Dan Klitsner, Toy Inventor BOP IT!

We are back for another great interview on our podcast on how to unlock your world of creativity.

Our guest today is Dan Klitsner. He joins us on our around the world journey where we talk to creative practitioners about how they get inspired and how they organize and pitch those ideas, and also how they gain the confidence and the connections to launch their work out into the world.  

Dan is the founder and creative director of toy inventing and licensing firm KID Group LLC. He is also the inventor of the iconic Bop It, a wildly successful children’s toy that has sold over 30+ million units since 1996. He is also a recipient of 2 gold IDEA awards and 4 Toy of the Year Awards. He also co-founded QiGo Inc., which utilizes USB Key technology to support child-safe internet connections for toys.

We talk about the Art of the pitch seeing as Dan has been on both sides of the table. He has done several pitches for several toys and has served as a judge in many design and innovation competitions as well, including the IDSA international design competition, the Consumer Electronics Show, and the Toy of the Year Awards. He also teaches classes in design and invention at the California College of Arts, San Francisco State, and the San Francisco Academy of Art.

We also hear about “Bop it for Good” which is Dan's latest project, taking the success of the Bop It and turning it into a force for change for the underserved communities and especially children. Through the Bop It for Good program, 100% of his profits through the website will go to Boys and Girls Clubs in underserved areas to provide assistance and programs to children. This is in recognition of the 25th anniversary of the Bop It.

His top tips on the art of pitching are:

• Remember that Pitching, in general, is so fun especially If you are an idea person. 
• It is very important how you choose to pitch, depending on the idea. Because there isn't just one way to pitch ideas. There are many ideas and you have to figure out what is a compelling way to get people, to love your idea.
• Knowing your audience is the most important thing before you pitch.
• The secret to a great pitch is to make sure to keep it loose.

In conclusion, Dan walks us through the creative process that goes into making and designing the products that are around for generations. And also he explains the exact process of going from an idea to licensing it, patenting it and bringing it to market, and selling millions of units.

You can find more information about Dan’s work and interact with him on social media

The Bop It for Good Kickstarter program: https://bopitforgood.com

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