Got Product Development Questions?

My name is Brian Gates and I am the founder of Design My Idea and NventNode. I have personally worked on over 300 products in just about every market segment with inventors across the globe. If you have any questions on design, engineering, prototyping, packaging or marketing materials I happy to help. Just post them under this thread and I will do my best to respond quickly. Thank you UIA for creating a fantastic forum!

No problem Brian - and thank you for the great support you give to the inventor community!

Brian, having done so many products are there any tips you could give an Inventor when they come to you that would make your job easier? I know on my end when Inventors approach me they don't seem to have a clear picture of what they want or are trying to do with their idea.

Hi Brian!
I am very new to this scene but my idea has been brewing for a while now and I am ready to proceed.
My idea, however is not a physical product so most of the information and advice I am reading is geared in that direction.
My product is an internet search engine, so I am leaning towards applying for a patent first and then hiring a web designer to create the search engine and host it.
I am sorry if I sound vague but I am still wet behind the ears with this project.
Thanks!!

Adam,

While inventing a search engine may sound like a great idea, there are few higher hills to climb on the internet.

Look at the bodies of search engines that never made it strewn along the road in the last 20 years - there are many.

At its core what you are talking about is a process, so working with a software person to refine the process of the search engine is a much more logical step than hiring someone to code it for you. That being said, once the flow is nailed down and assuming it's markedly different than other search engines, simply patent your process. The more immediate value is in the protection of the unique process not building the next search engine.

Once you have a unique engine design, and you have at least a patent application that looks like it could get awarded, THEN start approaching companies who already build search engines to work a deal.

Unless you have a lot of funding and a background in software development you really don't want to get into that business just because you came up with an idea for a search engine.

Just something to think about.....