Jonathan Swift once said, “Invention is the talent of youth, as judgment is of age.” A Lot of people have changed our lives greatly through the things they invented. Some have also suffered greatly, in the process of bringing their inventions to life. Some of these ideas end up in the wrong hands. Many other creative minds have no idea how to push their ideas into existence so they close that chapter and let their plans gather dust on the shelves.

If you are one of these people, it’s about time you let the world know about the next big thing you are planning to create. Whether you have found a shorter route to mass, the world is always ready to listen.

However, here are some things you need to do first

1. Prepare a Blueprint

Write down a clear business plan. A written idea becomes easier to comprehend. Writing also creates room for corrections and amendments necessary to bring out the desired outcome. Amazon is the largest rainforest on earth. If you were to be dropped at the center, would you find your way out without a map? Exactly.

By the way…

Did you know that Jeff Bezos, the richest man in the world, first wrote the idea of Amazon on a road trip to Seattle? From that point he set the ball rolling. It’s less likely he would be the far he is today if he had not taken that step.

So, make use of an inventor’s journal to record your idea, the process, and the outcome.

2. Research the Invention

Unfortunately, people have identical problems and quite often, similar ways of resolving them. The idea you have might have been roaming in someone’s head earlier. Chances are, they patented the idea but failed to take the necessary steps to actualization. First off, get deep into the books and figure out if your idea has a prior patent to avoid wasting your time. Secondly, research the size of your target market. Assess if the idea is something that will tap into people’s interests. 

Not everybody is going to buy into your idea, but at least have a considerable number of prospects that can give you returns. 

3. Make a Prototype

It’s unprofessional to be explaining your ideas by word of mouth. In most cases, nobody will take you seriously. You should have a working prototype. A prototype is something similar that clearly shows how the final product works. When Carl Benz thought of a self-powered horseless carriage, he went ahead and created the Benz Patent Motorwagen. The car we use today has evolved from that particular prototype. In the initial stages, you need something that clearly illustrates your idea. Having a 3d model is a great idea.

It makes you stand out as someone who understands what you are presenting. It also builds confidence in the investors who wish to support your project.

4. Patent Your Invention

Now that you have the idea, someone might steal and exploit it before you do.

Scary. Right? 

It does not belong to you until it’s patented. If you have the money it is advisable to hire a lawyer or a patent professional to do it for you. But… It doesn’t mean you can’t do it yourself. Fill the patent application forms.  Patenting may require a considerable amount of cash but it will save you from theft and exploitation by opportunists. Make sure it doesn’t fall into the wrong hands.  Once you get the patent, be assured that you have everything under control and you can go ahead and exploit the idea.

5. Fund the Invention

There are many ways to fund your invention and bring it to life. You can use personal finance if you have the money to finance the idea or get support from family and friends, which is much easier.  You can also go for crowd funding. Crowd funding is where a large group of people contribute to financing a project.  Seek investors. Angel investors are people willing to fund an invention with the hope of getting profits later on. But for this, you have to be smart enough to convince your investors and make them believe in your idea. Many people have used this method including Google. Jeff Bezos is one of the investors who funded the idea that Larry Page and Sergy Brins had to bring a search engine to life. Most governments also offer funding for inventions as grants to support innovation. You can decide which one works for you.

Bottom-line

The easier part is getting the idea into your head. The greatest task lies in the implementation phase. You need to be ruthless and pursue what you need. Write down your idea and do thorough patent research to establish whether it is a new idea you are bringing to the world. Make a good prototype and patent the invention to safeguard your work. Lastly, bring the idea to the world. Struggle on it until it’s in use. 

Remember…

Do not sell the invention yet! 

Many people will approach you and try to buy it off if it’s a great idea. Imagine how many people tried to buy Facebook in its initial stages. How much would Mark Zuckerberg have lost?