New Business idea - How to move into production?

BrookieD

Hi Guys
I have a idea that I have been working on for around 18 months on and off. Due to work, life etc its has taken a while to get to the stage i am at now. Its a device for my son that will help him with his Arthritis and reduce his pain in certain joints. It can also be used for normal kids and is primarily used when traveling and when out and about to help kids sit correctly and lessen strain on hips and spine.

I have plans on paper with all measurements etc, and have a rough 3d render. I am now getting a proper 3d plan of my design and really was stuck at how to move to the next stage. I have limited funds so was going to try and cobble together a prototype unit which with my also mimited skills might be harder than I think..

I have a kickstarter under review at the moment to try and raise funds to move into production. I have no idea which way that will go.

I have talked to a couple of Arthritis charities who are liking the idea and want to work with me to trial and feedback.


I have a name for the device, Domain is free, i can knock up a website. if the kickstarter works i need to look at trademarks etc but do not know where to go from there.

Any feedback or advice would be great.

jimmii

Is there anything similar on the market already? I would get it patented as soon as you possibly can give yourself some protection last thing you want is to put all the effort in then someone come along and take your idea and leave you with nothing! With limited funds I would imagine your best idea is to get the patent then approach specialist manufacturers and license it to them as I would imagine this will need a lot of funding to really get it off the ground.

BrookieD

jimmii wrote: »

Is there anything similar on the market already? I would get it patented as soon as you possibly can give yourself some protection last thing you want is to put all the effort in then someone come along and take your idea and leave you with nothing! With limited funds I would imagine your best idea is to get the patent then approach specialist manufacturers and license it to them as I would imagine this will need a lot of funding to really get it off the ground.

Hi
Nothing like it on the market that i have found so far... have looked a fair bit also. The patent thought is a good one... will look into this now.

Thanks

pedronomix

If the idea/device is novel and unique, protect it with a patent. Most of the Patent Agents will give you a free initial consultation to see whether it is a goer or not. The patent office site is very useful and here is a list of firms http://www.patentsoffice.ie/en/patents_agents.aspx.
You would probably be best seeking to either licence or sell your patent to a company such as http://www.leckey.com/ who have all the finished product design/manufacturing/marketing and sales networks needed.

I brought a product or should I say tried to bring a product to market a few years ago that was excellent for reducing inflammation in the body, great for arthritis, and generally treating injuries - this is it here http://www.zetatherapy.com I had the distribution rights for Europe.

Now I can vouch for the effectiveness because I use it often myself and gave it to various people with arthritis who said they noticed a huge difference. My aunt couldnt open her hand to turn off her alarm in the morning, and after a a few days of using the stone she could. The products have helped people with a variety of ailments. Then I thought what could stop this wonderful product making it on the market in big retail? Surely nothing!

When trying to get it into chiropractors and doctors surgery, I discovered they receive "sponsorship" money from big pharma on the basis that they will only sell their products and not recommend alternatives whether they be better or not. If they choose to do otherwise they won't receive their sponsorship money which in one case was 50K a year to put a poster on the wall in the doctors surgery.

Then going to big retail I found that all the chemist chains had contracts tieing them up so they couldnt list the product. Most likely breaking various EU competition laws, but reality all the same and nothing I could do to stop it realistically.

So if your thinking about spending a lot of time and cash on getting patents and pushing a product in this specific industry, I would think carefully about it as barriers to entry are very much a factor in this industry.

jimmii

BrookieD wrote: »

Hi
Nothing like it on the market that i have found so far... have looked a fair bit also. The patent thought is a good one... will look into this now.

Thanks

With something like this that is definitely the route to take. The potential market is huge and its really not something someone can do on their own without a lot of experience (and a lot of money!). How much do you need to get it rendered properly and make a prototype? Depending on how much information you are putting in your kickstarter I would wait to get that patent first.

BrookieD

Deleted User wrote: »

I brought a product or should I say tried to bring a product to market a few years ago that was excellent for reducing inflammation in the body, great for arthritis, and generally treating injuries - this is it here http://www.zetatherapy.com I had the distribution rights for Europe.

Now I can vouch for the effectiveness because I use it often myself and gave it to various people with arthritis who said they noticed a huge difference. My aunt couldnt open her hand to turn off her alarm in the morning, and after a a few days of using the stone she could. The products have helped people with a variety of ailments. Then I thought what could stop this wonderful product making it on the market in big retail? Surely nothing!

When trying to get it into chiropractors and doctors surgery, I discovered they receive "sponsorship" money from big pharma on the basis that they will only sell their products and not recommend alternatives whether they be better or not. If they choose to do otherwise they won't receive their sponsorship money which in one case was 50K a year to put a poster on the wall in the doctors surgery.

Then going to big retail I found that all the chemist chains had contracts tying them up so they couldn't list the product. Most likely breaking various EU competition laws, but reality all the same and nothing I could do to stop it realistically.

So if your thinking about spending a lot of time and cash on getting patents and pushing a product in this specific industry, I would think carefully about it as barriers to entry are very much a factor in this industry.

Thanks for the feedback, although I developed this with my son in mind its not purely a medical device. it can be sold in any outlet and can be used on children with no inflammation as a seating aid to promote correct posture.

BrookieD

jimmii wrote: »

With something like this that is definitely the route to take. The potential market is huge and its really not something someone can do on their own without a lot of experience (and a lot of money!). How much do you need to get it rendered properly and make a prototype? Depending on how much information you are putting in your kickstarter I would wait to get that patent first.

Hi
Thanks for the feedback, I have started the 3d render, very quick to pick up these types of things so i have no worries there. ITs from the process of having a complete plan where do i go.....

I can make a prototype in rough form. Maybe get a 3d print to show but where then...

I am contacting enterprise ireland for a grant to help patent cost. so will see what happens.

BrookieD

BrookieD wrote: »

Thanks for the feedback, although I developed this with my son in mind its not purely a medical device. it can be sold in any outlet and can be used on children with no inflammation as a seating aid to promote correct posture.

So its a health and wellness product to fix posture etc or prevent damage - what outlets are going to sell it?

BrookieD

Deleted User wrote: »

So its a health and wellness product to fix posture etc or prevent damage - what outlets are going to sell it?

Hi help correct posture in kids, My thoughts on this were as follows:-

1) through my website
2) through the website of arthritis charities i have spoken with so far
3) expand to amazon through a storefront or have them fulfil on my behalf
4) national retailers tesco/dunnes etc...
5) smaller independent store as well as website.
6) likes of a JML approach

all could be wrong or some wrong - open to thoughts though... completely new to me

yellowlabrador

Would this be an ideal 3d printer project?

Duckett

Two companies come to my mind when it comes to prototyping - they are Dolmen Design in Dublin and secondly Design Partners in Bray. Both have been around for years and have experience in this area

BrookieD

BrookieD wrote: »

Hi help correct posture in kids, My thoughts on this were as follows:-

1) through my website
2) through the website of arthritis charities i have spoken with so far
3) expand to amazon through a storefront or have them fulfil on my behalf
4) national retailers tesco/dunnes etc...
5) smaller independent store as well as website.
6) likes of a JML approach

all could be wrong or some wrong - open to thoughts though... completely new to me

Is it something like this? http://www.backpal.co.uk or like this? http://freshman-inventors.com/back-pal/

What would be your budget starting out to make it all happen?

With something like these the big stores won't look at it unless it has some certification or official testing. Same for the DRTV companies. This kind of testing doesn't come cheap and will run you at least $30K in the US.

You might also find that if your making claims as to what it does the charities and Amazon might want some proof of this as well.

These are just your sales challenges, they come after the manufacturing challenge. Sure you can get a prototype made, but the issue is getting your manufacturing done at a price that will keep your product competitive/sellable. What country your going to source it from and the challenges that arise through that.

A lot depends on your vision and if you see this as something that might tick along to supplement your income, or something that you want to be selling millions of euro worth around the world. If its the latter you would need an initial minimum of 50K I think to do it right, and then once you have got some big orders in and established proof of concept, you'll need another large chunk of finance in order to fulfil them, and turn it from a product into a business.

From my experience dealing with so many products in the last few years, this one is on the riskier end of things due to the industry, existing competition, testing, manufacturing etc, so the 50K wouldn't need to be your life savings.

tacofries

Two things which may help you:

1) Innovation voucher: €5000 voucher to spend with a dedicated research institute to help with things such as prototype development to business development http://www.enterprise-ireland.com/en/Research-Innovation/Companies/Collaborate-with-companies-research-institutes/Innovation-Voucher.shortcut.html

2) New Frontiers Programme: A programme with extensive mentoring taking businesses from start up stage to exporting over 3 separate phases. Phase 1 is easy to get onto. If you business is really good you may make phase 2 which comes with a wage of €15,000 http://www.enterprise-ireland.com/en/Start-a-Business-in-Ireland/Supports-for-High-Potential-Start-Ups/New-Frontiers-Entrepreneur-Development-Programme.html

Best of luck!

antoinolachtnai

You are into the medical sphere here. You need patents, endorsements, approvals, liability insurance and then marketing cash to make this fly. This is a complicated thing.

BrookieD

yellowlabrador wrote: »

Would this be an ideal 3d printer project?

Hi 3d printer would get me to a prototype frame. but would be massive to help show people the concept

BrookieD

Deleted User wrote: »

Is it something like this? http://www.backpal.co.uk or like this? http://freshman-inventors.com/back-pal/

What would be your budget starting out to make it all happen?

With something like these the big stores won't look at it unless it has some certification or official testing. Same for the DRTV companies. This kind of testing doesn't come cheap and will run you at least $30K in the US.

You might also find that if your making claims as to what it does the charities and Amazon might want some proof of this as well.

These are just your sales challenges, they come after the manufacturing challenge. Sure you can get a prototype made, but the issue is getting your manufacturing done at a price that will keep your product competitive/sellable. What country your going to source it from and the challenges that arise through that.

A lot depends on your vision and if you see this as something that might tick along to supplement your income, or something that you want to be selling millions of euro worth around the world. If its the latter you would need an initial minimum of 50K I think to do it right, and then once you have got some big orders in and established proof of concept, you'll need another large chunk of finance in order to fulfil them, and turn it from a product into a business.

From my experience dealing with so many products in the last few years, this one is on the riskier end of things due to the industry, existing competition, testing, manufacturing etc, so the 50K wouldn't need to be your life savings.

Hi
Thanks for the information and reply. great stuff and a lot to think on. Its not like the BakPal however, different altogether, my kickstarter has an initial target of 50k as it happens. the high hopes would e to sell in the bucket load but the realistic approach it to get it off the ground first and set good milestones that are reachable.

Both arthritis charities i am talking with will work with me and I also have access to a leading consultant that i can work with to make sure I am on the right track from a medical standpoint.

I think its right to point out however this is no cure for arthritis in kids. Its a device to help prevent paint in certain areas (hip/knees/thighs) while out and about. It helps keep children sitting at the correct position as this is key in most kids but especially so in kids with JIA

BrookieD

I have spoken with Enterprise Ireland who are looking to have a conversation at local office to explore the product and look at innovation voucher. I am a good way into a somewhat detailed 3d design. I won't proclaim it to be a production ready version but with some help its not far away.

Many thanks for all the replys and pm's to point me in the right direction. I am a believer in the following:-

1) ask the question - if I dont ask i will never know so this product is me asking
2) one of two things will happen - a) it all pans out b) it doesn't and i have at least tried.

I will update on progress and will keep my fingers crossed.

Again thanks

BrookieD

BrookieD wrote: »

Hi
Thanks for the information and reply. great stuff and a lot to think on. Its not like the BakPal however, different altogether, my kickstarter has an initial target of 50k as it happens. the high hopes would e to sell in the bucket load but the realistic approach it to get it off the ground first and set good milestones that are reachable.

Both arthritis charities i am talking with will work with me and I also have access to a leading consultant that i can work with to make sure I am on the right track from a medical standpoint.

I think its right to point out however this is no cure for arthritis in kids. Its a device to help prevent paint in certain areas (hip/knees/thighs) while out and about. It helps keep children sitting at the correct position as this is key in most kids but especially so in kids with JIA

Well good luck. If you can get 50K from kickstarter its worth giving it a shot, if it fails its not the end of the world. But remember about the testing and certification - thats where most of your money needs to be spent if the product will have any chance of being sold by a major retailer.