GENERAL MEETING INFORMATION:
We meet monthly, usually on the first Saturday of every month from 10:30am to 12:30pm (unless it conflicts with a holiday weekend or some other significant event where we may push it to the second Saturday). Meetings alternate between open industry-speaker presentations with networking, and quarterly closed NDA-covered member workshops.
Meeting location varies, often at the NEC (National Entrepreneur Center) in Central Orlando, Maitland Public Library, or Familab makerspace. Meetings apart from workshops are also hybrid over Zoom.
Cost: Open meetings are free. Workshops require $30 annual dues.
Date & Time: Saturday May 2, 2026, 10:30am – 12:30pm EST
Location: Maitland Public Library, 501 South Maitland Avenue, Maitland, Florida 32751
Meeting type: Open Meeting (In person and Zoom)
Audience: All are welcome
Presentation (in person) – You Are the Patent Police: How Will You Defend Your Idea?
A practical guide to the insurance and compliance safety net every inventor needs before going to market.
Presentation Summary
Bringing an invention to market exposes creators to risks far beyond the patent itself, including infringement lawsuits, product liability claims, and the cost of government certifications required to sell. This session walks inventors through patent enforcement insurance, product liability coverage requirements, and the real-world costs of product certification, so you can protect your idea, your wallet, and your company from day one.
What Attendees Will Learn
- Patent Enforcement & Defense Insurance. How it works, what it covers, and what it actually costs for a solo inventor or small company.
- Product Liability & General Liability (CGL). The coverage retailers, distributors, and trade shows require before they will carry or display your product.
- Product Recall Insurance. A separate, often overlooked coverage that kicks in when product liability alone will not save the company.
- Protecting Physical Assets. How to insure prototypes, tooling, molds, and inventory, which are the assets most inventors forget about until something happens.
- Cyber Liability. Why it matters if you sell online, collect customer data, or build a connected or IoT product.
- Government & Third-Party Certifications. When UL, FCC, CPSC, and FDA certifications are required, and typical price ranges.
- Phasing In Coverage. How to layer protection cost-effectively as a startup or solo inventor.
Speaker Biography
Nick Quarella is an insurance and risk management advisor based in Central Florida, helping business owners protect what they have built and plan for what could go wrong. He works with a wide range of clients, from solo entrepreneurs and product creators to established contractors, manufacturers, restaurants, and hospitality operators, building insurance programs that fit how each business runs. Nick takes a practical, plain-English approach to risk management, helping clients understand their real exposures and make confident decisions about coverage without the industry jargon.
