This year promises terrific breakthroughs for inventors. For many decades, inventors counted on the resources that are already in place to help them move their inventions to the marketplace. The more these resources are used, the more inventors find them lacking.

For the benefit of the non-inventing reader let us ask the question, "Where would you take an invention if you had one, who would help you develop it?" What's your answer? Most inventors will tell you that there are a thousand avenues available to you and your new product, however they are all dead ends. Most inventors find that coming up with the invention, prototyping, and finally patenting is the easy part. It's getting that product to market that makes all the difference anyway, so it's no surprise that it's a lot of dedicated hard work.

We have all seen the news stories from time to time about how a local inventor makes good, sells his product to a manufacturer, and never has to work again basically. Although these human interest stories can bring encouragement and frustration to the average inventor, the actual information about how they did it remains exceedingly elusive. The interview never asks the questions another inventor would ask such as, "who did you license it to?", "how did you go about it?" "how long did it take you?" and so on. These are the questions the average inventor needs answered in order to proceed through a barrage of never ending struggle to get an invention to the marketplace.

Because these questions often go unanswered, many inventors simply give up. Unable to find the type of encouragement needed to move forward with their innovation, it is left to sit on the shelf. The high hopes that the inventor had for it, become nothing but a bad memory and a bitter taste in the mouth. Worst of all, many of the inventions that wind up being neglected could be life changing for the better on a global scale.

If you are an inventor, you have most likely been down many roads looking for help developing your invention. Perhaps you have tried one of the various scam ridden invention development firms that grace our shores. Maybe you have looked into programs like the SBIR, or tried to get a small business loan for developing a small business around your invention. Did you have any luck? I don't suppose you did, as I have yet to hear about an inventor who was able to jump through the various hoops required to procure one of these "funding opportunities".

What's different about 2005? Hopefully many things. I know of at least two programs world wide that are attempting to create an inventor's network. Built for inventors, by inventors. No bureaucrats involved, no struggles talking to someone who makes high powered decisions, but couldn't invent if their life depended upon it. No more "little guy" or small entity trying to clean scraps off of the corporate funding table. Big things are happening as we speak for the independent inventors out there.

The LoneInventor.Com is involved in this process, and is spearheading the operation here in the US. The network will provide funding for inventors, and their inventions on almost a carte Blanche basis. If it's worth producing, we will produce it. Many large corporations are unable to see the forest through the trees so to speak when it comes to honest to goodness innovation. Instead they become fearful of the very type of innovation that set their company apart as a household name. Where the inventor sees income potential and profitability for the company, the company sees a possible competitor to their already existing lines, or simply doesn't need any larger profit margins than they already have. All these things combined add up to the fact that large companies are scared to death of innovation and invention. This will not be the case with this network. Not only will we embrace new invention, we will also remember that innovation is exactly what got us to this point, and we are not about to stop now.

I personally am attempting to procure funding for this venture. No I am not barking up the vulture capitalists tree, or picking out of the federal governments pocket. This effort will be privately funded by inventors. We are currently accepting donations for this effort, successful inventors, manufacturers, industry professionals, or anyone who wants to live in a better world is invited to participate. Every little bit helps out of course. Expertise is also at premium. If you are an inventor with several products under your belt, we would love to hear from you. If you are willing to donate your time to talk to other inventors about how you did it, or even give us a written statement about what exactly was the turning point for you, and of course the entire story of your invention.

As soon as the first facility is in place, we will begin to look for others to donate their time getting these first few inventions off the ground, it's truly all down hill from there. The percentage of the profit that the manufacturer makes, will be directed into financing the development of the next innovation. A snow ball effect will be achieved rapidly and the effort will grow. Volunteers will be moved into paid staff, and the company will grow very quickly. My friends across the globe are quite a bit farther along with an effort very much like this one. I will truly enjoy putting a smile on many an inventor's face by saying just one simple word, "YES!" That's really the one answer most inventors need, and seldom receive. This will be a great year for inventors, and I am looking forward to it.

The Lone Inventor