Frequently Asked Questions

When and where is the RISE Conference this year?

The Rise Conference will be on October 23, 2012, in Baltimore, MD, at the Baltimore Hilton.
Map It→

How many inventors will be invited to attend the RISE Conference?

Due to time and space constraints, we are limited to inviting 4 inventors to attend the event. Please bear with us as we narrow the submissions down to the 4 attendees, each of whom will be notified in early October.

How do you select inventors to participate?

We will review each entry carefully and rank them according to the submission criteria, as well as the products’ relevance to INDA member companies which will attend the event. Examples of companies that have attended the event in the past: Owens Corning, Procter & Gamble, Kimberly Clark, ExxonMobil Chemical Company, 3M, Cotton, Inc., First Quality Nonwovens, Sage Automotive Interiors, Johnson & Johnson, New Pig, Georgia Pacific, BASF, and Cardinal Health. The most fitting products will be chosen.

Is it truly free to attend?

Yes! There is no charge for those selected inventors to attend the event. Note: INDA may require a credit-card to reserve your spot, and if you accept the invitation and don’t attend you will be charged a penalty fee. This is simply to prevent no-shows from detracting from the event and is not meant to add any type of fee.

Is this event similar to a tradeshow?

It is similar to a tradeshow, and in many ways it is even better:

• The event is held in one day, not over the course of several days, for ultimate convenience.
• You will receive a 15-minute time-slot to present your product to all of the companies in attendance.
• INDA will provide a tabletop display area where you can exhibit your product and meet-and-greet the companies in attendance.

What happens if a company is interested in my product/invention?

The terms of submissions require you to name InventionHome as your Agent if any of the attending companies decides to pursue your invention further. This benefits you in many ways, such as:

• InventionHome manages the entire product review and evaluation process, commonly referred to as "due diligence".
• InventionHome handles contract negotiations and contract signing in cooperation with you.
• InventionHome ensures that the company follows through on all deliverables that were outlined in the agreement and that they are paying royalties on time.

What agent fees are involved?

First, we reiterate that there is no cost for you to attend the event. If and ONLY if one of the companies attending the event has interest in pursuing your product, and you accept their offer to license and/or distribute your product, then InventionHome does have a modest commission. As your agent, InventionHome receives a broker fee for any revenue you may receive pursuant to any agreement, written or oral, between you and a third party introduced as a result of the RISE Conference. The broker’s fee is 20% of any gross revenue received for a license agreement or 5% of wholesale net revenue.

Why do I need an agent?

InventionHome is pleased to offer this opportunity in collaboration with INDA, as a chance for INDA members and inventors to meet in person. InventionHome’s only compensation is in the form of a commission that is very reasonable in accordance with industry standards should you successfully sell or license your product.

How do I know InventionHome or a company won’t steal my idea?

You are submitting your product on a non-confidential basis and we highly recommend that you have patent protection in place before doing so.

If a company likes my product, what compensation will they offer me?

We don’t know up front, each situation is unique. You can be assured that InventionHome will advise you through the process based on their experience with hundreds of agreements.

What happens to my submission if I am NOT chosen to attend the event?

If you are not selected to attend, that doesn’t mean that you don’t have a great product idea! Unfortunately, due to space limitations, we can only invite 4 inventors to this event.

Please keep in mind that InventionHome and their affiliate division  MatchProduct both offer invention marketing and licensing services. They work with over 3,000 companies seeking new products to license and distribute, and they will be happy to assist you!