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What starts as a cold morning in a Minnesota tree stand turns into a fully patented, premium outdoor product business. In this episode of The Bold Inventors Show, hosts J.D. Houvener and Matt Kulseth sit down with Todd Hanson, founder of Compass Carts, to unpack the real, unfiltered journey from idea to execution.

Todd didn’t start with a factory, investors, or a perfect plan. He started with a frustrating problem: hauling gear and game on public land where vehicles aren’t allowed. Instead of settling for rattly, flimsy carts, he asked a better question—why can’t a game cart and hitch rack be the same thing?

That question sparked 19 product iterations, countless field tests, and ultimately a granted U.S. utility patent protecting a clever wheel-rotation and hitch-mounted cart system that’s now used by hunters, anglers, outfitters, e-bike riders, and outdoor pros across the country.

In this episode, Todd breaks down:

• How to validate an idea before spending big money
• When it actually makes sense to file a patent (and when it doesn’t)
• Why premium materials can be a competitive advantage
• How patents increase company value—even before big sales
• The realities of trade shows, copy risks, and overseas manufacturers
• Why resilience matters more than perfection for inventors

Whether you’re a first-time inventor, a weekend tinkerer, or a founder thinking about patents, licensing, or acquisition, this episode delivers practical insight without the fluff.

🔑 Key Takeaways

• 🦌 Solve a real problem you personally experience
• 🔁 Expect many iterations—version 1 is never the final version
• 📄 Patents work best after market validation, not before
• 💰 IP can raise valuation even before major revenue
• 🛠️ Premium design + durability = long-term brand trust
• 🌎 Trade shows create exposure and copy risk—be prepared
• 🧠 Resilience beats perfection every time

🎧 Perfect for: inventors, product founders, outdoor entrepreneurs, hardware startups, and anyone curious about patents, trademarks, and real-world commercialization.

🔥 Hashtags

#BoldInventors, #InventorJourney, #ProductDevelopment, #StartupStory, #Patents, #EntrepreneurLife, #HardwareStartup, #OutdoorInnovation, #HuntingGear, #EbikeAccessories, #PatentLaw, #TrademarkStrategy, #InventorMindset, #FromIdeaToMarket, #FounderStories, #AmericanInnovation, #IPStrategy, #StartupLessons, #ProductDesign, #GoBigGoBold

Support the show

Have an invention or brand to protect? Or just curious about learning more? Download our FREE Inventor Kit here: https://keap.page/gw292/inventor-kit.html

DISCLAIMER
Everything discussed on this podcast is for informational purposes only and not for the purpose of providing legal advice.

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This week on the Bold Inventors Show, hosts J.D. Houvener (patent attorney, Bold Patents) and Matt Kulseth (trademark attorney) sit down with Steve Waddell, the founder of Nasoni—the company reinventing the everyday faucet into a hands-free fountain + smart accessibility platform.

Steve’s journey is a masterclass in what it really takes to go from problem → prototype → pitch wins → product → pivots → clinical trials → grants. If you’ve ever wondered “Is my idea too small?” or “How do I fund this thing?”—this episode is for you.

🎯 In this episode, you’ll learn:

💡 The “rinse test”: why brushing your teeth inspired a whole product category
🏗️ How Steve built early proof-of-concept prototypes (and what he learned the hard way)
🏆 Startup competition strategy: how pitch wins helped fund real momentum
📺 Steve Harvey’s Thunderdome: what it’s like to pitch on a high-pressure stage
🧪 From consumer product to healthcare tech: how Nasoni evolved into assistive innovation
🧓♿ Accessibility & independence: adapting faucet control for users with mobility challenges
🔬 Clinical trials + NIH grants: what it takes to validate and scale a medical-adjacent product
⚖️ Patents, timing, and ROI: when filing too early can backfire—and how to think about IP strategy
🌀 Motion mark trademark: yes, that’s a thing—and Steve actually has one

🔥 Why this matters for inventors

Nesoni’s story shows how a product can start as a simple consumer “aha” moment… and become a mission-driven platform that helps real people live more independently—while still requiring smart decisions around funding, manufacturing, IP, and go-to-market timing.

📌 Watch live

We’re live every Wednesday at 12pm Pacific / 3pm Eastern on LinkedIn + YouTube.
Bring your questions—patents, trademarks, product launches, licensing, and more (just keep it non-confidential since we’re live).

🔗 Want confidential guidance? Book a free discovery call at BoldPatents.com.

#BoldInventorsShow #Nesoni #SmartFaucet #Innovation #Patents #Trademarks #InventorJourney, #Nasoni, #SteveWaddell, #BoldInventorsShow, #BoldPatents, #PatentLaw, #TrademarkLaw, #Inventors, #Entrepreneurship, #StartupJourney, #ProductDevelopment, #HardwareStartup, #SmartHomeTech, #AssistiveTechnology, #AccessibilityInnovation, #NIHGrants, #ClinicalTrials, #PitchCompetition, #Manufacturing, #IPStrategy, #MedicalDevices

Support the show

Have an invention or brand to protect? Or just curious about learning more? Download our FREE Inventor Kit here: https://keap.page/gw292/inventor-kit.html

DISCLAIMER
Everything discussed on this podcast is for informational purposes only and not for the purpose of providing legal advice.

Send us a text

Welcome back to the Bold Inventor Show—the weekly live stream where inventors, entrepreneurs, and business owners learn how to protect and scale what they’re building with patents, trademarks, and smart strategy. Hosted by J.D. Houvener, patent attorney & founder of Bold Patents, this episode is a powerful double-feature: a heart-driven invention story that became a patented product system, plus practical AI insights for professional services leaders who want to work faster without losing quality.

🎥 Episode Highlights (Fun + Fast Takeaways)

🧠 From personal pain point to patented innovation
Angela Fairhurst shares how caring for her mom with dementia led to a breakthrough moment—discovering how tactile, safe, sensory tools could create calm + connection when words no longer worked.

🧸 Jerry Gadgets®: “tools, not toys”
Angela explains why dementia-friendly products must be:
✅ dishwasher safe 🍽️
✅ mouth safe 👄
✅ non-toxic 🧪
✅ durable 💪
✅ engaging for two people (connection matters!) 🤝

✨ Inventing isn’t magic—it's follow-through
A recurring theme: ideas are everywhere, but execution is rare. Angela shares how she moved from “why doesn’t this exist?” to design, testing, market research, and IP protection.

📦 A patented “manipulation kit” system
Rather than patenting one object, Angela protected the system—a smart strategy for innovators building product families with future variations.

🤖 Second Feature: Corporate Patents + AI Consulting That Actually Works

📡 Frank Lazaro on innovating inside big telecom
Frank shares what it’s like to invent at a large corporation:
🏢 curated invention disclosure pipelines
⚖️ in-house patent counsel interviews
🏆 recognition + bonuses
📌 but the company owns the IP (a key lesson for employee-inventors)

🧩 AI as a tool, not a replacement
Frank breaks down how firms can use generative AI like ChatGPT/Copilot/Claude to find efficiency—especially in law, accounting, architecture, engineering, consulting, and other professional services.

⏱️ “Find 12 minutes” strategy
His approach is simple: reclaim small blocks of time daily and turn that into massive savings across weeks and months—without sacrificing quality.

📈 Strategic planning for innovation
Frank’s thesis: AI shouldn’t be bolted on as an afterthought. It should be integrated into business strategy, operations, and measurable KPIs so leaders can track real ROI.

📅 Watch Live Every Week

📍 Wednesdays at 12pm Pacific / 3pm Eastern
🎥 Streaming on LinkedIn + YouTube
💬 Bring your questions—live Q&A always welcome!

#BoldInventorsShow, #BoldPatents, #PatentAttorney, #PatentLaw, #Invention, #Inventor, #Entrepreneurship, #Startup, #ProductDevelopment, #IPStrategy, #Trademarks, #UtilityPatent, #Caregiving, #DementiaCare, #HealthcareInnovation, #ConsumerProducts, #GenerativeAI, #AIForBusiness, #ProfessionalServices, #InnovationStrategy

Support the show

Have an invention or brand to protect? Or just curious about learning more? Download our FREE Inventor Kit here: https://keap.page/gw292/inventor-kit.html

DISCLAIMER
Everything discussed on this podcast is for informational purposes only and not for the purpose of providing legal advice.