Edison nation’s Commercialize your Product requires a prototype! But why? the required level of prototype is:

“It needs to be a factory sample or high quality prototype (it must look like and work like a real sample). If you don’t have a factory sample or high quality prototype, you should consider submitting your product idea or concept in response to a product search posted on Innovation Station throughout the year (coming soon).”

Plus: " the sample you send will not be returned. Edison Nation “Commercialize My Product” is for those with multiple product samples or prototypes that are interested in the opportunities that exist through the extensive commercialization network of Edison Nation."

Now it’s probably more clear that they want production sample more then prototype. Typically prototype with mock up are expensive and more inventor can only afford one.
So what they really want is some novelty product they can quickly stick on their brand tag and work them through their “extensive commercialization network” so they can be advertised as “promoted by Edison nation”