episode 0014- inventing multiple products and the secret sauce to licensing with alina kravchenko
As a young girl knowing no English, Alina and her family were immigrants in the United States. Though her classmates called her dumb, she showcased her skills the only way she knew how: through art. She couldn't communicate with words, but she could create with her hands. This adversity and love for art ultimately catapulted her into the success she has seen today through inventing, patenting, and licensing multiple products, and even landed her an appearance on ABC's Shark Tank with her product SwipenSnap!
Whether you're looking to be inspired by a story of resilience and overcoming adversity, or you're looking for practical advice on how to invent and license products, look no further! Alina tells all, including her secret sauce to landing licensing deals and overcoming mental blocks. Tune in today (oh, and you might want to take notes)!
Show Highlights:
1- Alina’s background, and the story of immigrating to the U.S. as a young girl. (5:10)
2- The push and pull of doing what makes you happy vs. stressing about money. (9:45)
3- Alina discusses her process of becoming an inventor and learning how to write patents. (12:35)
4- Alina relives the moment she received her first patent. (16:30)
5- The process of creating her first prototype, and what she wishes someone would have told her in the beginning. (18:40)
6- What is licensing, and how did you learn licensing? (24:10)
7- Alina reveals her secret sauce to licensing your product. (28:10)
8- We discuss the notion that all of the information you could ever need is out there; you just need fo find it. (37:35)
9- How did Shark Tank change things for you and your business? (39:15)
10- Trying to avoid going to a dark place of insecurity and trying to keep up with everyone else. (42:00)
11- We discuss the story behind the invention of TonerBum and Alina’s other products, and the ease of getting them off the ground after gaining the confidence from having a successful product in SwipenSnap. (47:25)
12- Where can we find more of Alina and everything she’s working on? (55:00)
13- Listener question: How do you clear a mental block when you’re inventing? (58:45)
14- Alina’s final secret to solving whatever problem you may be encountering. (1:01:30)
Books Mentioned:
Who Not How by Dan Sullivan
Patent It Yourself by David Pressman and David E. Blau
One Simple Idea by Stephen Key
Check out the SwipenSnap Amazon Store!
Check out the TonerBum Amazon Store!
Check out the Calm app!
Follow us on Instagram: @witnessbusiness
Follow Alina on Instagram: @alina_inventor
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