How do I pitch my product to a major company, safely?

Question

I developed a product in an untapped niche market. I have a great proposal, business plan, and marketing strategy. How do I get a meeting with the HUGE company I want to work with? How to I prevent them from simply doing it without me? (copyrights don't apply here) They could pretty much just take my research and idea and do their own thing... or should I raise my own investment capital and produce it myself to avoid the above scenario?

Answer 1

Here are some book titles that are relevant:

* Bringing Your Product to Market: Fast-Track Approaches to Cashing in on Your Great Idea, 2nd Edition by Don Debelak
* Entrepreneur Magazine: Bringing Your Product to Market by Don Debelak
* Product Idea to Product Success: A Complete Step-by-Step Guide to Making Money from Your Idea by Matthew Yubas

Hope that helps! I wish you much success & happiness in all your ventures!

Answer 2

Find 20 companies or people and as them if they would buy your product.
You do not have to show them a product, just the spec and what it can do. See if people are willing to pay in advance for your product, then after you get a signed purchase order, approach the companies, with the idea and prototype without giving away all the information and see if you can get any bids Companies become interested if they know there is an indentifiable market for your product.

Start with a good idea.

Start with a phone call to tell the representative that you have already been studying their company, products and competitors and you have a great idea that can help the company. Would you be free for 30 mins to listen to what I have to say?
Really research the company and see how your product can help the company. Then pitch your idea withinthe 30 min.

Answer 3

You have a patent lawyer do a patent search. If that comes off well, then you have your product designed by an engineer and a designer under a confidentiality agreement. Then you develop your prototype or intellectual concept. You test it using a good contracts lawyer to draft an airtight confidentiality agreement. You then approach a testing facility to find out tolerances. Upon having this. You find the company you want to approach. You send the desired companies a feeler letter that tells the name of your product and the problem it solves but nothing technical. They will contact you if interested. They will inform you what type of demonstration item they require. Do your homework and find out what their manufacturing capabilities are. You redesign the product utilizing as much of their manufacturing capabilities as possible. Apply for a provisional patent to establish patent pending status. If it doesn't sell, you don't need to get a real patent. You prepare a professional presentation. Rehearse it and arrive and deliver it. You will be giving the presentation in front of a panel. So if you have no experience with presentations hire a professional. The panel will be there to determine manufacturing cost, marketability, Equipment cost, risk assessment, etc. Negotiate the compensation framework, ect.

Answer 4

If it is a really good idea...Someone is going to take it anyway, eventually.
When you approach a major company they may sign a confidentiallity agreement with you. It is your proof that you had it first. Most companies are pretty legitamate.

Grab a lawyer to take with you. That way they know you are serious about protecting your interest.