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Louis Foreman of Enventys: Launch 101 Class is in Session!

July 1, 2010 by ron

The Launch Hour

Louis Foreman of Enventys: Launch 101 Class is in Session!

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Experience is the best teacher and Louis Foreman has an arm-long resume that qualifies him as a leader in the world on innovation and startups. He is founder and Chief Executive of Enventys, an integrated product design and engineering firm with offices in Charlotte, NC and Taiwan.

His interest in starting businesses and developing innovative products began while a sophomore with his first company founded in his fraternity room. Over the past 20 years Louis has created 9 successful start-ups and has been directly responsible for the creation of over 20 others. A prolific inventor, he is the inventor of 10 registered US Patents, and his firm is responsible for the development and filing of well over 400 more. Louis is the creator of the Emmy® Award winning PBS TV show, Everyday Edisons and serves as the Executive Producer and lead judge.

The casting calls of Everyday Edisons led to the formation of Edison Nation, a safe place for idea people to discover opportunity and share “in the trenches” inventing stories from around the world.

Louis was a founding member of The Inventors Network of the Carolinas, a non-profit organization that empowers inventors through education, support, and networking opportunities. Louis currently serves as a board member for the Entrepreneurial Leadership Council at Queens University, and the Central Piedmont Community College Small Business Advisory Board.

In 2008 he was appointed by United States Secretary of Commerce Carlos M. Gutierrez to serve for a three year term on the nine-person Patent Public Advisory Committee of the United States Patent and Trademark Office.

Louis is the publisher of Inventors Digest, a 20 year old publication devoted to the topic of American Innovation. In July 2009, his first book, The Independent Inventor’s Handbook, was published by Workman Publishing.

Wow! (and as they say on TV, “but wait, there is more!”)

Listen to this awesome interview with a nationally recognized innovation leader as he discusses his first start-up plus the road map from his book that can save you time, money and heartache in your launch!

ICE Supreme! Best frozen treat on the planet!

June 24, 2010 by ron

The Launch Hour

ICE Supreme! Best frozen treat on the planet!

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Ashiki Taylor of Ashiki’s All Natural, Inc. launched ICE Supreme over 8 years ago and is now in Whole Foods and other retail stores and restaurants, primarily in the Southeast U.S. Targeting the niche of Vegan, those who are lactose-intolerant, as well as the growing segment of health-conscious consumers, Ashiki’s company produces an almond-based frozen treat with current flavors being Vanilla Bean, Strawberry Bliss, Chocolate Nibs, Pecan Passion and CocoNut Supreme.

Talk about healthy, the Vanilla bean ingredients are filtered water, raw almonds, raw cashews, organic raw agave nectar, raw vanilla bean, and Himalayan crystal salt. Wow! Once you taste it you are a customer for life!

Ashiki shares with Ron & Lee how he launched from his kitchen with family and friends as his first customers, then migrated to taste tests in selected stores, and now ships (dry ice) to hungry customers throughout the U.S.

This success story should give all aspiring entrepreneurs inspiration.

Innovation in Action – Nigel Flynn

June 21, 2010 by ron

The Launch Hour

Innovation in Action - Nigel Flynn

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Nigel joins us to discuss the subject of innovation and the role it plays within the life of a business. Nigel Flynn has worked as an international Inventor; New Product Developer and Entrepreneur throughout his adult professional career in Western Europe and North America.

Nigel Flynn works as an Innovation Professional at the interface of Science; Technology and Business. He devises and develops New Products for companies, building the value of those products, and the companies that sell them. Nigel consults Globally with businesses ranging anywhere in size from Start-ups to Fortune 500’s.

His first job within the Corporate world gave him the highly desirable title of ‘Corporate Inventor’ for a European-based Multinational Corporation. Nigel shares with us his story of how he came to win that job, and what happened next, is the kind of story that would fuel the ambition of anyone with a passion for Innovation.

He has served in business management positions that include responsibilities within: New Product Development; New Business Development and as the COO of businesses ranging in size from diverse multinationals to a five person start-up. More recently, he has also raised millions of dollars in investment funding for start-up companies in the service of their early stage investment capital needs.

His early work in corporate innovation created over a dozen internationally held patents for previous sponsors. He produced the world’s most effective radar absorbent material within nine months of joining his first employer, as well as a highly conductive specialist material with over twenty Military, Communications and Consumer product applications. This newly created product category earned him a coveted European EDANA Innovation award, for the most innovative specialist material developed in a four year period within the Western European Nonwovens Industry. He has also developed numerous other products for: Medical; Military and Consumer end-use applications; including a range of biodegradable products.

Nigel’s career as an innovator began during his PhD research in the field of Chemistry, Materials Science and Applied Molecular Biology, when he accidentally discovered a method of purifying wood pulp cellulose to permit the efficient conversion of wood pulp cellulose into ethanol. This resulted in his first world-wide patent with British Petroleum Venture Research Group, while he was investigating the fundamental properties of cellulosic fiber bonding in wood pulp and paper.

Today he works as a Global Consultant for companies from Start-Ups to Fortune 500’s in New Product and New Business Development within the fields of: Consumer; Medical and Military Products. He specifically focuses upon innovation within products that are rich in technology, with a special emphasis upon: Chemistry; Materials Science and the biological Sciences; through his contribution to Slingshot Product Development Group. He also advises upon Intellectual Property. Additionally, Nigel independently supports clients in sectors as diverse as: the automotive and electronics industry; the filtration equipment sector; Industrial digital training systems; the firearms industry and cardiac diagnostics.

Listen as Nigel talks about his experiences innovating for major corporations, and his current work as an Innovation professional, consulting with companies large and small, to bring technology from science, and business success from innovations within technology.

Bill & Ron Interview Susan Smith of Poochie Pax

June 13, 2010 by ron

The Launch Hour

Bill & Ron Interview Susan Smith of Poochie Pax

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The pet industry is HUGE and growing, even in an economic downturn. Listen as Atlanta native Susan Smith of Poochie Pax shares her successful journey in developing a solution which closes the gap for fashion conscious consumers looking for a stylish carryall for everything they need while walking, training, or traveling with their dog. With Poochie Pax pet owners have easy access to training treats, dog poop bags, discreet and convenient repository of pet waste, as well as access to personal items. The design encourages dog owners to always be prepared to train their pet through positive treat reinforcement, all while staying fashionable. The design also promotes the owner to keep our environment clean and take responsibility for pet waste management through the waste bag dispenser and discreet disposal compartment.

Susan is also the President of All Fives Training and Consulting, LLC, which provides private sales, customer service and leadership training and consulting for the real estate suite industry.

Susan Smith, Executive Director of The Alliance Academy is a 17 year veteran of the Office Business Center industry. Throughout her career, she has opened 20 business centers, developed propriety OBC software and systems as well as managed, mentored, and trained hundreds of team members to strive to be the best they can be. Susan’s passion for training gained her the position of Director of Training & Development for two of the largest Business Center operators in the U.S.

If you are an entrepreneur looking to launch in the pet industry, this interview is required listening!

Words of Wisdom from Karla Hunter & Jack Lander

June 3, 2010 by ron

The Launch Hour

Words of Wisdom from Karla Hunter & Jack Lander

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Innovators and Product Developers that are looking for a fast-track through the innovation mine-field should contact Jack Lander & Karla Hunter at KarlaandJack.com for sage advice on where those mines are and how to avoid them.

Jack is legendary in the world of inventors, writing the column “The Lander Zone” for Inventors Digest, authoring “How to Finance Your Invention or Great Idea” and “All I Need Is Money”, receiving 12 patents, having served as both the vice-president of Yankee Invention Exposition and the president of the United Inventors Association, and being known in the industry as “The Inventor-Mentor”.

Karla an inventor with 10 US Patents related to 3G Wireless network applications. She is also an attorney (it is rare that you find an attorney who can invent), focusing her practice on issues relating to inventing and small business.

Karla and Jack have co-authored two books to help inventors: “How to Create the Perfect Sell Sheet to Compel Your Reader to License or Sell Your Product” and “Producing Your Invention On Your Own”. Their third book “Market Your Invention” will be available September 1.

Besides writing , they teach online seminars, provide inventors with new product evaluations, plus they mentor inventors from start to finish.

Listen up as this dynamic duo shares pure golden nuggets on the do’s and don’ts of product development!

Learn about Social Media Community Building from Bert DuMars!

May 31, 2010 by ron

The Launch Hour

Learn about Social Media Community Building from Bert DuMars!

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Sharpie, Graco, RubberMaid, Dymo….the list goes on and on of the great consumer products from NewellRubbermaid that have an on-line presence via Twitter, Facebook, and YouTube, yielding online communities that are the envy of on-line marketers. The guiding hand behind this brilliance is Bert DuMars, Vice President E-Business and Interactive Marketing for Newell Rubbermaid (NYSE: NWL) a global marketer of consumer and commercial products that touch the lives of people where they work, live and play.

Bert joined Newell Rubbermaid in 2007 and is responsible for directing and coordinating E-Marketing, Ecommerce and Social Media Marketing initiatives for Newell Rubbermaid’s externally-facing online efforts. Overseeing the E-Business shared services that include a global, enterprise web platform, and standard processes, technologies and metrics across the company’s brand sites. He also coordinates and integrates E-Business and E-Marketing efforts between business units, Corporate IT and strategic outsource partners.

Listen in to learn the power of on-line community building, how it facilitates getting accurate information out to consumers, and how a company can learn how their customers have discovered new uses for products.

New Book on China Sourcing & Manufacturing by Edie Tolchin, Don Debelak & Eric Debelak

May 25, 2010 by ron

The Launch Hour

New Book on China Sourcing & Manufacturing by Edie Tolchin, Don Debelak & Eric Debelak

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In today’s episode, “The Sourcing Lady” Edie Tolchin of EGT Global Trading and Don Debelak of One Stop Invention Shop, discuss their new book: “Sourcing Smarts: Keeping It Simple & Safe with China Sourcing & Manufacturing.

This 2nd edition includes vital information on the new Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act (CPSIA) that EVERY Inventor needs to know!

Tune in to hear Edie discuss how this act impacts inventors and the in’s & out’s of China manufacturing & importing, while Don shares with our listeners the importance of Marketing Assessments and taking the correct steps in the right order on the invention journey.

Don Debelak has been working with new products & inventions for over 25 years and is the author of 13 inventor/small business books, four of which are the best-known invention books of the last 15 years. Don was the author of Entrepreneur Magazines Bright Idea column on inventions for over seven years. Don has spent his career marketing products for new & small businesses, writing numerous business plans for raising money, both from investors & banks. Don also runs a Catalog Marketing Program at selltocatalogs.com, helping inventors & new product entrepreneurs launch their product sales in catalogs.

Edie’s EGT Global Trading specializes in offshore manufacturing services for inventions of textiles and sewn-items, bags, baby and fashion accessories, unique arts & crafts items, and household inventions. Edie is published regularly in Inventors Digest.

Mary Ellroy of Gamebird LLC: How to invent a game and get it on the market

May 24, 2010 by ron

The Launch Hour

Mary Ellroy of Gamebird LLC: How to invent a game and get it on the market

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The toy industry is one with easier entry for inventors than many other industries. Because the industry is so idea-centric, it’s often possible to show ideas without a patent requirement. Board, mechanical/electronic, and card games are relatively simple to prototype and present. Mary Ellroy of Gamebird LLC shares with our listeners the basics of game inventing. what is industry is looking for, how to create a prototype, and how to approach the toy industry.

Mary Ellroy, in the toy business since 1990, is an inventor of toys and games and an agent for toy and game inventors.. She comes to toy invention with a corporate marketing background. She received an MBA from the Boston College School of Management (now the Carroll School of Management at Boston College.) Her creative accomplishments in consumer marketing inspired her to turn that creativity to toys and games.

Her games have won multiple awards. Although a prolific speculative inventor, her marketing background places her high on the list as a “games-on-demand” contract inventor for various licenses and theme-specific concepts. As well, she has a commercial understanding of markets and products which takes her beyond the “fun” of toys to the “business” of toys.

Mary serves on the Board of the Yankee Invention Expo, an international forum for inventors. She is President Emeritus of the Inventors Association of Connecticut, one of the oldest and largest inventor organizations in the country, and she has served on the board of Women in Toys.

Donnie Davis Shares Solutions to Common Business Problems

May 11, 2010 by ron

The Launch Hour

Donnie Davis Shares Solutions to Common Business Problems

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Sooner or later, a business runs into problems: taxes, cash-flow, lack of organization, etc. Listen as Donnie Davis, CEO of Diversified Management Group Worldwide, Inc. explains how his firm uses S.T.E.A.M. to bring peace of mind to business owners (Structure, Timing, Efficiency, Accuracy, Maintenance).

DMG is a full service Accounting & Business Management Firm specializing in small, mid-sized companies and start-ups. Donnie’s creditials include 15 years of experience in Accounting & Management, member of American Institute of Certified Public Accounts (AICPA), Georgia Society of Certified Public Accountants (GSCPA) and the National Association for Black Accountants (NABA).