InventionHome
InventionHome (Jacob Enterprises, Inc.) is a private, bootstrapped invention marketing and licensing firm that helps individual inventors patent, design, and license products to retailers and manufacturers, monetizing through fee-based patent and 3D portfolio services plus a 10% royalty share on licensing deals.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2002
- HeadquartersMonroeville, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingServices
What InventionHome does
InventionHome (operating as Jacob Enterprises, Inc., a Pennsylvania corporation founded in 2002) is a private invention marketing and licensing firm headquartered in Monroeville, Pennsylvania. The company helps individual inventors and small entrepreneurs patent, design, and license their inventions, primarily serving North American customers. Its core offering combines fee-based patent services — patent searches ($399), provisional patent applications ($599), and patent referrals to independent registered attorneys — with a tiered set of invention portfolio packages (Basic $699 through Signature $5,275) built around custom 3D virtual prototyping, HD video, and interactive 3D models used to present inventions to prospective licensees.
Underlying technology centers on web-based invention portfolio platforms (iShowOnline for licensing, MatchProduct for finished products, SubmitMyInvention as a corporate submission portal, plus the Secure Confidential Invention Disclosure intake form), supported by 3D virtual prototyping and animation pipelines that produce the marketing assets bundled into portfolio packages. The firm monetizes through two distinct streams: (1) one-time professional services fees for patent and design work, and (2) a marketing and licensing program with no upfront cost that takes a 10% royalty share on successful licensing deals while the inventor retains 90%. Go-to-market combines digital content, trade show sponsorship (National Hardware Show, The Inspired Home Show, PGA Merchandise Show), and direct outreach to a two-sided network of 10,000+ inventor clients and thousands of product companies including Walmart, Target, Lowe's, Bed Bath & Beyond, AutoZone, Advanced Auto Parts, Staples, HSN, QVC, and GE-branded placements at Home Depot.
The business is bootstrapped and founder-controlled with no disclosed outside funding, no M&A activity, and headcount stated at 11–50 employees. Operating geography is restricted to North America (US and Canada), with marketing explicitly not extended to companies outside those markets. Notable longevity signals include the 20+ year operating history, BBB A+ accreditation, Shopper Approved 4.9/5 rating across 156 reviews, and self-reported 98–99% customer satisfaction; notable durability signals include long-lived retail placements such as the Tight Access Wrench at Walmart for over 12 years with ongoing royalty payments.
InventionHome firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- InventionHome
- Legal name
- Jacob Enterprises, Inc.
- Website
- https://inventionhome.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2002
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- InventionHome (Jacob Enterprises, Inc.) is a private, bootstrapped invention marketing and licensing firm that helps individual inventors patent, design, and license products to retailers and manufacturers, monetizing through fee-based patent and 3D portfolio services plus a 10% royalty share on licensing deals.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
InventionHome industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Invention Marketing and Licensing Services
- NAICS
- Industrial Design Services (541420)
- SIC
- Patent Owners & Lessors (6794)
- akta.pro primary industry
- IP Search, Watch & Competitive Intelligence (BPAHAMAI)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- IP Compliance, Anti-Counterfeiting & Enforcement (BPAHAMAK)
Keywords
Where InventionHome is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Monroeville
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
InventionHome business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Operations
Revenue model
- Patent Services Revenue: Fee-based services including patent searches ($399), provisional patent applications ($599 including USPTO filing fee), and invention portfolio packages ranging from $699 to $5,275+ for design and virtual prototyping work.
- Marketing & Licensing Royalty Sharing: No upfront marketing costs; the company takes a 10% royalty share on successful licensing deals while inventors retain 90%. This aligns incentives and minimizes financial risk for inventors.
- Invention Portfolio Packages: Tiered packaging model: Basic ($699), Plus ($2,799), Premium ($3,899), and Signature ($5,275+) for creating professional marketing materials including 3D designs, videos, and web portfolios to present inventions to potential licensees.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Patent Search - Initial prior art search to evaluate patentability |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Provisional Patent Application - Quick filing to establish priority date |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Basic Invention Portfolio - Entry-level marketing package |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Plus Invention Portfolio - Mid-tier package with 3D model |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Premium Invention Portfolio - Interactive 3D experience |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Signature Invention Portfolio - Premier marketing solution with HD video |
| Transaction based/ take rate | Pay-as-you-go | Marketing & Licensing Program - Royalties-only pricing model |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels6 records
InventionHome product offering
Product offeringCore offering
InventionHome (a d/b/a of Jacob Enterprises, Inc.) helps individual inventors patent, design, license, and sell their inventions through a multi-tier service model. Offerings include patent searches, provisional patent applications, 3D virtual prototype design and invention portfolio packages (Basic, Plus, Premium, Signature), and a marketing and licensing program that pitches inventions to a network of thousands of companies on a 10% royalty-share basis. The company also operates online invention marketplace platforms (iShowOnline, MatchProduct, SubmitMyInvention) connecting inventors with companies seeking new products to license, wholesale, or purchase.
Product overview
InventionHome is an invention marketing and licensing firm (d/b/a Jacob Enterprises, Inc.) that helps everyday people patent, design, license, and sell their inventions. The company operates a multi-tiered service model combining patent services (patent search, provisional patent application, utility/design patent referrals) with design solutions (3D virtual prototyping through Basic, Plus, Premium, and Signature portfolio packages) and a comprehensive marketing and licensing program. They maintain multiple platforms including iShowOnline for product showcase, MatchProduct for marketplace listings, and SubmitMyInvention for corporate submission management. The company connects inventors with thousands of retailers through their network and operates on a royalty-sharing model for marketing services.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- iShowOnline: Online invention marketplace and virtual trade show platform that allows companies to browse and connect with inventors about available inventions for license, sale, or wholesale.
- iShow Online
Products and services
- Patent Search Professional patent search service performed by independent, registered patent attorneys to identify relevant prior art in USPTO databases, helping inventors evaluate patentability of their ideas.
- Provisional Patent Application (PPA) Quick, cost-effective patent filing service that establishes a priority filing date with the USPTO and provides 12 months of protection, including USPTO filing fee and attorney review.
- Utility & Design Patent Referrals Referral service connecting inventors with independent, registered patent attorneys for utility or design patent applications and other legal needs.
- Basic Invention Portfolio Entry-level marketing package providing a cost-effective portfolio solution for inventors with finished products, high-quality prototypes, or marketable artwork to begin marketing their invention.
- Plus Invention Portfolio Mid-tier marketing package featuring a custom-built 3D model used to create five high-resolution images showcasing the invention's design, features, and real-world potential.
- Premium Invention Portfolio Interactive 3D experience allowing companies to zoom, rotate, and explore the invention from every angle with animated moving parts showcasing key functionality.
- Signature Invention Portfolio Premier marketing solution featuring HD video built from custom 3D model with expert animation, high-quality 3D virtual designs, audio enhancement, portfolio website, and a Success Payback Guarantee.
- Marketing & Licensing Program Proactive targeted marketing service with online invention showcase, company interest management, royalty negotiation, and contract deliverables management. No upfront cost with 10% royalty sharing on successful licensing deals.
- iShowOnline Online invention marketplace where companies can proactively browse and search available inventions for license, sale, or wholesale. Companies sign up free to access invention portfolios with information, videos, and pictures.
- MatchProduct Innovative product marketplace specifically designed to showcase fully developed products ready for sale, separate from the licensing-focused iShowOnline platform. Free to list and search.
- SubmitMyInvention Turnkey submission management system for companies to manage incoming invention submissions, can be set up on company websites in minutes and is free for companies to use.
- 3D Virtual Prototyping High-quality 3D virtual prototype design service creating visual representations of inventions for marketing and licensing purposes, including HD video presentations, interactive 3D models with animations, and high-resolution rendered images.
- Confidential Invention Disclosure Secure online submission form for inventors to submit their invention ideas with a 100% confidentiality guarantee and NDA protection.
Quantifiable outcome
- Over 10,000 inventors helped since founding in 2003
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use InventionHome
Customer profileNamed customers10 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
InventionHome technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
AI capability4 records
Feature3 records
InventionHome partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- National Hardware ShowcoreInventionHome is a sponsor of the National Hardware Show and operates the Inventor Spotlight program. They provide a 24/7 search portal on the National Hardware Show website enabling companies to connect with inventors year-round, not just during the show.
- The Inspired Home ShowminorSponsorship and participation in The Inspired Home Show, the world's largest marketplace of home goods, providing opportunity to showcase inventor products and connect with industry decision-makers.
- PGA Merchandise ShowminorSponsorship of the PGA Merchandise Show, enabling connections with vendors across the golf industry for inventors with relevant products.
- AllStar Marketing (Snuggie Creator)minorAllStar Marketing, creator of the Snuggie, has become one of the first places they look to find new inventions available for license, wholesale, or acquisition, indicating an ongoing sourcing relationship.
- Independent Patent AttorneyscoreInventionHome utilizes independent, registered patent attorneys/agents for conducting patent searches and completing provisional patent application work. This partnership enables them to offer patent services without practicing law themselves.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights3 records
InventionHome competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- InventHelp: Largest US invention marketing and submission services company; operates Invention Submission and InventHelp INPEX-style events to match independent inventors with manufacturers and licensees. Closest direct competitor to InventionHome's sales-led invention marketing model.
- Edison Nation (LeverX): Open invention marketplace and product incubation platform that reviews, develops, and licenses/retails independent inventor submissions. Directly comparable in the two-sided inventor-to-licensee matchmaking model.
- Idea Buyer: Online marketplace where inventors submit inventions for review and potential acquisition or licensing by Idea Buyer and partner companies. Comparable marketplace mechanics for inventor-to-licensee transactions.
- SIPO (Strategic Invention Promotion): Invention marketing and licensing service focused on matching inventors with companies seeking new products; historically a direct competitor with similar marketing-led, take-rate monetization.
Emerging players
- InventRight: Licensing-focused education and coaching platform (Stephen Key) that teaches independent inventors to license ideas directly to manufacturers. Adjacent to InventionHome with a coaching/licensing emphasis rather than full-service submission management.
Broad incumbents
- Bold Patents: Patent services firm providing patent search, drafting, and filing assistance online. Overlaps with InventionHome's patent search and PPA services but does not offer the invention marketing/licensing program.
- LegalZoom: Large online legal services provider offering patents, trademarks, and business formation. Touches InventionHome's patent-services lane at scale but does not specialize in invention marketing or licensing.
Others
- UpCounsel: Online legal marketplace connecting businesses with attorney freelancers, including IP attorneys for patent work. Adjacent enabling infrastructure for inventors but not a direct invention marketing competitor.
Regional players
- SmartUp: UK-based invention marketing and licensing service targeting European independent inventors. Comparably structured invention-promotion business, but operating outside InventionHome's North America focus.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
InventionHome social profiles
Digital presenceInventionHome financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
InventionHome leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
InventionHome subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries3 records
InventionHome funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
InventionHome M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about InventionHome
What does InventionHome do?
InventionHome (a d/b/a of Jacob Enterprises, Inc.) helps individual inventors patent, design, license, and sell their inventions through a multi-tier service model. Offerings include patent searches, provisional patent applications, 3D virtual prototype design and invention portfolio packages (Basic, Plus, Premium, Signature), and a marketing and licensing program that pitches inventions to a network of thousands of companies on a 10% royalty-share basis. The company also operates online invention marketplace platforms (iShowOnline, MatchProduct, SubmitMyInvention) connecting inventors with companies seeking new products to license, wholesale, or purchase.
Is InventionHome a public or private company?
InventionHome is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was InventionHome founded?
InventionHome was founded in 2002. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is InventionHome based?
InventionHome is headquartered in Monroeville, United States, in the North America region.
How does InventionHome make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Patent Services Revenue is the primary driver. The others are marketing & Licensing Royalty Sharing and invention Portfolio Packages.
Who are InventionHome's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are InventHelp, Edison Nation (LeverX), Idea Buyer and SIPO (Strategic Invention Promotion). InventRight is listed as an emerging player. Broad incumbents are Bold Patents and LegalZoom. UpCounsel is listed as an others. SmartUp is listed as a regional player.
Does InventionHome have an API?
No public API is recorded for InventionHome.
What industry is InventionHome in?
InventionHome's product category is Invention Marketing and Licensing Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAHAMAI, IP Search, Watch & Competitive Intelligence, with a secondary code of BPAHAMAK, IP Compliance, Anti-Counterfeiting & Enforcement. Its NAICS code is 541420 and its SIC code is 6794.