In this inspiring episode of The Bold Inventor Show, hosts J.D. Houvener and Matt Kulseth sit down with entrepreneur Maddie DeJong, the inventive mind behind The Green Sling—a sustainable running belt designed to solve the age-old problem of “Where do I put my extra layers?”

What started as a personal pain point during marathon training turned into a unique blend of functionality, sustainability, and entrepreneurship. Maddie shares how she went from frustrated runner to product creator, conducting market research while completing her master’s in entrepreneurship, and ultimately launching her business from the ground up.

Listeners get a behind-the-scenes look at how she:

• Developed a Minimum Viable Product (MVP) that went viral on LinkedIn.
• Built a supply chain of upcycled leggings to keep spandex out of landfills.
• Partnered with a Houston-based cut-and-sew studio that provides employment for women in need.
• Navigated the provisional-to-non-provisional patent process while bootstrapping her business.

Maddie opens up about the realities of product tweaks, the challenges of scaling sustainably, and her aspirations to bring The Green Sling into big-box retail stores. She also shares candid insights about pricing strategy, influencer marketing, and how staying true to her values differentiates her from fast-fashion copycats.

From her marathon finish line to pitch competitions and intellectual property strategy, this conversation is a goldmine for inventors, small business owners, and sustainability advocates alike.

Teasers:

• The “aha moment” when old leggings became the perfect solution.
• Why upcycling is both a mission and a challenge for growth.
• How LinkedIn became her unexpected launchpad.
• The one feature coming in The Green Sling 3.0 that runners have been begging for.

📌 Key Takeaways

• 🏃‍♀️ Innovation from frustration can lead to breakthrough products.
• ♻️ Sustainable materials can be a competitive edge, not just an eco-choice.
• 📈 Provisional patents buy you time to test market demand affordably.
• 🤝 Local partnerships can solve production and social impact goals simultaneously.
• 📣 Social media virality can happen in unexpected places—like LinkedIn.
• 💡 Product evolution is constant—listen to customer feedback.

🚀 Hashtags

#Entrepreneurship, #StartupStory, #ProductDesign, #RunningGear, #Upcycling, #Sustainability, #Patent, #Trademark, #MarathonTraining, #Innovation, #SmallBusiness, #GreenBusiness, #MadeInUSA, #Athleisure, #EcoFriendly, #LinkedInViral, #Inventors, #FoundersJourney, #WomenInBusiness, #BoldIdeas, #BoldPatents

Support the show

Have an invention or brand to protect? Or just curious about learning more? Download our FREE Inventor Kit here: https://keap.page/gw292/inventor-kit.html

DISCLAIMER
Everything discussed on this podcast is for informational purposes only and not for the purpose of providing legal advice.

🧠 Why inventors should (or shouldn’t) file a provisional patent — strategic pros, common misconceptions, and timeline advantages

⏳ How long patents actually take — from provisional filing to non-provisional and issuance timelines (hint: it’s slower than you think)

💼 The importance of talking with a patent attorney early — especially before going public or seeking licensing deals

💸 Costs associated with patents — including initial filing, examination, and attorney fees

📜 What “patent pending” really means — and how long you can use it

🤖 AI-generated inventions — can AI be listed as an inventor? What the USPTO and courts say

🧑‍⚖️ Court cases around AI inventorship — discussion of the DABUS case and its global implications

📝 How provisional patents are often misused — and why a weak provisional can sabotage future patent rights

🚫 Common mistakes inventors make when filing on their own — boilerplate language, lack of enablement, and filing too soon

📈 The evolving role of AI in invention — and why human inventorship still rules (for now)

🤝 Why working with real professionals matters — protecting your innovation is about more than just paperwork

Support the show

Have an invention or brand to protect? Or just curious about learning more? Download our FREE Inventor Kit here: https://keap.page/gw292/inventor-kit.html

DISCLAIMER
Everything discussed on this podcast is for informational purposes only and not for the purpose of providing legal advice.

What do dreams, jewels, and cardboard helicopters have in common? They all helped build one of the smartest tools in your garage.

In this episode of the Bold Inventor Show, hosts JD Houvener and Matt Kulseth dive deep into the story behind the iLevel, a groundbreaking smart level invented by Andrew Varner — who literally dreamed it into existence.

With the help of Cleveland-based engineering genius Jason Coher, and the design wizards at Cardboard Helicopter, Andrew went from napkin sketch to a licensed product with Franklin Sensors, one of the top names in tool innovation. But it wasn’t easy.

🎧 You’ll hear the real inventor’s journey:

• How Andrew prototyped the first unit in his garage with a 3D printer and Arduino (spoiler: it worked).
• Why a sapphire gem inside the level solved an ancient problem of tilt detection.
• How Cardboard Helicopter transformed raw hardware into retail gold with stunning 3D visualizations.
• The ins and outs of a global patent and trademark strategy — including PCT filings and EU/AU expansion.
• The bold negotiation that landed a licensing deal with royalties and minimum guarantees, even before the patent issued.

Oh, and did we mention his IP was invented during REM sleep? That’s right. The I-Level — a spirit level that glows green when you’re level and red when you’re not — came to Andrew in a dream.

If you’re an inventor, hardware startup, or product designer, this episode is a masterclass in licensing, product-market fit, and not taking no for an answer.

✨Key Takeaways:

• 🧠 “I literally dreamed it” — the I-Level concept came straight from Andrew's subconscious.
• 💡 Fail forward: Prototyping with 3D printing + Arduino helped test before filing full patents.
• 🧲 Real-world engineering: the device uses sapphire bearings to solve for tilt and LED signaling.
• ✍️ Licensing done right: includes royalty structure, anti-shelving clause & global distribution.
• 🚀 “Don’t be afraid of ‘no’”: Persistence (and follow-up emails) made the Franklin Sensors deal real.
• 📈 Now selling 3,000+ units/month on Amazon with 5-star reviews — and growing.

🔥Teasers to Watch:

• How a CNC’d jewel-bearing mechanism mimics Swiss watches to detect perfect level.
• The one thing Andrew wishes more inventors knew about filing too early. 📜
• How Cardboard Helicopter turned rough ideas into a visual pitch that closed the deal. 💼
• Why Franklin’s “No” turned into a “Yes” (and how you can make that happen too).
• The legal clause that protects your IP even when they delay launching. ⏳

Support the show

Have an invention or brand to protect? Or just curious about learning more? Download our FREE Inventor Kit here: https://keap.page/gw292/inventor-kit.html

DISCLAIMER
Everything discussed on this podcast is for informational purposes only and not for the purpose of providing legal advice.