Vancouver Business Resource

VancouverBusinessResource.org
WHERE SW WASHINGTON BUSINESSES GO TO GROW

You did it. You figured it out.

Now what?

 

How do you take that sweet idea and turn it into

something you can sell? This is a good place to start.

 

Here's a list of great information and steps to take
to help you in your plot to take over the world.
Inventor Resources

    Here are some resources you may find useful. Be aware that many of the .com sites offer products or services for sale. This list does not constitute an expressed or implied endorsement by the SBA or SBDC of any website opinions, products, or services. The following is supplied only for your information. Use caution when evaluating any offer requiring payment.

  • www.mipooregon.org
    MIPO is a non-profit organization located in Portland, Oregon that provides resources, training, and access to consultative services to inventors, innovators, entrepreneurs and small businesses that are creating, inventing, designing, new products
  •  www.business.wsu.edu/organizations/iac/Pages/index.aspx
    Washington State University has an Washington Innovation Assessment Center which provides a feasibility analysis and market research on your product.
  • www.oen.org
    The Oregon Entrepreneur Network has helped foster the flow of entrepreneurial ideas, services, and capital to entrepreneurs.
  • www.uspto.gov
    US Patent and Trademark Office’s site offers comprehensive information on Trademarks, Copyrights, Patents, and Domain names as well as legal and legislation information.  Also provides help with preliminary patent searches.
  • http://www.copyright.gov/
    Go to the Copyright Office on the Library of Congress site for information on legislation and records as well as forms and publications.
  • www.inventorfraud.com
    National Inventor Fraud Center provides information on “Inventor First Steps,” how to market ideas, licensing, patent protect, and other references as well as information about promotion companies.
  • www.almaden.ibm.com/cs/patent.html
    IBM’s site hosts the Intellectual Property Network which provides the resources to search, view, and download any US patent in the last 26 years.
  • www.thomasregister.com
    Once you register, you can search through a database of more than 173,000 US and Canadian manufacturers to find a company to contact.  You may also get this information through the main library (Ft. Vancouver Regional in Vancouver, WA) since they will normally have a set of registers—the web site might be more up-to-date.
  • www.trademark.com
    Trademark.com offers state, federal, and international trademark searches on names, designs, logos, slogans, and domain names.
  • www.uspatentinfo.com
    Da Vinci Design Resource provides links to learn more on patents, copyrights, trademarks, and design resources.
  • www.inventnet.com/page1.html
    The Inventors’ Network--Provides inventors with a way to network as well as provide assistance in developing and marketing inventions.
  • www.tscentral.com
    Trade Show Central offers details on over 30,000 trade shows and event management solutions once you have a supply of product to sell.
  • www.Nolo.com
    Nolo provides legal information in “Plain English.”  This site offers legal information on patents, trademarks, and copyrights involving protecting your invention, registration, infringement, trademark searches, etc.
Support

  • Do you need a sounding board to vet your new idea?

    Set up an appointment with a SCORE counselor:
    www.scorevancouver.org

  • Do you need resources to put your idea into action?

    Ask Innovate Washington about strategic business/ technology consulting and market launch and legal services.
    http://www.innovatewashington.org/entrepreneur-support

  • Do you know who out there would be interested seeing your idea come to life?

    Check out the USA National Innovation Marketplace, where investors and investors connect.
    http://innovationsupplychain.com/

  • Do you need university help with your R&D?

    Contact a university department head and inquire about class research projects and internship opportunities.

  • Are you looking for a contract manufacturer to help you develop your prototype?

    Contact CREDC to find local manufacturers who specialize in prototype manufacturing services:
    www.CREDC.org

  • Have you demonstrated proof of concept and need additional funding and help?

    Consider pitching your business idea at Clark County PubTalk event, hosted by SWWDC & CREDC:
    http://www.swwdc.org/business-resources/entrepreneurship.html
Networking
Organizations
Space

  • Are you looking for cheap space?

    Check real estate classifieds or contact CREDC:
    www.CREDC.org
Capital

  • Do you have a medical device and looking for funding?

    Consider WINGS out of Puget Sound:
    http://medtechwings.com/

  • Are you looking for investors?

    Oregon Entrepreneur Network
    www.oen.org
Grants

  • Would you like to seek potential investment from the largest angel network in the U.S.? ($1-3M)

    Consider presenting your idea to Keiretsu Forum investors:
    http://medtechwings.com/

  • Do you have a product that could be funded by a grant?

    Search for Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) or Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) grants
    http://www.sbir.gov/
Periodicals
Publications

  • Debelak, Don. Bringing Your Product to Market

    New York: John Wiley & Sons, 1997.

  • Heisler, Sanford I. The Wiley Project Engineer’s Desk Reference

    New York: John Wiley & Sons, 1994.

  • Lynn, Gary S. From Concept to Market

    New York: John Wiley & Sons, 1989.

  • Mosley, Thomas E., Jr. Marketing Your Invention

    Chicago: Upstart Publishing, 1997.

  • Pressman, David. Patent It Yourself

    Berkeley: Nolo Press, 2004.