Currently, the science is all complete, the hardware is pretty much polished as is the firmware. The mechanical parts are the real problem; currently built at local metal workshops and some CNCs.
I have a single demo unit that is working great, and have ideas for future improvement that would need access to more than a local workshop. Haven't actually gotten in touch with anyone for real manufacturing mainly out of IP fears - I'm in the initial stages of talking to an IP lawyer now, but haven't actually handed over any of the inner workings partially out of paranoia and partially because I'm not sure what I'm looking for just yet. I'll take your suggestion and look at provisional patents in a few.
Basically both the idea and the implementation are novel and are what I'm looking to patent. The actual mechanical details are out of my field of experience (computer engineering) and I have several different designs and I'm sure someone in the industry would have better ideas as well - that's something I'm hoping a VC could help me secure, somehow.
Thanks for the Khosla Ventures suggestion. I'll keep them in mind as I formulate my list & next steps :-)
Take some videos of the thing working, and post them somewhere that you track and that's password protected. The reason for this is so that you can easily show one person at a VC firm, who, if excited, can easily show the rest. A working prototype is the litmus test for VCs, who by the nature of their trade can rarely be experts in everything.
If you've got the money to fast track a provisional patent, so that you can say "We've filed a provision patent," it will give you major credibility, more negotiating leverage, and in particular you'll have the IP that VCs want.
You definitely need to open the kimono a bit. In particular it is practically unheard of that a patent lawyer will screw you -- more often they will just take your money. A patent lawyer's entire career is ruined if they're caught stealing -- whereas you could probably still succeed by out-executing and out-innovating the competitors.
I have a single demo unit that is working great, and have ideas for future improvement that would need access to more than a local workshop. Haven't actually gotten in touch with anyone for real manufacturing mainly out of IP fears - I'm in the initial stages of talking to an IP lawyer now, but haven't actually handed over any of the inner workings partially out of paranoia and partially because I'm not sure what I'm looking for just yet. I'll take your suggestion and look at provisional patents in a few.
Basically both the idea and the implementation are novel and are what I'm looking to patent. The actual mechanical details are out of my field of experience (computer engineering) and I have several different designs and I'm sure someone in the industry would have better ideas as well - that's something I'm hoping a VC could help me secure, somehow.
Thanks for the Khosla Ventures suggestion. I'll keep them in mind as I formulate my list & next steps :-)