Event summary

May 10, 2023 - May 12, 2023

12:00 p.m. ET - 4:00 p.m. ET

United States Patent and Trademark Office Headquarters - Madison Building, Clara Barton Auditorium

600 Dulany Street

Alexandria, VA 22314

Add to Calendar2023-05-10 12:00:002023-05-10 12:00:00Invention-Con 2023: Building tomorrow's innovation Do you have a great idea you want to commercialize? Then join us for the United States Patent and Trademark Office's (USPTO) free conference, Invention-Con 2023: Building tomorrow's innovation, coming May 10-12, from noon to 4 p.m. ET daily. Learn from accomplished innovators, inventors, entrepreneurs, and business owners how to use intellectual property (IP) to achieve success. Discover the resources available to you throughout the innovation ecosystem. Connect with IP and business experts who can help you develop a strategy for taking your product from idea to market. Register today to attend online or in person (May 12 only) at USPTO headquarters in Alexandria, Virginia: Attend online Attend in person (May 12 only) Agenda (Subject to change. All times ET) Day one: Understanding your value Wednesday, May 10 Time Topic Noon-12:10 p.m. Welcome and USPTO leadership greeting 12:10-12:55 p.m. Turning passion to profits Hear personal stories of inventors who went to market. 12:55-1:05 p.m. Panel transition (break) 1:05-1:50 p.m. Know your value, equity, and ownership Understand what you should be offering for investment and what your valuation is. 1:50-2 p.m. Break 2-2:45 p.m. Branding and protecting your trademark Learn about the importance of intellectual property (IP) protection for your trademark. 2:45-2:50 p.m. Panel transition 2:50-3:35 p.m. Licensing your intellectual property Learn when, why, and how to license your IP. 3:35-3:50 p.m. Resource review and wrap-up Day two: Connecting to opportunities Thursday, May 11 Time Topic Noon-12:10 p.m. Welcome and USPTO leadership greeting 12:10-12:45 p.m. Connecting to resources and networks: Why it matters Hear about key programs and services from key resource partners who will empower your small business to achieve success. 12:45-12:50 p.m. Workshop transition (break) 12:50-1:35 p.m. Breakout sessions (Sessions run simultaneously) Building the business plan Listen to a discussion on how to build a traditional or lean business plan, including all the elements needed to request funding. Social media and brand promotion Learn about the use of IP on social media sites and campaigns, and discover innovative ways content creators are utilizing trademarks and branding to stand out. Building prototypes: From design to build Learn about research and design fundamentals, how to engineer designs, and the best ways to maximize your dollars when building prototypes. Contracting with federal agencies Learn the process to contract with federal agencies, from System for Award Management (SAM) registration through contract solicitation and award. Learn about the 8(a) Business Development program, the HUBZone program, and set-aside opportunities for women, veterans, disabled veterans, and socially and economically disadvantaged small-business owners. 1:35-1:40 p.m. Workshop transition (break) 1:40-2:25 p.m. Breakout sessions (Sessions run simultaneously) Concept to commerce Do you have the next big idea, but don't have the resources or space you need to execute your plan? Learn how to connect with local incubators and accelerators who can assist with bringing your vision to market. Cybersecurity for small businesses Hear about cybersecurity resources to help protect your business and your customers. Show me the money! Access to capital Learn about SBA loan programs to help start, grow or expand your business. Perfecting the pitch Your business plan is solid; now perfect your pitch to secure funding. Learn how to tailor your pitch based on audience, time, and other key factors. 2:25-2:30 p.m. Break 2:30-4 p.m. Virtual booths open and Regional Office programming Day three: Moving your business forward Friday, May 12 Time Topic Noon-12:10 p.m. Welcome and USPTO leadership greeting 12:10-12:55 p.m. Turning passion to profits 12:55-1:05 p.m. Panel transition 1:05-1:50 p.m. Funding for growth Learn how to find grants, investors, and opportunity. 1:50-2 p.m. Break 2-2:45 p.m. Understanding manufacturing Learn how to find help and overcome obstacles in manufacturing. 2:45-2:50 p.m. Panel transition 2:50-3:35 p.m. Pivoting in the marketplace Learn how to make necessary changes based on demand and consumption. 3:35-3:50 p.m. Resource review and wrap-up 4-5:30 p.m. In-person networking event View recordings of past programs on the Invention-Con event series page. Invention-Con is the USPTO's annual conference for independent inventors, entrepreneurs, and small-business owners whose success depends on guarding their creative work. This program is presented by the USPTO's Office of Innovation Outreach. For more information, or if you have any questions or comments, please email us at inventioncon@uspto.gov. United States Patent and Trademark Office Headquarters - Madison Building, Clara Barton Auditorium 600 Dulany Street Alexandria, VA 22314 United States United States Patent and Trademark Office Headquarters - Madison Building, Clara Barton Auditorium 600 Dulany Street Alexandria, VA 22314 United States United States Patent and Trademark Office Headquarters - Madison Building, Clara Barton AuditoriumAmerica/New_Yorkpublic

Attend in person (May 12 only)

Virtual Location

Attend online

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Invention-Con 2023: Building tomorrow's innovation

Do you have a great idea you want to commercialize? Then join us for the United States Patent and Trademark Office's (USPTO) free conference, Invention-Con 2023: Building tomorrow's innovation, coming May 10-12, from noon to 4 p.m. ET daily.

Learn from accomplished innovators, inventors, entrepreneurs, and business owners how to use intellectual property (IP) to achieve success.
Discover the resources available to you throughout the innovation ecosystem.
Connect with IP and business experts who can help you develop a strategy for taking your product from idea to market.

Attend online Attend in person (May 12 only)

Agenda

(Subject to change. All times ET)

Day one: Understanding your value

Wednesday, May 10

Time	Topic
Noon-12:10 p.m.	Welcome and USPTO leadership greeting
12:10-12:55 p.m.	Turning passion to profits Hear personal stories of inventors who went to market.
12:55-1:05 p.m.	Panel transition (break)
1:05-1:50 p.m.	Know your value, equity, and ownership Understand what you should be offering for investment and what your valuation is.
1:50-2 p.m.	Break
2-2:45 p.m.	Branding and protecting your trademark Learn about the importance of intellectual property (IP) protection for your trademark.
2:45-2:50 p.m.	Panel transition
2:50-3:35 p.m.	Licensing your intellectual property Learn when, why, and how to license your IP.
3:35-3:50 p.m.	Resource review and wrap-up

Day two: Connecting to opportunities

Thursday, May 11

Time	Topic
Noon-12:10 p.m.	Welcome and USPTO leadership greeting
12:10-12:45 p.m.	Connecting to resources and networks: Why it matters Hear about key programs and services from key resource partners who will empower your small business to achieve success.
12:45-12:50 p.m.	Workshop transition (break)
12:50-1:35 p.m.	Breakout sessions (Sessions run simultaneously)
	Building the business plan Listen to a discussion on how to build a traditional or lean business plan, including all the elements needed to request funding.
	Social media and brand promotion Learn about the use of IP on social media sites and campaigns, and discover innovative ways content creators are utilizing trademarks and branding to stand out.
	Building prototypes: From design to build Learn about research and design fundamentals, how to engineer designs, and the best ways to maximize your dollars when building prototypes.
	Contracting with federal agencies Learn the process to contract with federal agencies, from System for Award Management (SAM) registration through contract solicitation and award. Learn about the 8(a) Business Development program, the HUBZone program, and set-aside opportunities for women, veterans, disabled veterans, and socially and economically disadvantaged small-business owners.
1:35-1:40 p.m.	Workshop transition (break)
1:40-2:25 p.m.	Breakout sessions (Sessions run simultaneously)
	Concept to commerce Do you have the next big idea, but don't have the resources or space you need to execute your plan? Learn how to connect with local incubators and accelerators who can assist with bringing your vision to market.
	Cybersecurity for small businesses Hear about cybersecurity resources to help protect your business and your customers.
	Show me the money! Access to capital Learn about SBA loan programs to help start, grow or expand your business.
	Perfecting the pitch Your business plan is solid; now perfect your pitch to secure funding. Learn how to tailor your pitch based on audience, time, and other key factors.
2:25-2:30 p.m.	Break
2:30-4 p.m.	Virtual booths open and Regional Office programming

Day three: Moving your business forward

Friday, May 12

Time	Topic
Noon-12:10 p.m.	Welcome and USPTO leadership greeting
12:10-12:55 p.m.	Turning passion to profits
12:55-1:05 p.m.	Panel transition
1:05-1:50 p.m.	Funding for growth Learn how to find grants, investors, and opportunity.
1:50-2 p.m.	Break
2-2:45 p.m.	Understanding manufacturing Learn how to find help and overcome obstacles in manufacturing.
2:45-2:50 p.m.	Panel transition
2:50-3:35 p.m.	Pivoting in the marketplace Learn how to make necessary changes based on demand and consumption.
3:35-3:50 p.m.	Resource review and wrap-up
4-5:30 p.m.	In-person networking event

View recordings of past programs on the Invention-Con event series page.

Invention-Con is the USPTO's annual conference for independent inventors, entrepreneurs, and small-business owners whose success depends on guarding their creative work. This program is presented by the USPTO's Office of Innovation Outreach.

For more information, or if you have any questions or comments, please email us at inventioncon@uspto.gov.

If you are an individual with a disability and would like to request a reasonable accommodation, please submit your request to the contact information listed above.

This event is part of a series: Advancing Equity, Invention-Con

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