Thanks Greg – I hope to one day have a vicarious win through you as well!

Meant to say how bummed I was, Robert. I had you as my proxy winner :(

Thanks Fred and Jim. After a short pity-party I’m back – opted in two of my Irwin entries, 5 other opt-ins and 8 new submissions to Everyday Edisons. I actually hate the idea of being on TV but if that’s what it takes to move some of my ideas forward I’ll do it.

What got me on with Irwin was not so much the R8’s as it was the LONG wait and then the R8’s – a real letdown after all that time.

Speaking of which, today is May 8th, exactly 6 months after the Irwin Tools presentation – do we have a winner?

Very sorry to hear about the R8’s Robert. Obviously, they were great ideas, so I am sure you will be back in the hunt with more.
Like others, I thought you had this one in the bag. I really hadn’t thought of your ideas going this far, for this long, and one not being selected. I guess I learned something today. Best success to you in your future submissions.

Thomas Paine (no pun or ‘pain’ intended!) appropriately said: “These are the times that try men’s souls!” Sorry to hear, Robert. But we’re all in this with you, so stay the course.

Thanks for the condolences everyone. I have to admit this has knocked me back on my heels somewhat (after 6+ months of hopes and dreams, now dashed) but I think I’ll be able to get back on my feet and will live to fight another day.

I feel Irwin owes you at least a consultative fee… Robert.

Sorry Robert !

Robert: Sorry to hear. I got R6, but I’ve been following the thread. Good luck on the next one.
Ron

I am so sorry Robert… I thought you had that locked up. So many great measuring ideas that went so far… Did Irwin pick up anything from the search?

Best wishes my friend, in future endeavors. Keep on Truckin!

Two more R8’s received this morning for a total of 4 R8’s – that’s all of them, so I’m out.

Just goes to show that going into the presentation or even coming out of it with 4 G7’s is no guarantee of anything.

I wish in the post-presentation stage that there was opportunity for two-way communication or an invitation to come in and explain/demonstrate one’s inventions – I think I could have answered Irwin’s concerns as expressed in feedback. That said, this is their business and their area of expertise so I’m hopeful my inventions got a full and fair consideration from Irwin.

Good luck if anyone is still in the search – I sure hope someone gets a deal with EN and Irwin after all of this time.

Greg: maybe I’ll try that – probably good therapy for me and my 3-yr-old son would get a kick out of watching it.

I love sock puppets! :D

Get a couple of sock puppets, one for each of yours still in it, then you can entertain the family as they chat with each other…
“Oooh, I hope they pick me…”
“No. Me. Me.”

Thanks Greg. I figure there may be 8 or so submissions in addition to mine still “on the table” for Irwin. They must not be forum participants though – pretty lonely here, waiting.

Oops – accidentally posted with the team’s account again.

Robert

I hope this works out for you Robert, been keeping my eyes on it. Still have failed my submission on my “things to proof of concept” list.

Thanks Tim. Actually, the 6-month anniversary of the Nov. 8, 2011 Irwin presentation is coming up on May 8, 2012 for ALL submissions (not just mine).

Who else is still alive in this one?

I’ve been trying to just “Zen out”, concentrate on the rest of my life, and not think about this while Irwin and EN do their thing but the approaching 6-month point has me thinking about it again.

Re: your 10-yr. journey – I guess it’s all relative – 6 months+ isn’t long to wait when the alternative is having our ideas sit in a drawer or in the dark corner of a workshop for years and years…

Last week I received two R8’s, but since this was my first time as a finalist I didn’t know where to look for feedback (I guess I thought it came by email).

Today, someone’s post in the forums triggered the idea that the feedback might be in the submission itself – I took a look and there it was.

Here, for those interested, is the feedback I received for one of my R8 submissions (the other feedback was virtually identical):

“The sponsor provided feedback this weekend, after time spent researching the submission and having various team engineers on their end review the ideas and consider execution methods. The ultimately stated on this one that “they see no way to make this work”. Additional thoughts from general discussions with them: The challenge within this space is a significant one, as there is a pretty impressive blanket of IP existing, and the costs to execute potential solutions, materials required for potential solutions, and simply the inability to execute on some of the solutions makes it very difficult."

Anyone have any more updates?

This is great… my fourth R8 on the same idea. As far as being an insider with feedback like “After further consideration we are not interested in this idea” really…I’m out. Would be nice to get a better feedback on my idea as to what needs to changed or what specific thing was wrong for them.

Thanks Eric and Kevin. I’d be absolutely delighted to get a deal with EN and Irwin but I’m certainly not counting on it.

It one of my great dreams in life to become a “real” inventor, but I figure at this stage of the game with Irwin just about anything can happen and it’s not necessarily determined by my inventions themselves – exogenous factors like market forces, branding, competition, etc. – all come to bear on Irwin’s decision and will determine which items in the final group will ultimately be licensed (if any).

Still, I’ve got my fingers crossed and I’m praying for a wonderful conclusion to this long adventure.

Good luck Robert! I really think you have this one in the bag!

Cool, Robert! No matter how you slice it comes up as deuce emeralds for you!

Gents:

Condolences on the R8’s – we can all at least take this as validation that our inventions are good ones, just perhaps not perfect for Irwin at this time.

@Kevin – yes, I have 2 that are still G7 (as far as my dashboard shows).

I’m hoping Scott will jump on at some point and give us some color on this round of R’s. Was there a recent meeting with Irwin?

Starting with the 16 that survived the presentation, and subtracting the 5 R8’s indicated here, I figure there are a maximum of 11 submissions left on the board (probably less given forum non-participants who have R’d out).

I’m curious whether this round of R’s is the beginning of an imminent “final cut” or if this is a just a “preliminary cut” with the final cut to come in a few weeks.

Robert you still have some left here don’t you? Here’s hoping!

Sorry for the Rs men.

Got the R8 as well!!

I also got the dreaded R8 this morning. Good luck to those still in.

Thanks for the update Wayne. I think part of the beauty of this EN community is that we update each other both on our joys and our sorrows, or at least on good news and bad news.

Oops – accidentally posted using my group’s account.

- Robert

Robert,
I too just got the R8. So it’s on to the next thing.
Wayne

Woke up this morning to two R8’s.

Anyone else have an update?

Thanks Scott for the info

Thank you Scott. It’s good to know you are on top of things.
I’ll just sit tight and keep my fingers crossed :)

James -

We contact sponsors on a regular basis. When news is available we will and do update, but won’t be posting when a sponsor is within their window.

Again, there is NO MAGIC to 45 days, different sponsors may have different time frames based upon contract and industry. The real thing is the 6 months from date into Stage 7, and quite frankly the majority of decisions are announced very shortly after a presentation.

We will not rush a potential sponsor into a decision, as this is their time for due diligence and they are spending time, money and resources on the project.

Meaningful updates are the key, won’t be posting that we spoke on a Tuesday if there is not actionable outcome of a discussion.

Come Feb 8th and it will have been three months since the presentation. I realise that they have up to six months, but it would be helpful if we could get an update on the status during this time. Once 45 days has rolled around I recommend that there be an automatic trigger for EN to contact the sponsor and then post the status (or contact the finalists directly), and at least once more before six months has passed. Any news EN?
Thank you!

Congrats all & Good luck!

Tom: I don’t know the answer to that question but my understanding is that Irwin has until May 8, 2012 at the latest to make their decision(s), so there’s still plenty of time.

Will there be a statement by edison nation at the 6 month deadline in regards to the outcome of the search ? Or will we just assume that Irwin passed on the ideas ?

No movement that I can see. It’s been about 2 months since the presentation so Irwin is well over the 45 days EN aims for. Of course there were the holidays in there and I expect this is also a relatively complex item for due diligence. Technically Irwin has up to 6 months to make a decision, so could be up to 4 months still.

Any movement?

Roger, I like that strategy! Hopefully Irwin realizes this as well and has many dollars to spread amongst all of us that are in the running! HAHA

Eric, you bring up a very good point about a company buying or licensing your product and just sitting on it so the competition doesn’t get it. That is why you need to make sure you have a performance clause in your contract. Now on a different aspect I will tell a company that I have sent a sell sheet to for the first time that I sent it to them FIRST so that they know if they pass on it I plan on going to another company, which of course is a competitor. Hopefully it will make them take a harder look at the product knowing it could end up with a competitor.

Congrats Guys… I am preparing mine for SKIL. Great job!

Congratulations Eric … Great job and to the others I wish you the Big Geen 8 as well ..  You all should be so proud, Scott said nothing but terrific things about the complexities and qualities of the submissions.. So once again  " Here Here " to you all.  

As far as my submission I plan on taking it to a manufacturer who invents and produces for a National Brand and will hope for the best!!!   

Good Luck my friends I will watch and look forward to hearing how this all measures out !!! 

Again Robert sounds like a terrific plan you will bring much to your new formed team, and teammates as they will bring to you !!!   In numbers there are strengths that surpass and will carry even the smallest to Victory !!!   Good Luck my friends..

On the bright side, I presume when Irwin or any other mfg. is considering a new idea, they as well have to consider the fact that they don’t want their competitors to end up with it. I wonder how many concepts were borderline to their liking that they did license in fear of someone else taking it on. Maybe that’s where the “buyout” comes into play. Buy it, shut it down, and sit on it.

Thanks Patricia. Like a lot of us inventor-types I’ve got too many raw ideas to capitalize on just by myself, so submitting some ideas via a team (with shared workload) as well as individually gives much more scope for getting ideas out there. Plus, it gives vent to the urge to collaborate and discuss without jeopardizing IP by disclosure outside of a tight little circle. The fellowship of like-minded people is a great benefit too.