A Long Road

One option for product based start-ups is to try to license the product to a large company for them to manufacture and distribute. This is a long, tough road. StartupJournal has a good summary of the issues you will face with this market entry strategy.

Only about 3% to 6% of patented products by independent inventors ever reach the market, either through licensing or direct selling by the innovators themselves, estimates Don Kelly, a patent agent in Alexandria, Va., and a former senior director in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.

You can improve your chances of success by making sure you have a strong marketing plan for your product. The more compelling this part of your story, the more likely you’ll get interest. Make sure to have adequate legal protection for your product. You need to invest in the time of an experienced IP attorney.