Resources for Inventors

As many of you know I am the speaker chair for the Inventors Association of Connecticut (IACT), an inventor’s group located here in Connecticut.   The president of our group Doug Lyon has prepared a list of resources for inventors, and I have decided to share them here.

State & Economic Development Agencies

DECD (Department of Economic and Community Development)      Economic development initiatives and state-level funding.       http://www.ct.gov/ecd/

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Connecticut Innovations (CI)      State-backed VC fund supporting startups with equity, loans, and tax credits.       https://ctinnovations.com/

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CTNext      A subsidiary of CI focused on innovation grants, including SBIR support and Innovation Places.       https://ctnext.com/

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AdvanceCT      Promotes economic growth in CT; offers a business support catalog and site-finder.       https://www.advancect.org/

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CT APEX (formerly PTAC)      Government contract support for small businesses in CT.       https://ctptac.org/

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SCORE Connecticut      Free small business mentoring and workshops.       https://www.score.org/

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Startup Support & Accelerator Programs

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ABCT (Accelerator for Biosciences in CT)      Accelerator for early-stage bioscience ventures.       https://abct.co/

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YEI (Yale Entrepreneurial Institute)      Yale’s startup accelerator and funding resource.       http://yei.yale.edu/

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Entrepreneurship Foundation      Offers mentorship and educational programs.       https://entrepreneurshipfoundation.org/

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Valley Venture Mentors (VVM)      Startup support and prize funding (up to $250K).       https://valleyventurementors.org/

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RESET Hartford      Workshops, shared space, accelerator program, and funding opportunities.       https://www.resetco.org/

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Univ. of Hartford Entrepreneur Center      Free advising and student consulting for startups.       https://www.hartford.edu/barney/about/centers-and-institutes/entrepreneurial-center/

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Inventor & Innovation Resources

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IACT (Inventors Association of CT)      Inventor community and support network.       http://www.inventus.org/

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UConn IP Law Clinic      Free IP legal services for qualified entrepreneurs.       https://law.uconn.edu/…/intellectual-property-entrepreneurship-law-clinic/

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UConn Technology Commercialization Services      Incubator and startup services for university-affiliated ventures.       http://research.uconn.edu/…/incubator-services/

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UConn Patent Clinic      Assists in navigating patent law for startups and researchers.       https://law.uconn.edu/…/intellectual-property-entrepreneurship-law-clinic/

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Funding Programs & Financial Support

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SBIR/STTR Programs      Federal non-dilutive funding for innovative small businesses.       https://www.sbir.gov/ | https://ctnext.com/sbir-sttr-intake-form-2024/

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Angel Investor Forum      Group of CT-based angel investors funding early-stage ventures.       http://www.angelinvestorforum.com/

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Manufacturing Innovation Fund      DECD-backed grants for manufacturing startups.       https://portal.ct.gov/…/Manufacturing-Innovation-Fund

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CT Small Business Boost Fund      Flexible working capital loans.       https://ctsmallbusinessboostfund.org/

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WBDC Equity Match Grant Program      Funding for women-owned small businesses.       https://ctwbdc.org/equity-match-grant-program/

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HEDCO Loan Programs      Loans, including purchase order financing.       https://www.hedcoinc.com/

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Angel Investor Tax Credit Programs      Tax credits for individuals investing in CT startups (including cannabis).       https://ctinnovations.com/…/angel-investor-tax-credit-program/

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Crowdfunding via Patronicity      Community-matched funding.       https://www.patronicity.com/sustainablect

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CleanTech Open Northeast      Pitch competitions and accelerator for cleantech startups.       https://www.cleantechopen.org/

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Tech, Manufacturing & Climate Resources

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CCAT (CT Center for Advanced Technology)      Manufacturing assessments, prototyping, and innovation support.       https://www.ccat.us/

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CONNSTEP      Lean manufacturing, quality systems, and advanced technology support.       https://www.connstep.org/

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FORGE      Supports physical product development and scaling.       https://forgemass.org/

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ClimateHaven      Climate tech incubator in New Haven.       https://www.climatehaven.tech/

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Future Climate Venture Studio      Climate-related startup accelerator.       https://www.futureclimateventurestudio.com/

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Maker & Co-working Spaces

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MakeHaven (New Haven)      Maker space with tools and workshops.       https://www.makehaven.org/

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The District (New Haven)      Innovation campus and co-working community.       https://www.districtnhv.com/

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B-Hive (Bridgeport)      Co-working and startup space.       www.bhivebridgeport.com

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Bridgeport Innovation Center      Affordable offices for growing businesses.       www.bridgeportinnovationcenter.com

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Danbury Hackerspace      Collaborative makerspace and incubator.       www.danburyhackerspace.com

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Hamden Business Incubator      Startup and small business space.       http://www.hamdeneconomicdevelopment.org/…

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HubCap (Wallingford)      Co-working and entrepreneurial hub.       http://www.hubcapwallingford.com/

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Colodesk (Shared Office)      Coworking and business development services.       www.colodesk.com

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Comradity (Stamford)      Strategy studio and innovation coworking.       www.comradity.net/content

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MakerspaceCT (Hartford)      Largest makerspace in the state.       https://makerspacect.com/

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CT Hackerspace (Watertown)      Tech-focused makerspace and community.       www.cthackerspace.com

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NESIT (Meriden)      Nonprofit hackerspace for technology and crafts.       http://nesit.org

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Makers Guild (Fairfield County)      Youth and adult STEAM education & prototyping.       http://makersguildfc.com

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Export, Diversity & Equity Resources

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Naval & Maritime Consortium      Maritime sector business support.       https://www.nmconsortium.com/

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CT Women’s Business Development Council (WBDC)      Women-focused business training and funding.       https://ctwbdc.org/

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KNOWNPreneurs      Accelerator for BIPOC founders.       https://www.nhvknown.com/knownpreneurs/

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Collab New Haven      Mentorship and startup support for underrepresented founders.       https://collabnewhaven.org/

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U.S. Department of Commerce      Resources for international trade and exporting.       https://www.trade.gov/

I attended the Connecticut Bar Assocation Connecticut Legal Conference this past Friday!

I had a great time meeting lawyers and seeing lawyers I already know at the Connecticut Legal Conference (CLC) on Friday June 13, 2025.  The CLC is the CBA’s preeminent event comprised of dozens of engaging CLE seminars covering a diverse range of topics in state and federal law. The day also includes an exhibitor showcase featuring over 35 distinguished services and businesses and the CBA Annual Meeting and Luncheon, which features prestigious Connecticut-based and national speakers as well as the installation of the CBA executive committee officers for the approaching bar year.  I am in the far right in the below picture.  The 150 in the picture means that the CBA is celebrating its 150 year anniversary!

I will be presenting on Provisional Patent applications for IACT at the MILFORD LIBRARY on September 24, 2024

I will presenting on the Pros and Cons of Provisional Patent Applications Wednesday evening, September 24, 2024, at 6:30 pm to 8 pm at the Milford Library.   This is an Inventor’s Association of Connecticut (IACT) event.  This is a FREE event!   Information through the IACT website is here.  Information at the Milford Library is here.

The Pros and Cons of a Provisional Patent Application presentation at Inventor’s Association of Connecticut

HI All,

I will be presenting a talk entitled “The Pros and Cons of a Provisional Patent Application” at the Inventors Association of Connecticut (IACT).  Do you have big ideas? Do you dream of going on Shark Tank? Amateur inventors, aspiring entrepreneurs, and creative minds–all are welcome!

The meeting will be held on Wednesday September 25, 2024 at the Milford Public Library in the Library Program Room from 6:30 pm to 8 pm.   More information on the meeting can be found here.  Information on IACT can be found here.