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Illinois Alum: Inventor, Executive Producer, Emmy Winner
In 2004, Louis Foreman (Beta Eta ’86) began developing the concept for a reality show that would help make inventors’ dreams come true – while educating America about the complex product development process. Today this reality series is known as Everyday Edisons® and its mission reflects Louis’ biggest aspiration: to fuel the innovative American spirit that has historically characterized, strengthened and distinguished our society.
Louis’ experience as founder and chief executive of Enventys® (www.enventys.com) led him to develop this educational reality series featuring ordinary inventors. Since Enventys’ inception, inventors have constantly sought the help of this integrated product design and engineering firm in Charlotte, North Carolina, to “raise” or develop inventions on their behalf. A surprising number of these inventors are ordinary people with great ideas that aren’t necessarily interested in developing a business around their invention. Most are looking for someone to take their idea, validate its worth and develop it for them. With this in mind, Louis developed the concept for Everyday Edisons, a show which could develop the brilliant ideas of ordinary people who otherwise would never pursue their innovative dreams.
He is now the executive producer of Everyday Edisons (www.EverydayEdisons.com), a nationally televised PBS reality series documenting the product development process of 10-12 inventors and their inventions as they go from a sketch on a napkin to full-fledged product on store shelves. Recently, Foreman and his show picked up two regional Emmy Awards for Outstanding Informational/Instructional Programming from the Northern California / San Francisco chapter and the Southeast / Atlanta chapter of the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences. In addition, it received nominations in the Northwest / Seattle chapter and New England / Boston chapter.
Foreman also co-founded Edison Nation (www.EdisonNation.com), a new web 2.0 platform connecting independent inventors with major retailers. Edison Nation helps individuals by hosting their intellectual property in a safe, collective portfolio that will connect them with opportunities to commercialize their products. The site hosts “Live Product Searches” hosted by major retailers and manufacturers looking for innovative ideas from the Edison Nation membership to develop and sell to their respective customers.
Both of Foreman’ initiatives are part of the larger national movement to focus on innovation as the solution to navigating ourselves out of this current economic and financial crisis.
In his academic and professional career, Foreman’s Everyday Edisons endeavor is just one of the many entrepreneurial projects he has facilitated. A prolific inventor, he holds nine registered U.S. patents and his firm is responsible for the development and filing of well over 150 more. He is a founding member of The Inventors Network of the Carolinas, a non-profit organization that empowers inventors through education, support and networking opportunities. In 2007, Foreman became the publisher of Inventors Digest, a 20-year-old publication devoted to the topic of American innovation.
In December 2007, he was appointed by United States Secretary of Commerce Carlos M. Gutierrez to serve for a three-year term on the nine-person Patent Public Advisory Committee of the United States Patent and Trademark Office. The Committee was created by Congress in 1999 to advise the Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property and Director of the United States Patent and Trademark Office on matters relating to the policies, goals, performance, budget and user fees of the patent operation.
Over the past 20 years, Foreman has created five successful start-ups and has been directly responsible for the creation of more than 10 others. His interest in entrepreneurialism and developing innovative products began while a sophomore in college, with his first company founded in room 18 in the Beta Eta chapter house. He graduated from the University of Illinois with a bachelor’s of science in economics.
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