Launch Your Ideas
into Action

Pitch the Pros® is a major event where entrepreneurs have the unique opportunity to present their innovative ideas directly to industry leaders and investors. At our most recent Pitch the Pros® event, held at the Alibaba.com Co-Create 2024 in Las Vegas, we saw a vibrant convergence of cutting-edge startups and seasoned professionals. The atmosphere buzzed with excitement as entrepreneurs showcased their groundbreaking solutions, receiving valuable feedback and forging crucial connections. This event truly highlighted the dynamic synergy between emerging talent and industry expertise.

Amplify Your Concepts

Embark on an exhilarating journey with Modern Inventor as we invite visionaries to pitch their groundbreaking ideas. Our platform is your stage to spotlight innovations that can redefine industries. If you have a concept that merges creativity with practicality, we're here to amplify it.

Your Pathway to Pitching Perfection

Presenting your brainchild to the pros is a thrilling opportunity. Start by filling out our submission form with details about your invention. Attach any prototypes or documents that will aid in illustrating your concept's potential. Our team will review your submission and contact you to discuss the next steps.

man standing in front of people sitting beside table with laptop computers

Craft a Compelling Pitch

Preparation is key to a successful pitch. Ensure your idea is clearly defined, marketable, and technically feasible. Gather evidence of concept validation, such as market research or prototypes, and be ready to discuss your vision with passion and clarity.

Ready to Change the World?

Don't miss the chance to showcase your invention to a team that can bring it to life. Submit your pitch now and take the first step towards making a lasting impact.

Ready to Make Your Mark?

Take the first step towards innovation glory. Complete our submission form with your contact details and a brief description of your invention. Attach any supporting materials that showcase the uniqueness and potential of your idea.

Pitch the Pros™ Takes to the Road - Sign-Up here

THE PROS

Beyond funding, entrepreneurs gain access to mentorship, industry connections, and strategic advice from their investor "PROS."

Daymond John

An entrepreneur in every sense of the word, Daymond John has come a long way from taking out a $100,000 mortgage on his mother’s house and moving his business operation into its basement.

Read about Daymond

An entrepreneur in every sense of the word, Daymond John has come a long way from taking out a $100,000 mortgage on his mother’s house and moving his business operation into its basement. John is CEO and Founder of FUBU, a much-celebrated global lifestyle brand, and a pioneer in the fashion industry with over $6 billion in product sales world-wide. Former President Barack Obama appointed Daymond John a Presidential Ambassador for Global Entrepreneurship (PAGE) to harness his energy, ideas, and experience to help develop the next generation of entrepreneurs both at home and abroad.

John is an award-winning entrepreneur and has received 100s of awards including the Brand Week Marketer of the Year, Advertising Age Marketing 1000 Award for Outstanding Ad Campaign, Ernst & Young’s New York Entrepreneur of the Year Award, and was named #2 on LinkedIn’s Top 20 Voices, a list of the top influencers, who are using their voice to help us analyze today’s changing world of work, navigate our industries, and find balance. Most recently, Real Leaders Magazine named Daymond John one of the Top 50 Keynote Speakers in the World in 2022, a list of “real teachers — people who speak from experience.”

His marketing strategies and ability to build successful brands has made him a highly influential consultant and motivational speaker today. His marketing firm The Shark Group offers advice on how to effectively communicate to consumers through innovative means and connects brands with the world’s top celebrities for everything from endorsements to product extensions.

John is also an author of 5 best-selling books including his New York Times best-selling books, The Power of Broke (2016) and Rise and Grind (2018). In 2020, John released his fifth book, Powershift, that walks through his tried-and-true process of how to transform any situation, close any deal and achieve any outcome. John’s most recent book is his first for kids. Little Daymond Learns to Earn (March 2023) illustrates the process of starting a business and provides a glossary of financial literacy terms for kids 4-8 years old.

Finally, John is celebrating his 14th season on ABC TV’s critically acclaimed business reality show Shark Tank by renowned producer Mark Burnett, which has reinvigorated entrepreneurship around the world. Shark Tank has now gone on to win five Emmy® in the US and millions of weekly viewers world-wide tune into the show as John demonstrates his marketing prowess and entrepreneurial insights.

Aaron Krause

Aaron Krause, an accomplished entrepreneur and inventor, has made a significant impact with his invention Scrub Daddy, achieving widespread retail success and recognition on Shark Tank.

Read about Aaron

Aron Krause is an accomplished entrepreneur and inventor with more than 20 years of experience in patenting and manufacturing innovative products. With patented products in major big-box retailers by such industry giants as 3M Company, Krause prides himself on hard work, dedication and imagination.

Krause received national attention when he appeared on the ABC show Shark Tank with his invention Scrub Daddy. After successfully pitching the sharks Krause received a capital infusion from inventor and celebrity mogul Lori Greiner. Since then, Krause and Greiner have sold millions of “the smiling sponges” to well-known retailers including QVC, Bed Bath & Beyond, Wal-Mart, ShopRite, and Buy Buy Baby. Scrub Daddy has exceeded $15 million in retail sales and continues to gain recognition as a household brand.

Prior to Scrub Daddy’s success, Krause developed and patented a double-sided buffing pad that solved many problems he encountered in the car detailing business. Krause then refined the pad and developed more car detailing products. Knowing he was onto something, Krause’s mantra summarized what he was most dedicated to: solving problems through innovation. In September 2008, after Krause engaged in discussions with the industry leader in his category, 3M agreed to acquire his inventions.

Krause is currently starting up four other companies, his inventions have earned the attention of several media outlets and have been featured in The Philadelphia Inquirer, as well as on high-profile TV shows like Good Morning America, Anderson Cooper 360, New York Live and ABC’s Shark Tank. A graduate of Syracuse University with a degree in Psychology, Krause plays and coaches ice hockey in Voorhees Township, New Jersey. Although his managerial duties often take him around the globe, he makes time to mentor budding entrepreneurs, and enjoys spending time and traveling with his devoted wife Stephanie, and 8-year-old twins Bryce and Sophie.

Christopher Guerrera

Read about Mr. Guerrera

Mr. Guerrera is an accomplished executive with over 35 years’ experience as a Mechanical Engineer who is a Lean 6 Sigma Manufacturing expert that has successfully led multiple teams through new Product Launch and is known as the "King of Manufacturing". He has enjoyed National Media exposure recently featured on the Shark Tank Season 12 Finale. He is the host of a weekly podcast "Made in America" and is the Vice President of the United Inventors Association. He has been featured on Good Morning America, Shark Tank, and was the Emcee of the Shark Tank panel for the MAKE48 competition hosted by the Smithsonian Lemelson Center in Washington DC. His "Made in America" manufacturing plant is Walmart Certified and his products are displayed alongside such household name products as Scrub Daddy®, Squatty Potty®, Paint Brush Cover®, Drop Stop®, and ReadeRest®, all products that have achieved mass distribution & sales after their appearance on the reality TV series ‘Shark Tank’.

Judy Edwards

Judy Edwards, along with her son Bobby and husband Bill, are the innovative minds behind Squatty Potty® toilet stools, aiming to offer a natural solution for colon health issues.

Read about Judy

Judy Edwards along with son Bobby and husband Bill are the designers and creators of Squatty Potty® toilet stools and the owners of Squatty Potty LLC. Judy is also the Mother of 7 children and 33 grandchildren 7 of which are great grandchildren. Bill and Judy have been married for almost 52 years. Started Squatty Potty at the early age of 60.

We have always been a very health conscious family, but after a lifetime of colon issues Judy was searching for an alternative solution to her problems instead of laxatives. Judy was seeking a natural and inexpensive solution that would help correct and heal the problems she was experiencing. That's when we found a wonderful and simple solution... "Squatting!"

The simple knowledge of getting our knees up while going to the bathroom made a remarkable difference. We searched and searched but we could not find a good solution for putting us into a squatting position while using our toilet. After trying different stools, books and buckets - not to mention stubbing our toes many times (especially in the middle of the night) we decided to take matters into our own hands. That's when we came up with the Squatty Potty® toilet stool.

Squatty Potty wraps perfectly around your existing toilet and easily stores out of the way when not in use. We designed, created, tried and tested and then did it again and again. We thought of everything to make your bathroom experience better and more enjoyable. Squatty Potty is the perfect height, shape and design to work with any toilet. It's comfortable, ergonomic, easy to use, attractive and affordable.

Aaron Cordovez

After a successful career in computer science and software engineering, Aaron Cordovez transitioned to online sales, leveraging his expertise to create significant success on data-heavy marketplaces.

Read about Aaron

Aaron Cordovez - After having great success in the computer science and software engineering world, I moved on to online sales on marketplaces that are heavy on Data. I created overwhelming success rapidly using my previous experience writing for non-profit magazines, high-visibility ghost writer blogs, and understanding of computers and algorithms.

I now provide select Amazon consulting to brands and companies that I believe in, as well as provide software (currently many features are in beta) for E-commerce businesses to thrive. Naturally, this was the route I would go to systematize what could be systematized and help good employees do their jobs more quickly and efficiently.

Rick Harper

Rick is a unique entrepreneur and inventor, known for his product READEREST, which offers a simple solution to keep glasses secure, combining practicality with innovative technology.

Read about Rick

If you have ever crossed paths with Rick, you may know how much fun he has and how much he loves to share it with everyone around him. He is a one-of-a-kind entrepreneur, inventor, motivator, husband, father, and friend Tired of constantly dropping, scratching and losing your expensive glasses? With READEREST you easily attach your eyewear to any article of clothing and your glasses will be with you at all times.

All you have to do is place the plastic back-plate on the inside of your clothing and the front clip to the outside and the magnets will automatically attach and self-center. No pins are used! Readerest® reading glasses are loaded with technology to provide the ultimate protection and comfort for your eyes. Whether you're looking for readers to use daily or on specific occasions you can rely on Readerest glasses to give you premium protection and functionality.

Dara Trujillo

Dara Trujilllo is a seasoned retail executive with over 30 years of experience, bringing innovative strategies to brick and mortar and Disney theme park merchandise, with a focus on maximizing revenue and customer engagement.

Read about Dara

Dara Trujillo is a retail executive with more than 30 years of experience in brick-and-mortar and Disney theme park merchandise with a new focus on television retail. Experienced in brand management, developing signature events and private label lines to grow gross profit, customer perception and awareness. Ability to determine and develop business strategies producing growth opportunities, identify white space and generate points of differential retail to maximize revenue. Negotiation skills partnerships and responsibility are key traits to success. Leader, mentor, excellent presentation skills- concept developer, brand builder, experienced in all aspects of retail development and management. Excellent executive references and current keynote speaker and creator of an entrepreneur business segment for HSN.

Carmine Denisco

A successful Entrepreneur, Inventor, Author, Podcaster, Investor, Carmine Denisco is dedicated to helping inventors navigate the invention and manufacturing process.

Read about Carmine

Carmine Denisco is a successful Entrepreneur, Inventor, Author, Podcaster, Investor, Patent and Trademark Holder. He has designed, developed and manufactured many products sold in retail Stores, TV shopping channels, online and infomercials some have gone on to be licensed by major chain stores. Denisco is dedicated to helping inventors correctly navigate the invention and manufacturing process, giving each inventor their best shot at success. Earmark Sourcing www.earmarksourcing.com is a privately held product development and manufacturing company with one of the largest and fastest growing inventor networks in the world. As leaders in the industry, it is our goal to disrupt the invention industry by re-imagining the development process into the fastest and most cost-effective way to monetize an invention.

Bob Circosta

TV's original home shopping host, has been a monumental figure in creating the multi-billion dollar TV home shopping industry, known for his extensive experience and heartfelt approach to sales.

Read about Bob

TV's ORIGINAL Home Shopping HOST | SPEAKER | AUTHOR and one of the individuals who helped create the multi-billion dollar TV home shopping industry.

Over the past 42 years, Bob has logged over 25,000 hours of LIVE selling on television... made over 75,000 separate product presentations... and has, individually, sold BILLIONS of dollars in merchandise - earning him the title "TV's BILLION DOLLAR MAN."

As a SPEAKER, Bob authentically connects with an audience through his stories of success and challenges, by way of his own personal experiences and by virtue of his beliefs that sales should be about service to others.

Bob received the first-ever "HSN LEGEND AWARD" for his contributions and lifetime achievements in the electronic retailing industry. For more details on this award, visit www.bobcircosta.com

Bob's breakthrough strategies have been proven in the real world and featured on NBC's Dateline, ABC's Good Morning America, The Today Show, 20/20 and in USA Today and the Wall Street Journal.

Today... Bob is the on-air spokesperson for various products on TV, searches for products to market via TV shopping channels and travels the world helping entrepreneurs. He places products on TV shopping channels worldwide and hosts "WHAT A GREAT IDEA with Bob and Chad" on the live shopping channel seen in Canada (tsc).

In addition, Bob helps entrepreneurs launch and market their products, services and ideas via video on various social media platforms.

Over the years, Bob has taught thousands of people how to effectively communicate what they have to others - how to MASTER THEIR MESSAGE. No matter if it's looking through a TV camera... on the telephone... face-to-face...or if you are doing a video, Bob can help you sell more of what you have!

Mike Watts

Mike Watts is an experienced entrepreneur with a track record of founding and exiting multiple successful companies, including striking a deal with Daymond John from Shark Tank.

Read about Mike

Mike Watts is an experienced entrepreneur who has 6 startup companies under his belt including founding three consecutive multi-million dollar companies in the last 10 years. Mike has successful exits from three companies including one for over $6 million and he even struck a deal with Daymond John from Shark Tank. Mike currently serves as CEO of LoveHandle, a fast-growing American manufacturer of patented custom smartphone grips and accessories where he leads a team of 35 full-time employees proudly manufacturing exclusively in the USA. Mike is a regular keynote speaker for entrepreneur and inventor groups as well a guest professor at Texas A&M University's entrepreneur program in College Station. Mike is a 3-time winner of the Aggie 100 Award for fastest growing companies and has been listed on the Fortune 5000 multiple times.

Joe Farco

Joe Farco is an Intellectual Property attorney with extensive experience in all aspects of patent work, from litigation to prosecution, ensuring inventors and businesses protect and leverage their innovations.

Read about Joe

I am an Intellectual Property attorney experienced in trade secret, copyright, and patent litigation (district court, ITC, and USPTO IPR/PTAB proceedings), patent prosecution (writing patent applications and drawings for inventions), patent opinion work (whether your invention is new, and whether your patent is valid and/or enforceable and/or infringed) and licensing/valuation of your IP.

I am experienced in all aspects of patent work: strategic discussions of when and what to file for patent protection, prosecuting patents before the United States Patent and Trademark Office, and strengthening a patent after it issues.

If you have a patent or a patent concerning you or your business, I can assist in bringing/defending a lawsuit related to the patent from beginning to end, including trial in district courts, the International Trade Commission (ITC), and in inter parties review proceedings (IPR) in the USPTO. I have been peer reviewed by Super Lawyers and named among New York's Rising Stars in Intellectual Property Litigation for 2012-2019 and was named a Super Lawyer in Intellectual Property Litigation in 2020.

Technology experience areas: Consumer products (toys, product packaging and manufacturing methods, tools and hardware), drugs and cosmetics, biomechanical devices (medical instruments, prosthetics, artificial limbs, etc.); automated mechanical and electronic devices such as generators, turbines, automotive parts, digital cameras, wireless devices, cell phones and web-based media applications.

Brian Halasinski

Brian Halasinski, an experienced product developer, focuses on bringing innovative products to the consumer retail market, recently featured on Tank Season 14 Episode 2 for Turbo Trusser.

Read about Brian

Experienced product developer, bringing new and innovative products to the consumer retail market through open innovation. Brian and his partner were on Tank Season 14 Episode 2 for Turbo Trusser.

I have also been in the medical sales industry for the last 18 years, most recently 7 with Gilead Sciences in the HIV BU. I have worked with a diverse group of customers including Dentists, Pediatricians, Internal Medicine, General Family Practice, OBGYN, Infectious Disease, Pharmacy, and purchasing to name a few. My goals are to be the best sales representative no matter what products I am tasked to sell and to work to help improve patients health. I have a business background as a Kent State University undergraduate and I acquired my Masters of Business Administration from Malone University in 2003.

Matt Nuccio

Matt Nuccio, President of Design Edge, is a key figure in the toy and game industry, offering expertise in development, marketing, and consulting.

Read about Matt

Matt Nuccio is the President of Design Edge, a toy and game development, marketing, manufacturing, inventing and consulting agency. Matt co-chaired the Toy Association Associate Panel, representing all designers and inventors within the toy industry. Currently, he sits on The Toy Association Education Advisory Board and The People of Play Advisory Board. He is a regular columnist for “Toy Family Entertainment” magazine. In 2019, Matt was honored by the National Security Agency (NSA) as an American Innovator and has been listed for the past 3 years by Mojo Nation as one of the top 100 most influential people in the toy industry today.

Chris Landano

Chris Landano, with a rich background in emergency services and invention, is dedicated to protecting inventors through education and advocacy.

Read about Chris

Mr. Landano was born and raised in Queens, New York and is a Patented Inventor & Retired FDNY Firefighter. His passion for helping others began at the age of 12 and in his late teens he began training as an EMT. A few years later, he was promoted to firefighter and served over 20 years with the FDNY, including 9/11. Mr. Landano retired in 2021 to launch his own invention and follow his passion for protecting inventors through education. He is the co-host for the NYC Inventors & Entrepreneurs Club and an Ambassador for the United Inventors Association (UIA). Mr. Landano plays a key role in advocating for inventors and can be found attending tradeshows and industry events nationwide.

Russ Barnes

Russ Barnes teaches strategy development for small business owners, focusing on those in the pre-profitability stage to rapidly achieve desired business outcomes.

Read about Russ

Jeff Shavitz

Jeff transitioned from a high-intensity corporate job to entrepreneurship, launching "Spectoculars" and securing a major NFL license.

Read about jeff

Although working 80-100 hours, I didn’t feel vested in the deals and this wasn’t what I wanted in my professional life. I deferred business school and decided to leave my fast-paced, well-paying position to start up a 1-person business; friends would say “what are you thinking?” From my tiny New York apartment while still working on Wall Street, I created “Spectoculars”, a paper folding binocular; in 1991, I received a NFL license and sold 250,000 pairs that were distributed at Super Bowl XXX. Welcome to entrepreneurship!

Several years later, I co-founded Charge Card Systems Inc., a national credit card processing company that helped merchants with their processing requirements including the acceptance of Visa, MasterCard, American Express, and Discover.

The company grew to over 500 sales agents with 3 regional offices. In 2012, our business was sold to Card Connect, their largest acquisition at that time; in 2017, the company was acquired by First Data for $750 MM.

In the past 20 years, I have started several payments companies working with CEOs and CFOs. I work with them to explain the hidden fees of credit card processing, the 600+ various interchange rates, new regulatory fees, and share new technologies entering our marketplace.

In the past 30 years, I have started 4 companies and served on the advisory board of many start-ups, philanthropic organizations and more established companies.

Regardless of the industry type or size, I enjoy the process of working with business leaders and management teams in helping them achieve their goals (candidly and humbly, we don’t always get there, but we definitely try). I hope that my insights, empathy and my real-life business stories will act as your coach and confidant as you embark on your own journey in the world of business.

Tasha Terria Dennis

Tasha Terria is a highly experienced Credit Specialist and Consultant, boasting over 25 years of expertise in assisting both celebrities and executives with their personal and business credit matters. She is the author of "The Ultimate Credit Tracker,".....

Read about Tasha

Tasha Terria is a seasoned Credit Specialist and Consultant with over 25 years of experience, catering to both celebrities and executives, assisting them with their personal and business credit needs. She's renowned for her expertise, having hosted her own radio show, "Credit Champions," in Lakeland, FL, and authored "The Ultimate Credit Tracker," available at major retailers like Barnes & Noble, Books A Million, Walmart, and Amazon. Tasha's book offers invaluable techniques for increasing, tracking, and disputing credit scores.

Her prowess in the field has earned her the moniker "The Credit Ninja" from ABC's TV Star Daymond John, thanks to her remarkable ability to swiftly remove negative accounts from her clients' credit reports. Tasha's achievements speak volumes, having successfully eliminated over $1 million dollars of bad debt from credit reports.

Driven by a passion for financial education, Tasha aims to empower as many individuals as possible. She envisions establishing a Financial Empowerment Center within her community, offering various training programs on financial literacy and entrepreneurship for the youth.

For more information, visit Tashaterria.com.

Devron "Doc" Dennis

Dr. Dennis brings over 30 years of dedicated service to his community, serving as CEO of Mastery Beyond Boundaries, LLC. With a Ph.D. in Holistic Life Counseling, he delves into the root causes of trauma and offers practical solutions.

Read about Dennis

Dr. Dennis has over 30 years as a community servant and liaison. He is the CEO of Mastery Beyond Boundaries, LLC., a published author of two books, and has a Ph.D. in Holistic Life Counseling, where he tackles the root causes of trauma and provides tangible solutions for clients. Dr. Dennis is a Conscious Business Ethics practitioner, where he guides business leaders back into personable relationships with employees, stakeholders and community. He is the Vice President of H.O.P.E. (Helping Our People Emerge), and the VP of Operations for B.E.G.I. Most importantly he is a father, friend, Brother and mentor.

Scott

Scott, Co-Founder of Proformance Marketing Group, has made a name for himself in live television shopping and product promotion, setting records and serving as a spokesperson for numerous causes.

Read about Scott

Scott is the Co-Founder of Proformance Marketing Group (PMG), a Philadelphia-based marketing firm that specializes in live television shopping and product promotion. For over two decades, Scott has regularly appeared on-air as a product expert on QVC, The Shopping Channel, and in infomercials. During that time, he has presented well over 1,000 different products on national and international television, totaling thousands of live appearances and over one billion dollars in worldwide sales. In October of 2014, Scott set (and still holds) the all-time QVC record for single units sold in one day by selling over 570,000 of the FrostGuard Today’s Special Value. In February 2016 he was nominated for the Q Star Award for Guest Excellence.

Additionally, Scott has served as a spokesperson for numerous charities, events, and products in all forms of media, both nationally and internationally. He has also served as a speaker, panelist, and judge at national tradeshows, inventor workshops, and university conferences across the country. Scott also serves on the Board of Directors of the United Inventors Association of America in Washington, D.C., a non-profit industry watchdog that oversees and helps regulate the invention process.
Prior to PMG, he held executive positions with a venture capital firm that specialized in emerging product technology, as well as a consumer electronics company, and was formerly an Assistant District Attorney for the City of Philadelphia. Scott is a graduate of both Clemson University and the Villanova University School of Law and lives in Suburban Philadelphia with his wife and daughter.

Sean Murphy

Sean Murphy, a believer in capitalism and the American dream, has thrived within the financial industry for over 34 years, sharing his insights with over 200,000 people.

Read about Sean

Sean Murphy is a graduate of the esteemed McCombs School of Business at the University of Texas, Austin. He is a true believer in capitalism and the American dream. For the past 34 years, Sean has thrived within the financial industry and has spoken coast to coast to well over 200,000 people. He has been voted a 5 Star Wealth Manager four times by the Kansas City populace. Currently, he is in the final stages of completing his book; Success Doesn’t Care How You Feel! Sean served for 4 years as the CEO of the Inventors Center of Kansas City (ICKC) widely regarded as one of the nation’s most successful inventor organizations. He remains on the Advisory Board. ICKC’s mission is to assist inventors and entrepreneurs in bringing their products successfully to market. While serving as CEO of ICKC he was one of the principals involved in creating and launching the invention-based TV program now known as Make48. The show is in its 5th season and featured on PBS. Sean has served as both MC and as a presentation coach for contestants on the show. Sean serves as a mentor at the University of Missouri Kansas City (UMKC) within the Bloch School of Business E-Scholars program. Students that are accepted to the program are challenged to create an actual business within 9 months that can scale to $5 Million in 5 years.

Sean’s specialties include sales training, time management, and communication.

Trish Dowling

Trish Dowling is an innovative merchant with a strong track record in brand and business building across multiple industries, specializing in direct response, social media, and retail.

Read about Trish

Trish Dowling is an accomplished, innovative merchant with a strong track record of brand and business building in multiple industries. Focus on short form direct response, social media and retail. Excels at creating winning products, brands and promotions, increasing sales and growth to the bottom line. Specializes in entrepreneurial environments and launching, building, and creating businesses in highly competitive marketplaces.

Austin Maxwell

An engineer turned entrepreneur, Austin Maxwell is passionate about startups, culture, and customer service, with a notable appearance on ABC's Shark Tank.

Read about Austin

Austin Maxwell is an engineer turned entrepreneur with a passion for PEOPLE, startups, culture and customer service!

ABC's Shark Tank Season 10, Episode 18

Things I'm pretty OK at:
1. TikTok marketing
2. Event execution & logistics (B2B and DTC trade shows, promotional events, & travel planning)
3. Public speaking with an emphasis on inspiring others to just go for it

December 2017 graduate with a Bachelor of Applied Science (B.A.Sc.) degree in Industrial Engineering from Clemson University. Wasn't a fan of engineering but it sure helped with problem solving skills, so now we're here!

I also have an insane passion for traveling and creating travel content. My wife and I started social media accounts called @themaxwellstravel which have gained over 750,000 followers across platforms in 2023.

Amy Jo Brogan-Wagner

From a young age, Amy Jo Brogan-Wagner has pursued a successful career in the entertainment industry, transitioning into a resourceful leader in the Product Licensing industry.

Read about Amy Jo

Amy Jo Brogan-Wagner has always had the desire to be a successful career woman. Beginning her career in the entertainment industry as young as age 13, she became a model and actress. By age 15 she earned her SAG card (Screen Actors Guild) by booking a Barbie commercial for Mattel, and by 16 she graduated early so she could work as an adult on set. In this space, these experiences helped her to learn early in life how business is conducted and what contracts are all about, along with many other lessons working in a creative field.

When she hit her early 20’s she wanted to get more involved in business practices focused on sales and marketing. This is when inventing fell into her lap, literally!

Through all the hustle, Amy Jo always had her coffee on-the-go and would spill it either in her truck or on herself almost everyday! She decided to create a spill-resistant coffee tumbler lid that she wanted to bring to market but had absolutely NO CLUE how to do so. After a lot of research and talks with manufacturers, she discovered the path of licensing.

For over ten years, Amy Jo has had the goal to be a credible, helpful leader and resource for those in the Product Licensing industry. Up to date, she has licensed two products of her own, one in the kitchenware industry and the other in the beauty industry.

She has also been working as a Senior Coach for over seven years, helping hundreds of independent inventors learn how to execute the process of licensing successfully. You may know her from her former YouTube channel, Straight 2 Licensing with Amy Jo. You can now find her on her new channel, Products2Market with Amy Jo!

Amy Jo believes you always need to tackle your dreams. Whenever you feel like you have failed, you should view it as an opportunity to learn, to grow, to succeed!

Chris Annoual

Chris Annoual is a serial entrepreneur with expertise in Brand Strategy, Marketing, and Product Innovation, known for his successful ventures including the innovative Pump Pal product.

Read about Chris

Chris Annoual is a serial entrepreneur from Miami, Florida who founded C1 Aerospace – a jet engine sales business that built and sold JT8D jet engines around the world. After realizing his passion wasn’t in aviation he started solving problems in the world with products.

He currently has founded three 7 figure businesses and is building another 2 in public.

Chris most recently founded Pump Pal® a silicone gas glove that protects people's hands from coming into contact with filthy gas pump handles while offering an eco-friendly and sustainable solution. Pump Pal was designed to reduce the spread of bacteria prevalent on gas pump handles while being a safe alternative to disposable plastic gloves offered at gas stations. Within the first year Pump Pal has sold over 100,000 units around the world and has grown to a 7-figure brand.

Pump Pal was invited to an Emmys celebrity gifting event and was featured in Allure magazine with Viola Davis as her favorite holiday gift.

Pump Pal has become a brand trusted by hundreds of thousands of people and continues to create sustainable products.

Chris continues to solve real world problems by building products that people need. He also dedicates his time to helping and mentoring other entrepreneurs and inventors.

Shirah Benarde

Shirah Benarde, the inventor of NightCap, was motivated by a desire to combat drink spiking, creating a practical and comfortable solution for safety in social settings.

Read about Shirah

NightCap was invented by then 16-year-old Shirah Benarde from West Palm Beach, Florida. The idea came to her in a dream after hearing about the horrors of drink spiking from friends who experienced it after going off to college. Fortunately, her friends were okay, but Shirah was determined to come up with a pragmatic solution to this problem that could protect her and her friends when they went off to college. She also wanted to make sure that the product would be something that girls would feel comfortable using. The next morning, she went to her mother’s closet, grabbed a pair of pantyhose, cut them up, and attached them to a scrunchie to create the first prototype. To learn more about NightCap, visit NightCapit.com.

Steven Greenberg

Steven Greenberg, known as the “Gadget Guy,” is an experienced reporter, producer, host, and product scout, dedicated to showcasing innovative products in various media formats.

Read about Steven

Steven Greenberg is a Reporter, Producer, Host, “Gadget Guy,” Product Scout— “Gadget Nation” author, contributor on NBC's “Today Show” and other TV stations around the US-- also the host of YouTube’s gadget game show “What The Heck Is That?” Check it out at: www.gadgetgameshow.com —I’m always searching for cool new gadgets & showcasing innovative products in print, online, and on television. Specialties: I have more than 15 years of experience as a television producer and on-camera talent. Though I have covered news, health, science, cooking, home repair, and home design, my area of expertise is innovative products/gadgets/technology. Check out www.gadgetnation.net and www.stevegreenberg.tv.

Curt Vitale

Sourcing, Account Management, Retail Buying, Sales Training, and Field Management.

Read about Curt

Launched ReCommerce (now Recom), a company dedicated to helping brands maximize and optimize every aspect of their presence on Amazon and beyond. They began with brand protection to enforce pricing parity between Amazon and brick- and-mortar stores, and then expanded to include creative advertising, logistical support, and more. Within five years Recom had become a top 10 seller on Amazon.

Recom is a rapidly growing company that is helping some of the world’s best brands navigate the complexities of the Amazon ecosystem and deliver the same experiences they offer offline (and sometimes better).

Our ambition is simple: to be the best Amazon growth partner for premium brands, in both North America and around the world. We are expanding operations and growing our customer base, while continuing to provide the same high level of service we always have.

Elizabeth Dougherty

Elizabeth is the Eastern Regional Outreach Director at U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (All posts are personal and not official statements or opinions of the agency).

Read about Elizabeth

As the Eastern Regional Outreach Director for the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), Elizabeth Dougherty carries out the strategic direction of the Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property and Director of the USPTO, and is responsible for leading the USPTO's East Coast stakeholder engagement. Focusing on the region and actively engaging with the community, Ms. Dougherty ensures the USPTO's initiatives and programs are tailored to the region's unique ecosystem of industries and stakeholders.

An over 25 year veteran of the USPTO, Ms. Dougherty previously served as the Senior Advisor to the Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property and Director of the USPTO. In this role, she worked closely across the Agency's leadership to implement the policies and priorities for the USPTO. She began her career at the USPTO as a patent examiner after graduating from The Catholic University of America with a bachelor's degree in physics. While a patent examiner, Ms. Dougherty went on to obtain her J.D. from The Columbus School of Law at The Catholic University of America and served as a Senior Legal Advisor in the Office of Patent Legal Administration for a significant part of her career. Over the years, she has also served in the USPTO's Office of Petitions, the Office of Innovation Development, and the Office of Government Affairs.

Ms. Dougherty has dedicated much of her career to the USPTO's outreach and education programs focusing on small businesses, startups and entrepreneurs. In this effort she has developed, implemented, and supervised programs that support the independent inventor community, small businesses, entrepreneurs, and the intellectual property interests of colleges and universities. Similarly Ms. Dougherty has spearheaded a number of special projects with federal, state and local governments, and private organizations to promote and support invention and innovation in the United States.

Ms. Dougherty is a member of the Virginia Bar, the Giles S. Rich American Inn of Court, the Pauline Newman American Inn of Court, the American Bar Association, the Federal Circuit Bar Association, the American Intellectual Property Law Association, the U.S. Intellectual Property Alliance, the Patent and Trademark Office Society, the Supervisory Patent Examiners and Classifiers Organization, Women in Science and Engineering, Federally Employed Women, the Network of Executive Women and the Columbus School of Law Alumni Council.

Heather Marianna

Heather founded Beauty Kitchen after leaving her 9-5 job, inspired by her personal skin issues and DIY solutions.

Read about Heather

I started Beauty Kitchen back in 2012 when I quit my 9-5 job. I always had issues with my skin and did a lot of DIY methods to treat it using fresh items. In 2012, I launched the YouTube series Beauty Kitchen where I showed people how to do exactly what I was doing. I've always been a natural teacher and sharer of information. In 2013, I took it a step further and began selling Beauty Kitchen's now famous sugar scrubs and adding other products to my own line.

Building beauty brands, a successful business, and the manufacturing for my brands , all from ground up has taught me a lot. Where to cut costs, how to market bulk orders, wholesaling, pricing, payroll, insurance, business credit, public relations... you name it, I've done it and probably made several mistakes along the way. I want to help people avoid those same mistakes when building their beauty brands.

Over the course of the last ten years, I've helped countless people launch their own brands through private labelling, even including a few celebrities and TV personalities!

The knowledge I've gained over the last 10 years is crucial information that anyone starting out can use to get a jump above the competition. Having a coach is nothing new to most people. In fact, most high performers and members of the 1% have a coach. So why not utilize a coach to help you build your brand or business? Pull you out of the rut on bad days? Keep you motivated and going? I currently have a business coach as well as a spiritual coach, and they both have helped me tremendously. Think having a coach is out of reach? So did I. The best investment you can make for your brand is an investment in yourself.

When I decided to go full-force with brand coaching for skincare, I knew I would enjoy building more brands. I have been featured on over 100 TV shows, countless articles, podcasts and news segments. I know manufacturing and what you need to look for in a reliable manufacturer, how to build you brand and more importantly be your brand and create something sustainable in any economic time for more information on me click the link below

Press Links

https://beautykitchen.net/press/

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Jason Klug

Read about Jason

Jason has a passion for consumer products that started with the process of creating them. With a mechanical engineering and sales background, he has worked his way into 100s of projects over his career. Now he runs a full-service product development and manufacturing sourcing firm called Klugonyx. He is the founder and CEO with hands in all aspects of the operation, including sales and customer qualification, industrial design, engineering, prototyping, and design for manufacturing. With our offices in the US and China, we can get every step of the process done within the same team of experts.

With the involvement of many projects and leading a highly qualified team, Jason is ready to connect and create a variety of projects. Feel free to shoot him a message or connect on the Klugonyx website.

Specialties: Product Development, Industrial Design, Manufacturing processes, Startups, Leadership, Competitive, Customer Service, Inventory Management, Mechanical, Problem Solving, Repair, Sales, Launching products, entrepreneurship, business strategy, business development

Karen Waksman

Retail MBA is a Retail Consultancy, Retail Sales Agency and Publishing House! Also Own Trade Association, Inventions.org! My Clients Get their Products into Major Retailers - Wal-Mart, Home Depot, Best Buy, Kroger, etc.

Read about Karen

Founder of Retail MBA Brands. A Retail Consultancy Business, a Retail Rep Agency as Well as THE Publishing House for All Consumer Products! With well over 50+ Educational Training Programs and Books on Generating Revenue with Your Consumer Products Brands AND the Founder of an Inventors Trade Association - Inventions.org! I began my career as a manufacturer’s rep, and over time became an author, speaker and consultant for companies looking to get their products into major retailers, online retailers, catalogs, small mom and pop shops and much, much more!

Some of my career highlights include:

Taught well over 100,000+ people across the globe on generating revenue with their consumer products brands!

Mike Sierzant

SVP General Manager - Atlanta at Recom

Read about Mike

Manager with broad-based skills and experience within industry leading organizations. Collaborative, innovative, intuitive and team building leader with a reputation of consistently improving profitability.

Specialties: -
- Buying
- Negotiating
- Sales Staffing
- Recruiting/Interviewing/Hiring/Placement
- Shortage Control
- Customer Service
- Safety Compliance
- Profit and Loss
- Facilities Management

Morgan Uhl

Morgan Uhl is the owner and Creator of Knobēz/ Cabinet hardware decorations.

Read about Morgan

Morgan Uhl is a native Floridian and a graduate of the University of South Florida. Morgan had a creative and entrepreneurial spirit from a very early age. After graduating from the College of Education at USF, she began her professional career as an Elementary Teacher in Tampa, Fl. Shortly after beginning her teaching career, Morgan had her first child and decided to put her professional career on hold to raise her children. Unsatisfied by the local school options for her children, Morgan began homeschooling her 2 children when they became school aged and soon became the Director of their local homeschooling co-op.

Realizing that she did not want to continue teaching her children in middle school, Morgan and her husband decided to send their children to a local private school and Morgan went back to the workforce as a Preschool Director for a local private school. Morgan managed a staff of 17 women, oversaw enrollment of over 70 students, led monthly meetings with the Board, chose age-appropriate curriculum, updated policies and procedures, and managed all marketing and daily operations for the school. Unfortunately, Covid affected the school's enrollment and operational budget for the following year and Morgan decided to return to the classroom at her children's school where she taught third grade for the next 2 years.

It was at the beginning of Morgan's second year of teaching at her children's school when her children requested to return to homeschooling. Morgan left the classroom and has been homeschooling her children with the help of local homeschooling co-ops for the last 2 years. It was in her last year of teaching that the idea of Knobēz came about, and she has been working diligently for the past 2 and a half years to fully launch Knobēz to the market. After a successful launch in the summer of 2023 with the Red Peppermint Knobēz Collection, Morgan added a Pumpkin Knobēz and Peppermint Stick Handles Collection for the 2023 holiday season. Morgan launched her first licensed Knobēz with Peeps this spring and she is now launching her products in boutiques nationwide and is entertaining retail opportunities. Morgan spends her days creating new Knobēz and Handles Collections, fulfilling orders, attending conventions, speaking to college classes, connecting with fellow entrepreneurs, creating social media content, and looking for opportunities to encourage the next generation of entrepreneurs.

Vance Morris

Customer Experience & Customer Service Authority | Keynote Speaker | Coach | Best Selling Author | Vance helps businesses create Customer Experiences that Drive Extraordinary Customer Referrals & Profits.

Read about Vance

My client Ben Settle says it best:
"Vance is by far the single best resource for learning how to merge customer service with direct response marketing to exponentially ratchet up sales I’ve ever heard."

"I hereby declare him the best there is at intelligently & practically discussing merging customer service with direct response marketing — potentially turning your current customers & leads into the bigger, more stable, and more enjoyable business experience, for both you and them"
Bring the magic and profitability of the Disney Experience to your business or practice.

I conduct intensive, behind the scenes and interactive 3 day boot camps for masterminds, member events, businesses and professional practices. These boot camps reveal the secrets the the Disney company uses every day to create magical experiences for their guests and profits for their shareholders.

Attendees will get the exact model (strategies, tactics & workbooks) that I used to design and manage some of Disney's iconic resorts and attractions that delivered world class service and profitability.

Not ready for a boot camp at Disney? I can bring the magic of the Disney experience to your next event as a keynote speaker or conduct seminars.

If your profession deals with interacting with people and providing a service, then there is a lot to be gained from modeling Disney.

As a Public Speaker, I have had the opportunity to speak at events for some great companies: Ben Glass and Great Legal Marketing, GKIC, Dustin Burleson and Burleson Seminars, Joe Polish & Piranha Marketing, Infusionsoft, Dr. Jeff Anzalone & Dental Insiders Circle, Chem-Dry Carpet Franchises, and of course Walt Disney World. I have also been featured on some great podcasts (Outlier, Franchise Connect, Entrepreneur On Fire) as well as NBC, CBS, FOX. For more visit: http://www.VanceMorris.com

I am not your run of the mill customer experience consultant or Disney Way strategist. I still own a Service Company on the Eastern Shore of Maryland where I test my service and marketing strategies. I actually implement my strategies in my own small business before I teach them to others.

Request more information by faxing 410-697-6072 or emailing vance@DeliverProfitsNow.com

David Fedewa

David Fedewa, a negotiations coach and licensing specialist, has successfully coached over 180 students to license their products, combining business acumen with psychological insights to achieve win-win scenarios.

Read about David

David Fedewa, negotiations coach and licensing specialist, has coached over 180 students to successfully license their own products. He has been featured in Inc. and Entrepreneur’s online publications on licensing and negotiation strategy. He has licensed five of his own products, with one being featured on Time magazine, CHIVE, and CNET Father’s Day Product of the Year list. David and his team built the world’s largest actively managed database of companies that license new innovative products. His strengths lie where business and psychology meet. While coaching students through multi-million dollar negotiations, he not only looks at the present deal at hand but teaches strategies that can be used in constructing deals with a win-win scenario throughout life.

Nisha Sawhney

Nisha Sawhney, founder of SnS Design, Inc, specializes in developing consumer products that revolutionize industries, bringing business ideas and new products into existence with innovative design solutions.

Read about Nisha

New York based Female entrepreneur Nisha Sawhney with HIGH LEVEL GLOBAL thinking has been supporting businesses, entrepreneurs and manufacturers with ideas that impacts change and revolutionize industry. She brings business ideas and new products into existence utilizing holistic innovative product design solutions. Nisha has a proven success rate with her global clients in the US, UK, Switzerland, Japan, Israel, India, Brazil, Argentina, Italy, Hong Kong and China.

In addition to being founder and president of SnS Design, Nisha is an Industrial Design Expert, specializing in a wide range of products from baby crib to electric car charging station to medical device and IOT. Nisha worked as both product designer and project manager for global consumer product companies such as - Haier, LG, Whirlpool, Westinghouse, Amana, Amcor, Edi-Baur, Rosco, LiFeng, Temptu, Zipz wine (Biggest Deal in Shark Tank History) and many more.

She designed products in medical devices, IOT, home appliances, housewares, consumer electronics, furniture and lifestyle products. Her expertise includes services from A to Z - research, conceptual design, invention, product development, engineering, prototype, patent related support, branding, packaging, graphics, point of purchase, 3d Renderings, pre-sale presentation, mechanical design and engineering, manufacturing and retail placement.

Nisha was a valedictorian earning a Master’s Degree in Industrial design and Bachelor’s degree in Architecture.

She has served as juror for a decade at The International Consumer Electronics Show CES and was also invited as speaker at CES events.
Nisha volunteers to help MAKE48 inventors as a focus group and product design expert, she taught MBA students at NYU, high school students at Teen Design Fair and underprivileged female youth.
Featured in FORBES - The Woman Who Could Design Anything, And Did. CEO Radio, MAKE48 - PBS show and many more..

She has been awarded utility and design patents for consumer products.

Amanda Green

Amanda Green is a storyteller and former award-winning TV news producer.

Read about Amanda

Amanda Green is a storyteller and former award-winning TV news producer. Today, she works with Orca Communications, “America’s PR Firm for Inventors & Entrepreneurs®,” to introduce new brands to the power of public relations (PR). She is passionate about helping people uncover, organize, and share their stories and takes a human-first approach to content. Amanda has a bachelor's degree in broadcast journalism from the University of Central Florida, is the mother of two children, and considers herself an amateur adventure seeker.

Brian Wholehan

Brian Wholeman the inventor of EZ-Shade

Read about Brian

Robert Bruza

Robert Bruza is a business development and retail marketing
professional with over 15 years of experience helping startups
and D2Cs bring new and innovative products to retail.

Read about Robert

Robert's retail background includes retail buying for 27 stores at
Neiman Marcus, retail store merchandise planning with the
Taubman company, and e-commerce product marketing for
clients like Disney, Unilever, Pottery Barn, and Adidas.

Currently, Robert is working with Retailbound, a retail consulting
agency helping startups and D2Cs diversify and grow product
sales by expanding into offline channels like stores, catalog
companies, home shopping, and premium incentive.

Beyond retail, Robert has also been a successful entrepreneur.
He has founded four startups, raised over $15 million in
investment capital, and had 3 successful exits. Robert uses his
startup experience to help product development-heavy
startups assess market fit, define value propositions, and
cultivate their marketing narrative.

Because Robert combines both retail and startup experience he
is uniquely suited to help emerging consumer product
companies better understand and prepare for the challenges of
launch and initial market traction. As a result, Robert is actively
engaged with accelerators and CPG startup communities,
helping them define their business value proposition and
successfully pitch investors.

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