Frustrated inventor needs some advice

[Gibson486]

You seem very stubborn, but I guess it is understandable. As harsh as some of the posts may be, some of it is truthful.

Having worked in the industry, patents do not do much for normal people because they cannot support themselves in the case where they are infringed upon. The big corporations will let the case just drag out until you have no funds.

As I stated, you can't just patent a product anymore successfully. You need to patent something in the product that makes that product work, not the integration of multiple technologies. Otherwise, you are wasting time. Also, USPTO stuff does not apply overseas. So, if your idea will have a global impact, it would be tough to regulate across the pond.

My advice is you need to talk to an angel investor who will be willing to take a chance just on the concept. It will be hard, but there are lots who burn through money. Here is the thing though, you make substantial claims such as getting a 95% rate instead of a 60% rate. How do you know that will be true if you never even built a prototype? As an engineer, lots of times we think stuff will work, but when we build it, we suddenly see why it doesn't.

Good Luck.

 

[hoyaguru]

U mad bro? Y you mad tho?

I'm going to take a wild guess that what I wrote struck a nerve because it was true. Truth hurts don't it? As you can see I, unlike you am not angry because your response, juvenile as it was, is way off the mark.

Yes, that's it exactly, you're a genius!

 

[hoyaguru]

You seem very stubborn, but I guess it is understandable. As harsh as some of the posts may be, some of it is truthful.

Having worked in the industry, patents do not do much for normal people because they cannot support themselves in the case where they are infringed upon. The big corporations will let the case just drag out until you have no funds.

As I stated, you can't just patent a product anymore successfully. You need to patent something in the product that makes that product work, not the integration of multiple technologies. Otherwise, you are wasting time. Also, USPTO stuff does not apply overseas. So, if your idea will have a global impact, it would be tough to regulate across the pond.

My advice is you need to talk to an angel investor who will be willing to take a chance just on the concept. It will be hard, but there are lots who burn through money. Here is the thing though, you make substantial claims such as getting a 95% rate instead of a 60% rate. How do you know that will be true if you never even built a prototype? As an engineer, lots of times we think stuff will work, but when we build it, we suddenly see why it doesn't.

Good Luck.

Interesting, I've never heard of an Angel investor before, I'll have to look into that.

My 95% rate is actually low, I'm looking at more like 100%, but will probably be closer to 98 or 99%. Without being able to tell you what it is, all I can say is that if you did know, you would understand.

 

[sourceninja]

Just patent the concept, then sue anyone who makes it later.

Oh I see that was already mentioned.

I'm trying to build some capital to find normal ideas that people do every day, and add "on the internet, or on a mobile network" to them and patent it.

 

[darkewaffle]

Just patent the concept, then sue anyone who makes it later.

Oh I see that was already mentioned.

I'm trying to build some capital to find normal ideas that people do every day, and add "on the internet, or on a mobile network" to them and patent it.

Haha, it's like reading fortune cookies and adding "in bed" after the fortune!

Instead you just read patents and add "over the internet or a mobile network" after the idea! Brilliant!

In other news, I predict OP's invention is designed to remove the cherry from chocolate covered cherries and replace it with mayo.

 

[hoyaguru]

I'll give an example of an invention that, as far as I know, no one has ever thought of before. I'm sure if someone did, someone out here will point it out asap.

OK, most inventions are created to solve a problem, here's the problem: Picture some kids playing on a frozen lake. The ice breaks, they fall in. Someone calls 911, help arrives, and rescue workers have to risk their lives getting out on the thin ice to rescue the kids. You see this on the news every year.

Here's something I came up with about 15 years ago. I'll do my best to explain it, you'll have to use your imagination. First, picture a human spine, all the vertebrae linked up to each other. Now imagine instead of the size of the vertebrae changing, they are all the same size, about half as big, and the spine is 100 feet long. Where the spinal cord is in a human, there is a cable with wires inside, running the length of the spine. On either side of each vertebrae are two holes with a wire running through each hole from one end to the other. The spine can bend like a human spine, one way it is very flexible, the other not so much, and it can flex to a certain point on either side.

Now, cover this spine with a heavy foam tube, so it looks like a rope. Attach it to a winch on the front of a vehicle, and attach the wires on either side to one motor each. The cable running through the rope that is closest to the vehicle would have wires coming out that would be attached to a joystick type device. At the far end of the rope, you could attach any number of devices. For the ice rescue scenario, it would be something that sits on ice skate blades, with a gripper at the front. With the rope wound onto the winch, as it is let out, the wires on either side could be pulled one way or the other to steer the rope. When the device at the end reaches the victim, the gripper at the front could be used to grasp some clothing, and then the victim could be winched in.

Any number of devices could be attached to the front of the rope. If the victim is in water, it could have some floats on the bottom instead of the ice skate blades. And there are any number of things you could mount onto the device at the end of the rope that would be useful in many scenarios, just use your imagination.

This idea has several flaws, one of the main ones being the cost to build it, and the fact that there are very few companies (mainly rescue agencies in cold weather areas) who would use one. But, it's an idea that I've never seen anywhere else.

 

[Gibson486]

Interesting, I've never heard of an Angel investor before, I'll have to look into that.

My 95% rate is actually low, I'm looking at more like 100%, but will probably be closer to 98 or 99%. Without being able to tell you what it is, all I can say is that if you did know, you would understand.

You fail to see my point. Wireless G can go upto 54mbps...however, that is only in a perfect world. You will never see that in real life unless you put the two devices on top of each other in a chamber. While I have no doubt you could get a 99% rate of whatever you are talking about, it's useless without a real time prototype. In reality, you first said it is 95%, then you said it 100%, then you back off and say 98 or 99%. Which is it? This is why you need a prototype to prove what you have is real, otherwise it
looks like you pulled teh number out of your ass.

As for the angel investor, you need to find one that would take a product from inception to market. There are not many of those in your case. Seeing as you claim you cannot even draw out what your concept is, it is going to be a challenge to convey what your product is. You have to have a plan and explain how you are going to do it.

No matter what, someone will take a chunk of your money. As you said, you cannot do it yourself. Having someone else take part of that load to actually engineer it....yeah, that is going to cost a pretty penny.

 

[Gibson486]

I'll give an example of an invention that, as far as I know, no one has ever thought of before. I'm sure if someone did, someone out here will point it out asap.

OK, most inventions are created to solve a problem, here's the problem: Picture some kids playing on a frozen lake. The ice breaks, they fall in. Someone calls 911, help arrives, and rescue workers have to risk their lives getting out on the thin ice to rescue the kids. You see this on the news every year.

Here's something I came up with about 15 years ago. I'll do my best to explain it, you'll have to use your imagination. First, picture a human spine, all the vertebrae linked up to each other. Now imagine instead of the size of the vertebrae changing, they are all the same size, about half as big, and the spine is 100 feet long. Where the spinal cord is in a human, there is a cable with wires inside, running the length of the spine. On either side of each vertebrae are two holes with a wire running through each hole from one end to the other. The spine can bend like a human spine, one way it is very flexible, the other not so much, and it can flex to a certain point on either side.

Now, cover this spine with a heavy foam tube, so it looks like a rope. Attach it to a winch on the front of a vehicle, and attach the wires on either side to one motor each. The cable running through the rope that is closest to the vehicle would have wires coming out that would be attached to a joystick type device. At the far end of the rope, you could attach any number of devices. For the ice rescue scenario, it would be something that sits on ice skate blades, with a gripper at the front. With the rope wound onto the winch, as it is let out, the wires on either side could be pulled one way or the other to steer the rope. When the device at the end reaches the victim, the gripper at the front could be used to grasp some clothing, and then the victim could be winched in.

Any number of devices could be attached to the front of the rope. If the victim is in water, it could have some floats on the bottom instead of the ice skate blades. And there are any number of things you could mount onto the device at the end of the rope that would be useful in many scenarios, just use your imagination.

This idea has several flaws, one of the main ones being the cost to build it, and the fact that there are very few companies (mainly rescue agencies in cold weather areas) who would use one. But, it's an idea that I've never seen anywhere else.

well, you hit the nail on the head as to why you have never seen it. It cost too much for consumer use...also, it would weigh too much to put on ice. However, you essentially describes a robotic arm. They do not design them as complex as your because there is no need for that much control. But your description of human spine has been done before in robotic books.

 

[hoyaguru]

You fail to see my point. Wireless G can go upto 54mbps...however, that is only in a perfect world. You will never see that in real life unless you put the two devices on top of each other in a chamber. While I have no doubt you could get a 99% rate of whatever you are talking about, it's useless without a real time prototype. In reality, you first said it is 95%, then you said it 100%, then you back off and say 98 or 99%. Which is it? This is why you need a prototype to prove what you have is real, otherwise it
looks like you pulled teh number out of your ass.

As for the angel investor, you need to find one that would take a product from inception to market. There are not many of those in your case. Seeing as you claim you cannot even draw out what your concept is, it is going to be a challenge to convey what your product is. You have to have a plan and explain how you are going to do it.

No matter what, someone will take a chunk of your money. As you said, you cannot do it yourself. Having someone else take part of that load to actually engineer it....yeah, that is going to cost a pretty penny.

As explained, I think it is 100%, but know that there is no way to make something perfect, so I'll concede the real number is 98 to 99%. And also, as I said, my first writing 95% is actually low.

Let's say you have people who cut a design out of paper for a living, then you create a robot that doesn't cut, it uses a cookie cutter like device to "stamp" the design out of the same piece of paper. A really fast person could cut the design out in 30 seconds, and there will be flaws in the cut. Your invention can stamp out the same design in 10 seconds, and every one of them was perfect. Would you say that was a 200% increase in productivity? Or would it be safer to say 150%, because the device might jam, or it takes time to load it, or a million other reasons. Sheesh, you have no idea what my invention is, how could you POSSIBLY know what percentage better it will do a certain thing than a human being could do?

 

[OCGuy]

Does it look like a flashlight but is made to simulate a human body part?

 

[hoyaguru]

well, you hit the nail on the head as to why you have never seen it. It cost too much for consumer use...also, it would weigh too much to put on ice. However, you essentially describes a robotic arm. They do not design them as complex as your because there is no need for that much control. But your description of human spine has been done before in robotic books.

The cost and lack of consumer use is just one flaw, there are others, and this is something I came up with probably 20 years ago, thought about it, and gave up because of the problems. The only reason I'm posting it here is to show that there are different ideas out there that someone else hasn't thought of. Of course there are robotic arms, that;s not what I was describing, what I thought of is more or less "steerable" rope, to save people on thin ice without putting someone else in danger. I wasn't looking for a critique on an obviously flawed idea.

I think I'll give up on ATOT now, used to be you could ask for help out here and at least once in a while get some, now it's like pushing a car up a hill with a (steerable) rope. I'm done posting.

 

[Gibson486]

As explained, I think it is 100%, but know that there is no way to make something perfect, so I'll concede the real number is 98 to 99%. And also, as I said, my first writing 95% is actually low.

Let's say you have people who cut a design out of paper for a living, then you create a robot that doesn't cut, it uses a cookie cutter like device to "stamp" the design out of the same piece of paper. A really fast person could cut the design out in 30 seconds, and there will be flaws in the cut. Your invention can stamp out the same design in 10 seconds, and every one of them was perfect. Would you say that was a 200% increase in productivity? Or would it be safer to say 150%, because the device might jam, or it takes time to load it, or a million other reasons. Sheesh, you have no idea what my invention is, how could you POSSIBLY know what percentage better it will do a certain thing than a human being could do?

LOL....you are missing the point. You do not need to know what your invention is. How can you quantify what your percentage is? Your claim is that it will be it can be 98% based on what you think. That is not good enough. It has to be quantified by an equation or a demo. What you think or believe is not proof.

 

[KeithTalent]

You should watch The Invention of Dr. Nakamats; now that dude is an inventor! http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1708535/

KT

 

[Gibson486]

The cost and lack of consumer use is just one flaw, there are others, and this is something I came up with probably 20 years ago, thought about it, and gave up because of the problems. The only reason I'm posting it here is to show that there are different ideas out there that someone else hasn't thought of. Of course there are robotic arms, that;s not what I was describing, what I thought of is more or less "steerable" rope, to save people on thin ice without putting someone else in danger. I wasn't looking for a critique on an obviously flawed idea.

I think I'll give up on ATOT now, used to be you could ask for help out here and at least once in a while get some, now it's like pushing a car up a hill with a (steerable) rope. I'm done posting.

LOL dude, you basically want someone to do the dirty work for free. Nothing is free. As you said, you lack the skill to prototype and design it. If that is the case, then tough. You have to pay someone else to do the dirty work, you have to tell someone else your idea. The idea is no good in your head, it has to be out there.

What other advice is there to give?

The best advice is on page 1. Making money off an idea is not about being first to the market, it's about how the idea is deployed. This is why companies constantly sit on ideas and wait years until they decide to act on them.

 

[JS80]

LOL dude, you basically want someone to do the dirty work for free. Nothing is free. As you said, you lack the skill to prototype and design it. If that is the case, then tough. You have to pay someone else to do the dirty work, you have to tell someone else your idea. The idea is no good in your head, it has to be out there.

What other advice is there to give?

The best advice is on page 1. Making money off an idea is not about being first to the market, it's about how the idea is deployed. This is why companies constantly sit on ideas and wait years until they decide to act on them.

It's obvious OP thinks very highly of himself. I can guarantee his idea is either already thought of, or extremely stupid like the spine rope.

Any legit/seasoned entrepreneur and angel investor/VC will tell you, which I repeat, ideas are a dime a dozen and execution is EVERYTHING.

These days they make it easy for you. OP go look at Quirky.com

 

[dullard]

Moving from an idea to even getting $1 of profit is possibly one of the hardest things in life. The vast, vast majority will fail miserably. You have to really want it and be willing to put up 100% of your money, posessions, and time for years. Are you willing to do so? If yes, keep reading. If no, your idea will die with you as an idea like the vast majority of ideas die.

When I was ~8 years old I had the idea of a digital camera. Does that mean I get any credit or any profit? No. At the time I didn't have the knowledge or ability to pursue that dream. Luckilly, as I got older I had other ideas and even more luckilly I had the chance to develop the idea, get funding for the idea, patent the idea, and now the idea is being sold. The difference: I was now in a position to put in many hours a day and many tens of thousands of my own dollars into the idea.

The first thing you need to do is to download a non-disclosure agreement (NDA). An NDA is an agreement with another person or company stating that they won't use or disclose what you tell them to ANYONE else. If they do, then you have the right to sue them for damages. An NDA is free to use and can earn you millions in a lawsuit. That NDA is your main protection at this point in time. With the NDA you can now freely approach people for help (drawings), investments (money to fund the idea), or connections (people who can get you the help or investments). I've signed dozens of NDAs and most people/companies won't blink an eye before signing it. They typically last 3 to 5 years which is plenty of time to get further legal protections.

Trade secrets are your best bet. Did KFC get where it is by having patents? Probably not initially. No, it had a secret blend of 11 herbs and spices. That secret is far more valuable than an expiring patent that tells the world how to make your recipe for fried chicken. An NDA is your key to having a trade secret.

Next you need to get funding. The best way is to put up your own money. Once you have your own skin in the game, others will trust you far, far more. There are other sources of money:
1) Angel investors: generally you get free money and they get a share of your idea. The typical amount of money is small and the share of your idea is fairly small. That will get you off the ground until you can find much bigger sources of money. Think of the TV show "Shark Tank" for examples. Your friends/family could be angel investors. Generally, you'll do best if you can stitch together many small angels rather than getting one angel, but that is quite difficult. For example, selling 10 people 1% of your idea for $10,000 each is better than selling one person 50% of your company for $100,000.

2) Venture capitalists: generally you get millions of dollars to develop the idea and they get the vast majority of your idea. A venture capitalist won't even touch you until you have a working prototype, and usually a few sales. After an angel investor and venture capitalist, you might have 10% ownership left. And that money from the venture capitalists isn't yours, it is money to develop the product. You still don't get a dime yourself until possibly that 10% turns into something.

3) Grants: There are plenty of government (federal and local) grants to develop new ideas. They aren't easy to get. They take months to write and years to get. But, it is an option. Partnering with someone who has sucessfully gotten a grant before will help greatly. Try your local university (with an NDA first).

4) Sell out: it is difficult, but possible to go from company to company selling your idea (have them sign the NDA first). If it is a good idea, someone might just take you up. This is quite slow and frustrating as you'll get many "no" answers. #1 rule: when you sell out, keep a percent of the idea. You don't want to be the person who sells a $1 billion idea for $100,000. No, you want to be the person who sells a $1 billion idea for $50,000 and keeps 3% of all royalites (which would be $30 million of pure profit to you in that case).

Patents are good, but way outside your league. A patent itself may cost $15,000 but it does nothing unless you sue someone for violating your patent. Think $100,000 more needed. If you want worldwide protection, don't bother unless you have $1,000,000 ready. But, you can play the patent game cheaply. Provisional patents are only $300 and last a year. If you can develop your idea and start selling (or at least find a big partner) in less than a year, a $300 provisional patent is a nice way to go. The catch is after 1 year, you lose everything if you don't file a costly patent.

 

[gophins72]

Ideas are a dime a dozen. Execution is everything. Sorry but your idea was already thought of, and someone most likely already tried to execute on it.

If it's a consumer product, try submitting your idea to Quirky.com it only costs $10.

this is absolutely truth, only advice i have is avoid people who are full on ideas and short on work (and expect you to execute their ideas).

 

[JS80]

Moving from an idea to even getting $1 of profit is possibly one of the hardest things in life. The vast, vast majority will fail miserably. You have to really want it and be willing to put up 100% of your money, posessions, and time for years. Are you willing to do so? If yes, keep reading. If no, your idea will die with you as an idea like the vast majority of ideas die.

When I was ~8 years old I had the idea of a digital camera. Does that mean I get any credit or any profit? No. At the time I didn't have the knowledge or ability to pursue that dream. Luckilly, as I got older I had other ideas and even more luckilly I had the chance to develop the idea, get funding for the idea, patent the idea, and now the idea is being sold. The difference: I was now in a position to put in many hours a day and many tens of thousands of my own dollars into the idea.

The first thing you need to do is to download a non-disclosure agreement (NDA). An NDA is an agreement with another person or company stating that they won't use or disclose what you tell them to ANYONE else. If they do, then you have the right to sue them for damages. An NDA is free to use and can earn you millions in a lawsuit. That NDA is your main protection at this point in time. With the NDA you can now freely approach people for help (drawings), investments (money to fund the idea), or connections (people who can get you the help or investments). I've signed dozens of NDAs and most people/companies won't blink an eye before signing it. They typically last 3 to 5 years which is plenty of time to get further legal protections.

Trade secrets are your best bet. Did KFC get where it is by having patents? Probably not initially. No, it had a secret blend of 11 herbs and spices. That secret is far more valuable than an expiring patent that tells the world how to make your recipe for fried chicken. An NDA is your key to having a trade secret.

Next you need to get funding. The best way is to put up your own money. Once you have your own skin in the game, others will trust you far, far more. There are other sources of money:
1) Angel investors: generally you get free money and they get a share of your idea. The typical amount of money is small and the share of your idea is fairly small. That will get you off the ground until you can find much bigger sources of money. Think of the TV show "Shark Tank" for examples. Your friends/family could be angel investors. Generally, you'll do best if you can stitch together many small angels rather than getting one angel, but that is quite difficult. For example, selling 10 people 1% of your idea for $10,000 each is better than selling one person 50% of your company for $100,000.

2) Venture capitalists: generally you get millions of dollars to develop the idea and they get the vast majority of your idea. A venture capitalist won't even touch you until you have a working prototype, and usually a few sales. After an angel investor and venture capitalist, you might have 10% ownership left. And that money from the venture capitalists isn't yours, it is money to develop the product. You still don't get a dime yourself until possibly that 10% turns into something.

3) Grants: There are plenty of government (federal and local) grants to develop new ideas. They aren't easy to get. They take months to write and years to get. But, it is an option. Partnering with someone who has sucessfully gotten a grant before will help greatly. Try your local university (with an NDA first).

4) Sell out: it is difficult, but possible to go from company to company selling your idea (have them sign the NDA first). If it is a good idea, someone might just take you up. This is quite slow and frustrating as you'll get many "no" answers. #1 rule: when you sell out, keep a percent of the idea. You don't want to be the person who sells a $1 billion idea for $100,000. No, you want to be the person who sells a $1 billion idea for $50,000 and keeps 3% of all royalites (which would be $30 million of pure profit to you in that case).

Patents are good, but way outside your league. A patent itself may cost $15,000 but it does nothing unless you sue someone for violating your patent. Think $100,000 more needed. If you want worldwide protection, don't bother unless you have $1,000,000 ready. But, you can play the patent game cheaply. Provisional patents are only $300 and last a year. If you can develop your idea and start selling (or at least find a big partner) in less than a year, a $300 provisional patent is a nice way to go. The catch is after 1 year, you lose everything if you don't file a costly patent.

1) No Angel/VC will sign an NDA
2) Short of OP having a prototype or a patent already, no one else will sign an NDA unless OP has a stellar track record

 

[dullard]

1) No Angel/VC will sign an NDA
2) Short of OP having a prototype or a patent already, no one else will sign an NDA unless OP has a stellar track record

You've been pretty much 100% wrong in this thread so far (other than saying ideas are a dime a dozen). Please leave until you know what you are talking about.

I've had plenty of people sign NDAs, including angel investors and outside companies. I didn't originally have a stellar track record.

 

[JS80]

You've been pretty much 100% wrong in this thread so far (other than saying ideas are a dime a dozen). Please leave until you know what you are talking about.

I've had plenty of people sign NDAs, including angel investors and outside companies. I didn't originally have a stellar track record.

You and I are probably talking about two different things. You are wrong if you think an Angel or VC for a startup or "idea" will waste their time and sign an NDA. Only naive noobs ask for NDAs.

http://www.venturestab.com/2011/02/why-startups-shouldn’t-ask-investors-to-sign-ndas/

Asking the venture capitalist to sign a nondisclosure agreement, or NDA: This is a stupid idea perpetuated by lawyers. Most venture capitalists will not sign an NDA, so all you’re doing is putting up a barrier to get their attention and demonstrating your naivety.

http://www.entrepreneur.com/magazine/entrepreneur/2009/january/199008.html
http://roachpost.com/2010/02/22/why-vcs-do-not-sign-ndas/
http://hitechstartups.wordpress.com/2007/08/28/why-vcs-dont-sign-nda/
http://startuplawyer.com/venture-capital/why-a-vc-will-take-a-lighter-to-your-nda

Do some due diligence, pitch your startup idea to some VCs, then you can accuse me of ignorance.

 

[Gibson486]

1) No Angel/VC will sign an NDA
2) Short of OP having a prototype or a patent already, no one else will sign an NDA unless OP has a stellar track record

No, they will. My 2nd job during school was working for a start up. We constantly had a bunch of people who wanted ideas turned into reality. NDAs were signed all the time. However, the VCs I know will not talk to you unless your idea is legit. There has to be a demo or prototype and you have to have the appropriate background. The angel investors on the other hand, they throw money like nothing and they will sign NDAs also because they usually have no idea how the stuff works.

 

[dullard]

You and I are probably talking about two different things. You are wrong if you think an Angel or VC for a startup or "idea" will waste their time and sign an NDA. Only naive noobs ask for NDAs...

Do some due diligence, pitch your startup idea to some VCs, then you can accuse me of ignorance.

Do you even know the difference between a VC and an angel? He is no where near VC ready. It is laughable for you to suggest that he pitch a startup idea to a VC. And no where did I say bring an NDA to a VC. I said take one to an angel (who will and do sign NDAs).

 

[JS80]

Do you even know the difference between a VC and an angel? He is no where near VC ready. It is laughable for you to suggest that he pitch a startup idea to a VC. And no where did I say bring an NDA to a VC. I said take one to an angel (who will and do sign NDAs).

I'm talking about professional Angels, not rich uncle.

 

[Gibson486]

You and I are probably talking about two different things. You are wrong if you think an Angel or VC for a startup or "idea" will waste their time and sign an NDA. Only naive noobs ask for NDAs.

http://www.venturestab.com/2011/02/why-startups-shouldn’t-ask-investors-to-sign-ndas/



http://www.entrepreneur.com/magazine/entrepreneur/2009/january/199008.html
http://roachpost.com/2010/02/22/why-vcs-do-not-sign-ndas/
http://hitechstartups.wordpress.com/2007/08/28/why-vcs-dont-sign-nda/
http://startuplawyer.com/venture-capital/why-a-vc-will-take-a-lighter-to-your-nda

Do some due diligence, pitch your startup idea to some VCs, then you can accuse me of ignorance.

They will do it anyways if the idea is right. They usually do not care because they are giving you money for YOU to do the work. They are only going to control things that are higher up like whether or not you should hire people or if it's the right time to do it. Yeah, they can steal your idea, bt they wont have the details to do anything with it. They are investors, not engineers.

 

[JS80]

No, they will. My 2nd job during school was working for a start up. We constantly had a bunch of people who wanted ideas turned into reality. NDAs were signed all the time. However, the VCs I know will not talk to you unless your idea is legit. There has to be a demo or prototype and you have to have the appropriate background. The angel investors on the other hand, they throw money like nothing and they will sign NDAs also because they usually have no idea how the stuff works.

If you already are a startup and you want to raise additional funds, then a VC may sign an NDA so they can do due diligence on your company. I'm talking about seed stage funding - professional investors will not sign an NDA. It would be impossible for them to keep track of all the bullshit ideas that gets submitted to them.