At the heart of the course is the Inventionland 9-step inventing method that mirrors how real-world inventors and product developers work. Students begin by identifying everyday problems, the kinds of frustrations people experience but rarely stop to solve. From there, they move through brainstorming, concept development, sketching, testing, refining, and ultimately prototype creation and final product pitching.

But Innovation Science doesn’t stop at building something that works. Students also learn crucial soft skills such as communication, problem-solving, collaboration, and the value of teamwork. They craft compelling pitches that explain the problem, their solution, how it functions, and why it matters. In other words, they learn how to think like entrepreneurs.

The results are impressive. Many student teams don’t just create clever classroom projects; they produce prototypes at the local, regional, and national levels. Some have even progressed beyond competition to earn actual licensing agreements, demonstrating that their ideas have real commercial potential, some in the global marketplace.

One of the latest examples comes from Grove City Middle School, where students Ethan Cooke, Elijah Lawson, and Gavin Purdy developed an invention called the “Needle Guard.”

Their idea addresses a common frustration for athletes: losing or breaking the small pump needle used to inflate sports balls. Whether it’s a basketball, soccer ball, football, or volleyball, the tiny needle can easily snap, bend, or even get lost inside the ball during inflation.

The Needle Guard is designed to prevent that from happening. Their solution helps protect the needle from breaking and keeps it from slipping into the ball in the first place. It’s a simple concept, but one rooted in real-world experience and thoughtful problem-solving.

What makes this achievement especially meaningful is not just the invention itself, but the process behind it. These students didn’t stumble upon a product idea by chance. They applied innovation principles, collaborated as a team, tested their thinking, and refined their prototype into something competition-ready.

That’s the power of Innovation Science.

Students gain confidence in their ability to solve problems. They learn resilience through iteration. They discover how creativity connects to engineering, design, and entrepreneurship. And in some cases, they see firsthand how an idea born in a classroom can evolve into a product with marketplace potential.

When education moves beyond memorization and into invention, students don’t just learn science. They put innovation and invention front and center.

The post Student Inventions That Go the Distance: From an Idea to a Licensing Agreement, and a Global Marketplace appeared first on Inventionland Education.

Every year on National Inventors Day, we celebrate the curiosity, creativity, and perseverance that drive innovation forward. While many people think of inventors as adults working in labs or garages, some of today’s most inspiring inventors are still in middle school, and they’re already achieving what many adults only dream of: turning ideas into licensed products to sell globally.

At Inventionland Education, National Inventors Day represents more than just celebrating famous inventors of the past. It’s about recognizing the next generation of problem-solvers who are learning how to identify real-world challenges, develop practical solutions, and navigate the authentic invention-to-market process.

From Classroom Concept to Licensed Product

One of the most powerful outcomes of the Innovation Science Class is seeing students go beyond prototypes and competitions and into actual licensing success. Over the past two years, multiple middle school teams have done exactly that after participating in Inventionland Education’s national programs.

In 2024, Grove City Middle School students Mia and Madison reached an extraordinary milestone with their invention, the No Cry Hair Tie. Designed to solve a common daily frustration, their invention was developed using Inventionland’s real-world 9-step inventing method, a process used by professional inventors and entrepreneurs.

With the guidance of their teachers, Ms. Karen Garland and Mr. Ben English, Mia and Madison not only won at the national level. They also secured a licensing agreement. Their product has since been brought to market and is now available on major online retail platforms, proving that student-led innovation can compete in the global marketplace.

A New Generation of Shoelace Solutions

Building on that momentum, National Inventors Day 2026 celebrates another success story from Grove City Middle School. This year, Olivia Adams and Samantha Preist earned 1st Place in the Middle School Division of the National Invention Contest with their invention, The Untie Not, and followed it with their own licensing agreement.

“The Untie Not” addresses a frustration nearly everyone has experienced: shoelaces that won’t stay tied. Olivia and Samantha engineered a small, lightweight device that attaches directly to shoelaces and securely holds knots in place. The solution requires no shoe modifications or complicated adjustments and works seamlessly for students, athletes, and people constantly on the move.

Their invention is currently in final development and is scheduled to debut on the international marketplace later this year, an incredible achievement for inventors still years away from high school graduation.

Why National Inventors Day Matters in Schools

These success stories highlight what happens when students are taught how to invent, not just how to brainstorm ideas. National Inventors Day is a reminder that invention is a skill set, one that can be taught, practiced, and refined in K–12 classrooms when students are given the right tools, structure, and encouragement.

Through the Inventionland Education Innovation Science curriculum, students learn to:

• Identify everyday problems worth solving
• Develop and test functional prototypes
• Understand marketability and user needs
• Pitch ideas with confidence
• Experience real-world invention pathways, such as licensing their product

Inspiring Tomorrow’s Inventors Today

On this National Inventors Day, we celebrate Mia, Madison, Olivia, Samantha, their dedicated educators, and the schools that believe in empowering students as creators.

Their stories prove that when students are given authentic innovation experiences, they don’t just learn about innovation; they experience it. And, they become inventors.

The post Celebrating National Inventors Day: How Student Innovators Are Turning Ideas Into Licensed Products on the Global Marketplace appeared first on Inventionland Education.

One of the most powerful outcomes of the Inventionland Education Innovation Science Class is seeing the young student inventors win at the national level and then earn actual licensing agreements. Over the past two years, that vision has become reality for multiple student teams who identified everyday problems and engineered smart, market-ready solutions.

Last year, students Mia and Madison achieved a milestone many adult inventors never reach: they earned a licensing agreement for their “No Cry Hair Tie” invention developed through the Inventionland Education program. Their success demonstrated what happens when students are taught the real-world 9-step inventing method and given excellent support from their teachers, Ms. Karen Garland and Mr. Ben English of Grove City Middle School. After earning their licensing agreement, their product was brought to market and is now available on Amazon, Jokari, and other websites worldwide.

See the video about the “No Cry, Hair Tie” inventing method here.

This year, Olivia Adams and Samantha Preist from Grove City Middle School, part of the Grove City Area School District, earned their own licensing agreement after capturing 1st Place in the Middle School Division with their invention, “The Untie Not.”

“The Untie Not” tackles a universally familiar frustration: shoelaces that refuse to stay tied. Olivia and Samantha’s solution is both elegant and practical, a small, lightweight mechanism that attaches directly to shoelaces and secures the knot in place. The design keeps shoes tied throughout the day without altering the shoe or requiring complicated adjustments, making it ideal for students, athletes, and anyone constantly on the move.

Their product is currently in final development ahead of its debut on the international marketplace later this year.

Watch the video about how Olivia and Samantha developed a love for STEM here >

The post Middle School Inventors Secure Licensing Success After Taking the Inventionland Innovation Science Class and Winning our National Invention Contest appeared first on Inventionland Education.