Are you an independent inventor, entrepreneur, small business owner, or intellectual property (IP) professional? If so, mark your calendars now for Invention-Con 2020, coming Thursday – Saturday, August 20 – 22. This year’s theme is “Your IP: A power tool for building success.”
Tune in live each day of Invention-Con 2020 using the following links:
Thursday, August 20, 12-5:30 p.m. ET: https://rev-vbrick.uspto.gov/#/events/bada519a-be39-4860-b2cb-7a0b4e9f31c7
Friday, August 21, 12-5:30 p.m. ET: https://rev-vbrick.uspto.gov/#/events/b6ac1e06-655f-418b-8486-39412a64d976
Saturday, August 22, 12 -5:30 p.m. ET: https://rev-vbrick.uspto.gov/#/events/4854e805-c7eb-4dcb-9b9b-d411773426bb
At Invention-Con 2020, you’ll have the chance to:
- Learn how to use your IP to achieve success from accomplished innovators, inventors, entrepreneurs, and business owners
- Learn about resources available to assist you throughout the innovation ecosystem
- Receive valuable information to assist with developing an IP strategy from IP and business experts
- This program will be done all online via WebEx.
Invention-Con 2020 agenda
(Check for updates as the event date approaches)
View the speaker bios and download the full program.
Thursday, August 20 (all times ET)
12:00 – 12:05 p.m. Introduction
- Sean Wilkerson, Innovation Development Program Manager, USPTO
12:05 – 12:10 p.m. Leadership welcome
- Andrei Iancu, Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property and Director of the USPTO
12:15 – 1:10 p.m. Understanding the patent examination process
- Patrick Nolan, Training and Development Program Manager, Office of Patent Training, USPTO
- Leonard Chang, Academy Supervisory Patent Examiner, USPTO
1:15 – 2:10 p.m. Filing a provisional application
- Sudhanshu Pathak, Supervisory Patent Examiner, USPTO
2:10 – 3:10 p.m. Break
3:15 – 4:10 p.m. Best practices for filing a successful patent application
- Janice Tippett, Management and Program Analyst, Office of Patent Application Processing, USPTO
4:15 – 5:10 p.m. Applying for a trademark
- Matt Schwab, Staff Attorney for Electronic Filing and Public Web Services, USPTO
5:10 – 5:15 p.m. Wrap up and reminders
Friday, August 21
12:00 – 12:05 p.m. Introduction
- Dennis Forbes, Innovation Development Program Manager, USPTO
12:05 – 12:10 p.m. Leadership welcome
- Drew Hirshfeld, Commissioner for Patents, USPTO
12:15 – 1:10 p.m. Government resources
- Wayne Stacy, Director of the Silicon Valley Regional USPTO, moderator
- Craig Buerstatte, Director, Office of Innovation and Entrepreneurship, Economic Development Administration
- Joann Hill, Chief, Office of Business Development Minority Business Development Agency
- George Koklanaris, Associate Administrator Small Business Development Centers, office of Entrepreneurial Development, Small Business Administration
1:15 – 2:10 p.m. Building your business model
- Corinne Hodges, CEO, Association of Women’s Business Council, moderator
- Mike Watts, CEO of LoveHandle
- Ira Carl Wolpart, Attorney, SCORE
2:10 – 3:10 p.m. Break
3:15 – 4:10 p.m. Building a virtual business
- David Sardi, Founder, DineroHispano, moderator
- Andrew Baluch Co-Founder of Markup LLC
- Ramona Ortega, CEO & Founder of My Money My Future
- David Toledo, Director of Product Development, Thrasio
4:15 – 5:10 p.m. Keynote
- Sam Zaid, CEO and Founder of Getaround
5:10 – 5:15 p.m. Wrap up and reminders
Saturday, August 22
12:00 – 12:05 p.m. Introduction
- Sean Wilkerson, Innovation Development Program Manager, USPTO
12:05 – 12:10 p.m. Leadership welcome
- David S. Gooder, Commissioner for Trademarks, USPTO
12:15 – 1:10 p.m. Building your network for success
- Bismarck Myrick, Director of the Office of Equal Employment Opportunity and Diversity, USPTO, moderator
- Miguel Alemañy, Founder at Innomatrix, LLC; Chair of the Board SHPE
- Harry Alford, III, Co-Founder of Humble Ventures
- Nina Archie, Diversity and Tech Policy Advisor, The Commercializer
1:15 – 2:10 p.m. Market research/Know your customer
- Warren Tuttle, President, United Inventors Association, moderator
- Brandon Andrews, Co-Founder, Gauge
- LaKisha Greenwade, Brand Strategist, Wearable Tech Ventures Founder
- Lyndsey Maddox, Digital Third Coast Internet Marketing
2:10 – 3:10 p.m. Break
3:15 – 4:10 p.m. Building your pitch
- Brittany Sickler, Senior Innovation Policy Advisor at the U.S. Small Business Administration, moderator
- Shelly Bell, Founder, Black Girl Ventures
- Scott Hynd, Co-Founder, Performance
- Dr. Heather Metcalf Chief Research Officer, Association for Women in Science, Project Director, STEM to Market (S2M)
4:15 – 5:10 p.m. Understanding licensing
- Dana Colarulli, Executive Director, Licensing Executive Society International (LESI), moderator
- David Fedewa, Founder, Invent Tribe
- Bob Held, Held Intellectual Property, LLC
- Robin Rasor, Executive Director of Licensing, Duke
5:10 – 5:15 p.m. Wrap up and reminders
Invention-Con is presented by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, Office of Innovation Outreach
For more information, or questions about Invention-Con, email InventionCon@uspto.gov. You can learn more about past Invention-Cons at our Invention-Con program webpage.
