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Turning ideas into reality: Behind the Business with Invention City in East Orleans, MA
Have you ever had an idea for a new product or service, but no clue where to start? Meet Invention City. Back in 1997, inventor Mike Marks started Invention City with one simple goal—give inventors real, honest advice. It all began in a garage in California. Over the years, Marks and his team have learned what works, what doesn’t, and how to help creators bring their ideas to market. Invention City looks at the big picture, figuring out early on what could make or break an idea.
“You’ve heard of Shark Tank? We are Minnow Tank!” Marks explained. “We evaluate ideas holistically to minimize risks and maximize success.”
Invention City has developed a service called the Brutally Honest Review. It’s a questionnaire that inventors fill out, and Invention City gives inventors the straight truth—whether an idea is worth pursuing or if it's time to move on. They don’t just look at patents or prototypes; they dig into every angle to help inventors avoid wasting time and money. They also have a free Inventicator App, which helps people gauge whether their idea has real potential.
“Our philosophy is to go fast and break things.” Marks said. “In other words, fail fast, learn, and move forward. In the end, if an idea is ethical and profitable, we’re in.”
Invention City has primarily grown organically, gaining a reputation through online forums, search rankings, and the BBB for lead generation. Initially, they offered free advice, but over time, they began charging for their expertise while still providing up to date content and resources on their website.
“The best part of my job,” Marks said, “is getting to play with all sorts of wild product ideas, from happy voodoo dolls to oil drilling equipment to medical devices. But it’s not just the ideas, it’s the people behind them that make it all worthwhile. Helping inventors turn their visions into reality is what keeps us going.”
“Our approach remains flexible,” Marks explained. “We do not offer cookie-cutter solutions, and this sets us apart.”
Bringing a product to market isn’t easy and can take years. Marks said two of their biggest challenges are management changes that can kill promising deals and getting visibility for new products in a crowded marketplace. Despite these hurdles, Invention City’s expertise in licensing, marketing, and production helps inventors navigate these complexities. They also use a number of tools like Monday for CRM, Google Drive for collaboration, and AI for summaries and concept images to help streamline their processes.
Even though Invention City works with inventors worldwide and has offices in Minneapolis and Los Angeles, Marks is based in Cape Cod, Massachusetts and loves the coastal lifestyle and being close to nature.
Invention City has helped bring some pretty cool products to life. Examples include The Power Shot staple gun which won Design of the Decade award in the 1990s, the Gator Grip Universal Socket changing the way people use tools, Peep n’ Peepers adding a spooky touch to Halloween decor, and DreamCline bedframe helping people sleep better. So what’s next? Marks shared one project in the works: the KlingK Grip for mobile phones.
Looking ahead, Invention City aims to incubate and accelerate promising ideas, helping inventors scale their products to new heights.
“Our mission will stay the same: be honest, be innovative, and help inventors succeed.”
Invention City has been an Accredited Member of the Better Business Bureau since 2010. For more information about Invention City, check out their BBB Profile. To learn more about BBB and read more stories like this, visit Behind the Business Stories with BBB in Eastern MA, ME, RI & VT.
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