Hispanic Americans impacting society through innovation and entrepreneurship

If you are an innovator or aspire to be one, don’t miss this chance to be inspired and informed by the successes of a team of Hispanic American inventors and entrepreneurs. Get tips on developing and protecting an impactful idea from Katia Avila and her mentor, Antonio Gamboa. Their work on the Heart & Sole home foot care system for diabetes patients helped win the Garey High School InvenTeam of Pomona, California, a Lemelson-MIT InvenTeam Grant. This event is open to all.
 
See the full agenda and register today for this free virtual event on October 12 from 2-3:45 p.m. ET.
Additionally, experts from the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) and other organizations will discuss:

• The economic impact and entrepreneurial contribution of Hispanic Americans
• The vital role of intellectual property (IP) protection
• Free legal and business development resources

Speakers for this event include:

• Kathi Vidal, Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property and Director of the USPTO
• Katia Avila, Co-inventor, Heart & Sole home foot care system; University of Southern California-Santa Cruz student; Software Engineer Intern, Microsoft
• Claudia Barerra, Senior Analyst, Virginia Minority Business Development Agency Business Center 
• Antonio Gamboa, Inventor and STEM educator; Garey High School InvenTeam Mentor
• Edgar Guerra-Erazo, Primary Patent Examiner, USPTO
• Carlos Gutierrez, Innovation Outreach Specialist – National Programs, USPTO
• Dr. Keishla M. Tirado, Director for the Center for Innovation and Technology, Puerto Rico Small Business Development and Technology Center 
• Dr. Jorge Valdes, Education Program Advisor, USPTO

 
Biographies will be posted as the event approaches.
 
Invention and entrepreneurship have been integral to the prosperity of the U.S. throughout history, coming from every segment of American society. The Hispanic American community has left a permanent mark on U.S. global leadership through the creation of countless innovations. Learn how this commitment to innovation demonstrates the best of American values and explore how you can become a successful creator yourself.
 
And don't forget: Upcoming events and valuable resources
 
Innovator events for everyone
This diverse set of annual programming, open to all, provides relevant intellectual property (IP), innovation, and invention resources to independent inventors, small businesses, entrepreneurs, and underrepresented or underserved populations. Organized by the Office of Innovation Outreach, these events help everyone better understand, secure, and use IP. Working with partners from other federal agencies, organizations, and universities, the USPTO connects the public to innovators at these free events year-round.
The free, online IP Identifier
You may have intellectual property you don’t even know about. Use this free tool to help identify potentially valuable assets.
First-Time Filer Expedited Examination Pilot Program
The free First-Time Filer Expedited Examination Pilot Program increases accessibility to the patent system for inventors new to the patent application process, including those in historically underserved geographic and economic areas. Applications in this program can expect to get a first action in about half the time (on average about 15 months) of a regular application (on average about 30 months). Please feel free to share news of this program with fellow innovators. The program will conclude upon acceptance of 1,000 qualifying applications or March 11, 2024, whichever occurs first.
 
 
If you have questions or want more information about this event, contact InnovationOutreach@uspto.gov.
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