News

Kiosk aims to spur product, invention, business sharing

November 19, 2018

A remote kiosk is being tapped to help inventors and entrepreneurs share product and business ideas in Minnesota's Calumet community.

It's the brainchild of the Invent@NMU Marquette Smart Zone and the Calumet Downtown Development Authority. The two groups have launched the remote kiosk at the Keweenaw Coffee Works.

Once an inventor submits an idea via the kiosk, they will receive a review and feedback from the Invent@NMU team within 72 business hours, according to a Daily Mining Gazette report.

The goal, according to Kylie Bunting, marketing coordinator at Innovate Marquette SmartZone's Invent@NMU, is to drive the organization's resources into other areas of the state.

"We decided to launch these remote kiosks to give people anywhere the opportunity to come, submit a business idea, which will come through our office, and within three business days, we will get back to you with what we call ticket scores," Bunting told the Gazette.

The score provides insight on whether there are similar products on the market and helps the inventor to advance an idea if it appears to be viable.