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We Keep Inventors on Track
We keep inventors on the right track with weekly CIO member networking events, pro bono patent programs, CIO Inventors Academy seminars featuring industry expert guest speakers and our CIO volunteer prototyping team. The CIO is the only organization of its kind in the State of Illinois providing access to the untapped talent which is needed to fuel the engine that is driving innovation in the State of Illinois as well as creating jobs and state revenues.
Coming Up Next
Get Your Invention to Market Quickly with Calvin Flowers and Chicago Inventors Organization
Mar 08, 2025, 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM CSTChicago, 2150 S Canalport Ave, Chicago, IL 60608, USA
REAL PEOPLE, REAL LIFE REAL INVENTIONS
Find Buyers!
CIO’s Advisory Team assists inventors with referrals to CIO affiliated Designers, Manufacturers, Buyers and Investors. We also hold various events to get inventor products in front of Buyers such as Industry Specific Expos, Product Pitch Forums, Conferences & our Ecommerce platform launching this year.
Build Prototypes
CIO’s Prototyping Team has advised hundreds of inventors on the appropriately priced resources necessary for their Patents, Trademarks, Copyrights, CAD Designs, 3D Printing and Manufacturing. We provide hands-on staff support to inventors who have a product idea but lack the technical expertise to create a CAD (Computer Assisted Design) product design, 3D Printed Prototype or 3D Product Animation.
SUCCESS STORIES
HEL-GIE PPE Mask
INVENTOR DWAYNE (d.a.) HARRIS’ loss of two immediate family members to COVID 19 inspired the creation of his “HEL-GIE” healthcare product. HEL-GIE (HG) is designed to assist Nurses, Doctors and EMTs with their daily duties and responsibilities to save lives impacted by COVID 19. The “HEL-GIE”, incorporates a “FULL UNIT PPE MASK to help expedite wearing multiple PPE units. HG, shorten prep time by 3-5 minutes during essential and non-essential emergencies. Dwayne is currently employed as a freelance professional for disabled adults in the area of Disability for Deaf and Hard of Hearing at City Colleges of Chicago and Aunt Martha’s homeless youth shelter
Get Motivated
Our Next Wave Inventors Academy classes focus on enlightening inventors as to how Internet infused products and processes are changing our lives. Seminars offered relate to Internet of Things Applications, Protections and Patent Infringement, Analytics, Prototyping, Market Research, Buyer & Investor Pitches, Negotiating Contracts and Pricing Products. These efforts will increase the quantity and quality of independent inventor products being developed, protected and commercialized.
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What benefits do I receive as a member?CIO Members receive direct consultation by CIO Team Members and experienced service providers. Education seminars are available to all members. Access to service providers that can help you with prototypes, patents and marketing Access to Buyers and Manufacturers
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What does a consultation involve ?Consultations advise and guide you on steps to acquire your patent and develop your prototype and marketing plan.
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Will I be notified when my member plan expires?Yes you will receive an email notifying you 3 days before your subscription ends.
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How do I access the member portal?Access to the member portal is granted to Silver, Gold and Roadshow members. you must be logged into your account to access the portal. To get to the member portal go to main menu/members/member portal. Click take me there to go now. If you are a service provider you must be logged into your account. To get to the member portal go to main menu/members/member portal. Click take me there to go now.
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How do I recover my password?You can reset your password by visiting the Chicago-Inventors.org website and selecting Log-In then enter your email and choose the “Forgot Your Password” option. You will be prompted to enter your email address associated with your account. We will then send you a link to reset your password. Step 1. Go to chicago-inventor.org and choose log in Step 2. Enter your email address and choose I forgot my Password. Step 3. Enter your email and choose reset password You will receive a reset password link in your email. Please be patient it may take up to 5 minutes to receive a link. If you do not receive your reset link within that time please check your junk mail before requesting another reset.
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how do I make a payment if I do not have a PayPal account?No worries... You do not need a PayPal account to make a payment on your membership plan or to make a purchase in the store or make a donation. We use PayPal as a payment processor it is not the form of payment. IF YOU WANT TO PAY WITH A DEBIT OR CREDIT CARD FOLLOW THESE INSTRUCTIONS. choose the yellow PayPal checkout button. Please note that the next screen will say Pay with PayPal, enter your email address to get started. If you have a PayPal account and want to use it to pay now enter your mobile number or email associated with your PayPal account now. If you do not have a PayPal account or do not want to use PayPal as your payment method DO NOT ENTER AN EMAIL ADDRESS OR MOBILE NUMBER! DO NOT PRESS THE NEXT BUTTON! Doing so will prompt PayPal to search for a PayPal account for that email address or mobile number and initiate a PayPal payment or sign you up for a PayPal account. To pay with your debit or credit card choose pay with debit or credit card located under the next button. Select the Pay with Debit or Credit Card Button You will be sent to the following screen... Enter your email and select continue to payment, you will be sent to the following screen. Enter you email, mobile number and credit or debit card number and scroll down. enter your billing Information and scroll down... PLEASE NOTICE THE BLUE AND WHITE SLIDER BUTTON WITH A CHECK MARK. IT IS NEXT TO THE OPTION SAVE INFO AND CREATE YOUR PAYPAL ACCOUNT. PayPal is offering you the opportunity to create a PayPal account. This is optional, you do not need to create a PayPal account to complete this transaction. If You do not wish to create a PayPal account deselect this option by clicking the blue check mark. the page will change from create account to continue as guest... click on continue as guest... You will be sent to the following screen. Congratulations you have successfully completed your payment. select the back to site button to continue browsing the site.
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How do I access the forum?Forum feeds automatically generate on the left side of your member portal. click on any feed to reed the post. If you are a Team member, Service provider or Admin you will have posting permissions. You can access this feature under the member tab in the main menu. main menu/members/forum
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How do I access the member portal?Access to the member portal is granted to Silver, Gold and Roadshow members. you must be logged into your account to access the portal. To get to the member portal go to main menu/members/member portal. Click take me there to go now. If you are a service provider you must be logged into your account. To get to the member portal go to main menu/members/member portal. Click take me there to go now.
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How do I change my Profile Pic?Hoover over the circle to the left of your name in the header bar on any page in the members area. click the camera icon that appears. you will be prompted to upload a photo.
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How do I change my profile header background?go to any page in the members area. In the upper left hand corner just over your profile pic is a camera icon. click on the camera icon. you will be prompted to upload a photo.
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How do I recover my password?You can reset your password by visiting the Chicago-Inventors.org website and selecting Log-In then enter your email and choose the “Forgot Your Password” option. You will be prompted to enter your email address associated with your account. We will then send you a link to reset your password. Step 1. Go to chicago-inventor.org and choose log in Step 2. Enter your email address and choose I forgot my Password. Step 3. Enter your email and choose reset password You will receive a reset password link in your email. Please be patient it may take up to 5 minutes to receive a link. If you do not receive your reset link within that time please check your junk mail before requesting another reset.
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What is an Invention?An invention is a unique or novel device, method, composition, idea or process. An invention may be an improvement upon a machine, product, or process for increasing efficiency or lowering cost. It may also be an entirely new concept. If an idea is unique enough either as a stand alone invention or as a significant improvement over the work of others, it can be patented. A patent, if granted, gives the inventor a proprietary interest in the patent over a specific period of time, which can be licensed for financial gain.
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How do I protect my idea?To protect your invention, you must apply for a patent. Unlike copyrights, there is no such thing as an automatic patent. Obtaining a patent can be slow and costly, taking up to 2 years and costing thousands of dollars. Contact a CIO representative for assistance.
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How do I get started?Request and sign a non-disclosure agreement. Make an appointment to have an introctory interview with a CIO representative.
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Where can I get a Non-Disclosure Agreement?We have made Non-Disclosures available for download in the File Repository for your convenience. The Non-Disclosure is available as a word file, Adobe pdf, or jpeg. (please note that the jpeg file is in two parts, page one and page two)
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