to the how to do it books, I loved them all.
There have been some memorable books in my life, some of the best were books that helped me see the light, showed me a better way do deal with the problems in my life, to become a problem solver.
One way to discover a problem and find the unique solution, which if pursued can make a difference in you life and the lives of others.
Ask questions and never quit till you get the answer you are seeking, if you ask the question enough times you will get the answer, the last thing that crosses my mind before sleep is, the question and what is the answer, and you know it works
Friday, January 25, 2008
January 25,2008
If you’re expecting a chronological list of what to do and how to do it I’m sorry you won’t find it here, you can e-mail me and I will try to answer your questions. If that doesn’t work just keep reading perhaps I’ll stumble across the answer to your question.
Some days are better than others, and today was a fine day.
I have discovered I have no talent for mathematics or engineering, and a few of you out there say, he ain’t no word smith either, and that seems to be a problem. Many of those I have talked to lack these talents also, and they let it stop them in their tracks. Most said, “I can’t afford to hire the engineers or even do the math required to do my wonderful project.” Then they quit. But there is hope.
I have access to an engineer that will give all the advice I ask him for, now before you all say good for you, but that don’t help me out. But my friend it does help you out because you can get one of the top engineers in the country to help you with all the free advice you need. He will provide me with all the AutoCAD drawings I need at 15 dollars an hour, now I don’t know what a commercial engineering company will charge but I am betting it is a lot more than that.
There are resources out there for free or nearly free, but if you just give up and quit, then you will never discover what is available to you, if you lack PASSION for your idea then I promise no one else will have it either, and that passion is 24/7/365, you will notice I am giving you one day off every four years, isn’t that nice of me.
Some days are better than others, and today was a fine day.
I have discovered I have no talent for mathematics or engineering, and a few of you out there say, he ain’t no word smith either, and that seems to be a problem. Many of those I have talked to lack these talents also, and they let it stop them in their tracks. Most said, “I can’t afford to hire the engineers or even do the math required to do my wonderful project.” Then they quit. But there is hope.
I have access to an engineer that will give all the advice I ask him for, now before you all say good for you, but that don’t help me out. But my friend it does help you out because you can get one of the top engineers in the country to help you with all the free advice you need. He will provide me with all the AutoCAD drawings I need at 15 dollars an hour, now I don’t know what a commercial engineering company will charge but I am betting it is a lot more than that.
There are resources out there for free or nearly free, but if you just give up and quit, then you will never discover what is available to you, if you lack PASSION for your idea then I promise no one else will have it either, and that passion is 24/7/365, you will notice I am giving you one day off every four years, isn’t that nice of me.
Thursday, January 24, 2008
Myspace, Google, Ebay some one invented these and made a fortune
So you want to be an inventor, well welcome to the club, if you ever got the OH MY GOD moment, or the wake up at 3 am, or worse yet you can’t sleep and you know you have a busy day tomorrow. Well you might be an inventor.
That epiphany when you realize that there is a better way, and only you know what it is.
Well this blog is one way for me to vent my own frustrations, and hopefully pass along a few ideas that might help ride the wild horse you are about to ride, the only problem is you got to hang on for more than 8 seconds
One thing I would suggest is start by reading all you can find on how to change your own mindset, there are so many books out there. You will get garbage and more garbage, but if you walk away with just one thing, it will be worth it.
Here’s a questions, does your idea fill a need or does it require you create a need, for that wonderful thing that nobody knows they need …….yet.
That epiphany when you realize that there is a better way, and only you know what it is.
Well this blog is one way for me to vent my own frustrations, and hopefully pass along a few ideas that might help ride the wild horse you are about to ride, the only problem is you got to hang on for more than 8 seconds
One thing I would suggest is start by reading all you can find on how to change your own mindset, there are so many books out there. You will get garbage and more garbage, but if you walk away with just one thing, it will be worth it.
Here’s a questions, does your idea fill a need or does it require you create a need, for that wonderful thing that nobody knows they need …….yet.
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