The Best Platforms for
Commercializing Your Innovation
You've built something valuable. Now it's time to find the right partners to bring it to market. Here's exactly where to look — and what each platform is best for.
The Market Has Never Been Bigger — or More Accessible
Digital platforms have opened doors that once only the largest corporations could walk through. Whether you hold a patent, a proprietary process, or a breakthrough technology, there are now specialized platforms connecting innovators like you directly to the companies that need what you've created. Here's your map to the landscape.
MarketBlast ↗
One of the highest-traffic platforms for inventors right now. You submit your patent or innovation directly to companies that have posted active "Product Hunts" — meaning they're already looking for what you've built. Free to join, and it bypasses the black hole of generic corporate inboxes.
Yet2.com ↗
A long-established marketplace for technology transfer, originally backed by P&G, DuPont, Bayer, Honeywell, and Siemens. Their network represents companies handling over 40% of the world's R&D capacity — including pharmaceutical, chemical, and biotech sectors.
Innoget ↗
A tech transfer network using intelligent matchmaking to connect your innovation with the right companies, research centers, and investors. The platform's algorithm does the legwork of finding relevant partners so you're not starting from scratch with cold outreach.
NineSigma ↗
Specializes in "grand challenges" — posted by companies like P&G, DuPont, Unilever, and Kraft — often worth hundreds of thousands to over a million dollars. They're exceptional at helping both sides find the right fit without presupposing a solution from the start.
InnoCentive ↗
Founded by Eli Lilly and built into a global open innovation network, InnoCentive connects innovators ("Solvers") with companies ("Seekers") posting challenge problems. Smaller prize amounts make it accessible to individual inventors, not just large research teams.
HeroX ↗
Hosts innovation challenges across every industry, from healthcare and defense to consumer tech and sustainability. Companies and organizations post public challenges and award prizes to the best submissions — giving you both visibility and a foot in the door.
📊 Why Cross-Industry Licensing Is Exploding Right Now
Non-traditional licensing is one of the biggest trends of 2026. A software company licensing navigation patents to a tractor manufacturer. A medical device company licensing a sensor to a consumer wearable brand. Your innovation may have more potential buyers than you think — across industries you haven't even considered yet.
P&G Connect + Develop ↗
Procter & Gamble's long-running open innovation portal invites inventors to submit products and technologies directly. P&G has built a dedicated team and process for reviewing external ideas — making them one of the most inventor-friendly corporations in the world.
Unilever Open Innovation ↗
Unilever actively seeks external technology across sustainability, ingredient science, digital health, and consumer experience. They publish specific technology briefs detailing exactly what they're looking for — making it easy to identify a match before you apply.
Industry-Specific Portals
Almost every major corporation in healthcare, energy, ag-tech, defense, and manufacturing now operates some form of open innovation or tech scouting program. A targeted search for "[Your Industry] open innovation portal" will surface companies actively looking in your space.
Kickstarter ↗
Not a licensing platform — but one of the most powerful tools for building the case your licensee needs to say yes. A successful Kickstarter campaign proves real consumer demand, eliminates the risk argument, and gives you concrete data to bring to the negotiating table.
Indiegogo ↗
Similar to Kickstarter but with flexible funding options — you keep what you raise even if you don't hit your goal. Also useful for international markets and has an InDemand feature that lets successful campaigns continue selling indefinitely after the campaign ends.
Product Hunt ↗
A high-traffic discovery platform where tech and digital innovations gain visibility with early adopters, investors, and potential partners. Getting featured on Product Hunt can put your innovation in front of tens of thousands of people — including the corporate decision-makers who follow it daily.
Licensing Expo ↗
The world's largest licensing industry event, bringing together thousands of licensors, licensees, and brand owners under one roof. This is where licensing deals get made across every category — consumer products, entertainment, fashion, technology, and more. Required attendance if you're serious about licensing.
CES (Consumer Electronics Show) ↗
The world's largest consumer technology event. Ideal for tech-based innovations — thousands of corporate buyers, product managers, and licensing executives attend specifically looking for emerging technologies to license, acquire, or partner around.
License Global ↗
The leading media and intelligence platform for the global licensing industry. Following License Global keeps you current on deal trends, top licensors, and emerging categories. They also publish the annual Top Global Licensors report — the authoritative benchmark tracking over $307 billion in licensed product sales.
Before You Reach Out to Any Platform
The platform is only as effective as your preparation. Here's what separates inventors who get deals from those who don't.
Protect Your IP First
At minimum, file a Provisional Patent Application (PPA) before submitting to any public platform. It gives you 12 months of "patent pending" status and establishes your priority date — critical in any negotiation.
Know Your Market Value
Licensees need to see the business case, not just the technology. Know your target market size, who the end customer is, and what royalty rate is typical in your industry before any conversation begins.
Match Platform to IP Type
Consumer products go to MarketBlast and P&G portals. Technical innovations go to NineSigma and Yet2. Cross-industry tech goes everywhere. Don't waste time on platforms that aren't built for your category.
Lead With the Problem You Solve
Every platform submission, elevator pitch, and one-pager should lead with the problem — not the technology. Licensees buy solutions to market problems, not inventions in search of an application.
Not Sure Where to Start?
That's What We're Here For.
Finding the right licensing path for your specific innovation takes strategy — not just a list of platforms. Let's talk through where your IP fits and how to position it to attract the right partners.