This week on the Bold Inventor Show, co-hosts J.D. Houvener and Matt Kulseth welcome engineering innovator Justin Knowles, founder of boutique product design firm Facture Design. From his early days in mechanical engineering to co-founding a startup acquired by Leatherman, Justin brings a rare blend of hands-on design experience, startup savvy, and deep empathy for inventors.

Based in Seattle but serving clients nationwide, Facture Design helps inventors turn napkin sketches into real, manufacturable products—with IP protection built in from day one. Whether you’re building the next big hardware product, scaling a pre-seed startup, or navigating manufacturing challenges, this episode is your roadmap to smart product development.

🎧 In this episode, you’ll learn:

🛠️ How Facture helps inventors at all stages
From first prototypes to manufacturing runs, learn how Justin and his team bring engineering, firmware, and industrial design under one roof.

💡 When design becomes invention
Justin shares when and how his firm is named as co-inventors—and how they navigate confidentiality and ownership with clients.

📦 Designing with the end in mind
Why you must define packaging, distribution, and sales channels before you finalize a design.

🔍 The real risks of skipping trademark checks
Matt breaks down a common mistake: investing in logos before securing brand protection—and Justin shares how his team flags those red flags early.

🧪 Prototype Sooner: The core philosophy of Facture
Get inspired by their team mantra: “Prototype Sooner.” Justin explains how rapid prototyping drives innovation and de-risks hardware development.

💼 From napkin sketch to retail shelf
Real-world examples of products Facture helped bring to life—from consumer coffee roasters to vertical wind turbines to IoT devices.

🚀 Startup strategy meets engineering design
Learn how Facture tailors their approach for Kickstarter brands, D2C companies, and those aiming for big-box retail partnerships.

👣 What founders should do before hiring a designer
Justin offers golden insights on product-market fit, IP strategy, packaging, and pricing before starting the design process.

This is more than just an interview—it’s a masterclass in how to launch physical products the right way. If you're an inventor, startup founder, or product manager looking to bring a new idea into the world, this episode is for you.

📬 Reach out to Justin at justin@facture.design
🔗 Learn more at facture.design

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.

This week’s episode of the Bold Inventor Show delivers an unmissable double feature spotlighting the intersection of IP strategy, product innovation, and medical validation. Join your hosts J.D. Houvener and Matt Kulseth as they welcome two dynamic innovators reshaping comfort and care across continents: Facel Casta-Baez, the inventive mind behind Emu Comfort, and Julio Martinez-Clark, the entrepreneurial engine driving Bioaccess—Latin America’s premier CRO for U.S. med-tech startups.

What happens when a debilitating injury leads to a world-class pillow design? Or when global clinical trials become the bridge between startup dreams and acquisition by healthcare giants? You’ll hear these bold stories and more—backed by real strategy, hard data, and a whole lot of entrepreneurial heart. ❤️💡

💫 Key Highlights From This Power-Packed Episode:

🛏️ Necessity Breeds Innovation:
Facel shares how neck pain at age 22 sparked a journey from napkin sketches to two issued design patents and a medically-backed product sold under the Emu Comfort brand. Her journey began with real pain—and ended in real traction.

📏 From X-Rays to Pillows:
With meticulous research into cranium shapes and memory foam densities, Facel designed therapeutic pillows that reduce cervical strain, improve breathing, and even relieve TMJ and post-surgery pain.

🧠 Patents, Trademarks, and Pivoting Strategy:
Facel reveals how Emu Comfort’s initial market position as a novelty product evolved into a registered medical device. We dive into her IP strategy—how she filed her own USPTO trademarks and moved manufacturing to China while exploring opportunities in Puerto Rico.

💼 Latin America: The Hidden Gateway for FDA-Grade Data:
Julio Martinez-Clark breaks down how Bioaccess helps U.S. med-tech startups run first-in-human clinical trials in countries like Colombia, Panama, and Costa Rica—getting them to market faster, leaner, and smarter.

💸 Fast-Track Your FDA Game:
Startups often burn $100K–$300K per month. Julio’s clients skip U.S. red tape, getting real-world results in 30–45 days versus a 2–3 year slog with the FDA. It’s time-to-market acceleration, Latin-style.

🧑‍⚕️ Expert-Led Validation = Investor Confidence:
Hear why top-tier clinical data isn’t just for compliance—it’s a business strategy. Julio explains how startups win over investors (and acquirers like Medtronic) by leveraging KOLs and international trials to prove efficacy before scaling.

🧾 Why IP + Evidence = Lasting Brands:
Both guests agree—selling “comfort” is easy. Selling science-backed results is rare. If you want to build a brand that lasts, don’t just tell a story—show the data, file the patents, and partner with medical leaders.

🎤 Bonus: Shark Tank Breakdown
J.D. and Matt wrap up the episode with a breakdown of the Pluto Pillow Shark Tank pitch—highlighting their utility patent, margin structure, and why strong IP is only half the battle.

🛠️ Lessons Inventors & Founders Will Love:

• 🧩 How to identify a patent-worthy design in everyday discomfort
• 🛍️ What makes a trademark “function” in apparel and medical markets
• 🇵🇷 How Puerto Rican inventors can leverage U.S. IP systems
• 🌎 The “secret playbook” of doing clinical trials in Latin America
• 💬 The power of NDAs, non-solicits, and culture-aligned partners

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.

Ever left your favorite lipstick in the car on a hot day? 💄🔥 Say goodbye to cosmetic meltdowns and hello to Kool Lips—a sleek, cooling lipstick case designed by today’s bold guest, Kristin Larson!

On this energetic episode of the Bold Inventor Show, patent attorney JD Houvener and trademark attorney Matt Kulseth dive into a story that’s as heartwarming as it is innovative. From growing up in a traveling carnival 🎪 to launching a high-tech cosmetic product, Kristin’s journey is a real-world masterclass in invention, grit, and intellectual property.

Kristin is the founder of Kool Lips, a stylish, battery-powered lipstick case built to protect high-end cosmetics from heat exposure using coolant pods, thermal insulation, and a compact mirror. Powered by a lithium battery, this invention is tailored for women on the go, makeup artists, and professionals who demand flawless beauty on any stage—including weddings, outdoor shoots, or Hollywood red carpets. 💁‍♀️🎬

But the tech isn’t the only innovation here. Kristin has:

• 💼 Filed her own trademark (and nailed it!)
• 📝 Filed a provisional patent, and is preparing for the critical 12-month follow-up
• 📦 Partnered with Mars Rising Network to create CAD designs, videos, pitch decks, and outreach to cosmetic giants
• 🚀 Launched her product at major industry trade shows in New York
• 🔍 Navigated scam emails and false offers—only to trust her gut and get verified USPTO support
• 📚 Authored Rosalita Spreads Kindness and launched Simple Kindness, a mental health resource hub

Whether she’s creating books, caring for her family, managing a full-time job at Maurice’s, or pitching Kool Lips to cosmetics giants, Kristin is unstoppable. Her story is one of faith, focus, and fearless follow-through.

🎯 JD and Matt break down the legal framework behind her journey, offering real-time advice on:

• When to file a non-provisional patent to avoid losing IP rights
• The importance of filing a PCT (Patent Cooperation Treaty) application to protect international rights
• How to prepare a Statement of Use for trademarks—and what red flags the USPTO may still raise

This episode is a must-listen for inventors considering consumer product design, particularly in the beauty, cosmetic, or wearable tech spaces. It’s also a great example of how solo inventors—with hustle and heart—can protect and monetize their creations, all while staying rooted in their values.

If you're dreaming of launching your own product, securing a patent, or building a meaningful brand, Kristin’s story will inspire you to go from idea… to IP… to impact. 💡📈💥

🎧 Tune in now and don’t forget to Go Big, Go Bold!

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.