Successful child inventor: Jacob Dunnack
Successful Child inventor story
Jacob Dunnack
developed the JD Batball at age six. Jacob was frustrated when he'd remembered his bat but forgotten his ball during a visit to his grandmother's home. To prevent future mishaps, Jacob came up with the idea for a plastic baseball bat with a removable cap for storing balls. Jacob and his parents went to a designer to submit the idea to Toys "R" Us. The toy megastore liked Jacob's idea so much they started carrying the product. Now, that's one idea that definitely turned into a grand slam.
What makes Jacob's story even more special is that he was born with a congenital heart defect (two major arteries were crisscrossed). He suffered a stroke during an operation when he was just a baby, and the doctors thought would leave him blind and paralyzed. But Jacob proved them wrong! Though he has limited vision and limited use of his right arm, that hasn't stopped Jacob from living a normal life...and being one of the few kids who has actually gotten his invention on toy store shelves! The Batball is a patent pending product. Invented in 2000 by 6-year-old Jacob Dunnack.
You make be quick to judge and to come up with some quick "negative" responses like: I don't have money. I don't have access to people in the know. I am too young. Or something to that effect - but here is a tip for you.
Crowd-fund your invention
As recently as a few years ago, inventors required bankers or venture capitalists to realize their ideas and move them to the marketplace. Now, crowd-funding sites like Kickstarter and Indiegogo allow anyone to raise money from friends and strangers who want little more than to help bring an idea to life. Of the more than 30,000 projects successfully funded on Kickstarter since its 2009 launch, the vast majority have been the work of individuals, not companies, says a Kickstarter representative. One recent project sought $250,000 to mass-produce "Impossible Instant Lab," a cool gadget that turns your digital iPhone pictures into Polaroid analog photos. Users set their phone screen onto a cradle atop the lab and press a button. The lab then spits out a picture. Contributors who pledged $149 or more received, at minimum, a discount on a limited edition Lab with free film. The largest supporters received additional freebies.
To participate on Kickstarter, you simply create an online account; write a brief description of your vision (in a few cases, like technology projects, Kickstarter requires a working prototype); decide what goodies to offer donors in exchange for their financial contributions; and designate a total dollar target. The site usually emails you within two days to let you know whether your project has met Kickstarter guidelines -- which include fitting into a category such as art, publishing, games, music, film and technology -- and has been accepted. You receive money only if you reach your goal within the specified time period, which can be from one to 60 days. Kickstarter deducts a 5% fee, but only if you hit your target. Several projects have raised more than a million dollars, but the company says the average is about $5,000. And, for many people, that can be the difference between getting their product to market and leaving the idea in a desk drawer.
Also read: 13 yr old makes 7 million - kids make money
Jacob Dunnack
developed the JD Batball at age six. Jacob was frustrated when he'd remembered his bat but forgotten his ball during a visit to his grandmother's home. To prevent future mishaps, Jacob came up with the idea for a plastic baseball bat with a removable cap for storing balls. Jacob and his parents went to a designer to submit the idea to Toys "R" Us. The toy megastore liked Jacob's idea so much they started carrying the product. Now, that's one idea that definitely turned into a grand slam.What makes Jacob's story even more special is that he was born with a congenital heart defect (two major arteries were crisscrossed). He suffered a stroke during an operation when he was just a baby, and the doctors thought would leave him blind and paralyzed. But Jacob proved them wrong! Though he has limited vision and limited use of his right arm, that hasn't stopped Jacob from living a normal life...and being one of the few kids who has actually gotten his invention on toy store shelves! The Batball is a patent pending product. Invented in 2000 by 6-year-old Jacob Dunnack.
You make be quick to judge and to come up with some quick "negative" responses like: I don't have money. I don't have access to people in the know. I am too young. Or something to that effect - but here is a tip for you.
Crowd-fund your invention
As recently as a few years ago, inventors required bankers or venture capitalists to realize their ideas and move them to the marketplace. Now, crowd-funding sites like Kickstarter and Indiegogo allow anyone to raise money from friends and strangers who want little more than to help bring an idea to life. Of the more than 30,000 projects successfully funded on Kickstarter since its 2009 launch, the vast majority have been the work of individuals, not companies, says a Kickstarter representative. One recent project sought $250,000 to mass-produce "Impossible Instant Lab," a cool gadget that turns your digital iPhone pictures into Polaroid analog photos. Users set their phone screen onto a cradle atop the lab and press a button. The lab then spits out a picture. Contributors who pledged $149 or more received, at minimum, a discount on a limited edition Lab with free film. The largest supporters received additional freebies.
To participate on Kickstarter, you simply create an online account; write a brief description of your vision (in a few cases, like technology projects, Kickstarter requires a working prototype); decide what goodies to offer donors in exchange for their financial contributions; and designate a total dollar target. The site usually emails you within two days to let you know whether your project has met Kickstarter guidelines -- which include fitting into a category such as art, publishing, games, music, film and technology -- and has been accepted. You receive money only if you reach your goal within the specified time period, which can be from one to 60 days. Kickstarter deducts a 5% fee, but only if you hit your target. Several projects have raised more than a million dollars, but the company says the average is about $5,000. And, for many people, that can be the difference between getting their product to market and leaving the idea in a desk drawer.
Also read: 13 yr old makes 7 million - kids make money
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