Creative Factor Inventor Day returned to Toy Fair® on Tuesday, February 17, bringing together emerging inventors and leading toy and game manufacturers for a curated pitch event designed to give up-and-coming talent valuable face time with companies they may not otherwise have access to. The program connected 12 selected inventors with more than 20 participating companies through a series of timed, one-on-one pitch meetings, offering both sides a focused environment to explore potential licensing opportunities. In addition, the inventors received access to all four days of Toy Fair, including all show activities and Toy Fair University sessions, at no cost.
“We’ve built the Creative Factor program to support both sides of the innovation pipeline: emerging inventors and the companies looking for what’s next,” said Jackie Retzer, senior director of event management of The Toy Association. “Following the event, several inventors have already begun discussions with participating companies regarding potential licensing opportunities, which is exactly the kind of connection this program is designed to create.”
This year’s event introduced a newly restructured format with the goal of enhancing the experience for both inventors and companies. Instead of the previous open-table setup, the 2026 program featured a speed-pitch model in which each inventor had the opportunity to present directly to multiple companies in scheduled rounds throughout the day. The structured pitch rounds allowed companies to meet directly with inventors in private pitch pods, in addition to two 30-minute networking sessions, giving participants additional time to continue conversations and explore potential next steps.
“As someone who doesn’t have any products published yet, I often feel like a complete unknown, but during Creative Factor, I felt like a VIP,” said Michelle Spivak, who participated in Creative Factor as an inventor. “Each selected participant had their own booth, and companies came directly to us, eager to hear our ideas and offer feedback. It’s a truly remarkable opportunity with the potential to make dreams come true.”
More than 60 inventors submitted concepts for consideration ahead of the event. With support from a panel of experienced industry professionals, judges selected 12 finalists in advance to participate in Inventor Day, each representing a diverse mix of ideas across multiple categories of play.
Participating companies included: Abacus Brands, Asmodee, Blue Marble/ National Geographic, Brooke & Joy Games, Connetix, Crayola, Eastar Games, Educational Insights/Learning Resources, Exploding Kittens, FoxMind Toys & Games, Goliath, Hasbro, Jazwares, Just Play, Make It Real, Melissa & Doug, Moose Games, Ravensburger/ThinkFun, Smart Toys & Games, Spin Master, Stormin’ Studios, and The Op Games.
In addition to the live event, Creative Factor: Inventor Day also included virtual mentoring sessions with members of the United Inventors Association Toy Hub, designed to support inventors as they navigate the licensing process. Participants received guidance through a “Pitch Prep” webinar ahead of the event and a post-event follow-up webinar focused on next steps, expectations, and how to approach company submission processes. Toy Association staff also offered one-on-one meetings with inventors both before and after the event to help them refine their presentations and discuss follow-up opportunities.
"Creative Factor exceeded every expectation I had as a first-time inventor,” said Christine Xu, another Creative Factor inventor participant. “My co-founder and I received so much hands-on support throughout the entire process, including pitch prep with the organizers leading up to Toy Fair and mentors who advised us on how to approach licensing conversations and navigate challenges. We left with great feedback on our toy and potential licensing opportunities we never could have anticipated. I can't recommend the program highly enough!”
Members of the inventor and design community are encouraged to fill out the “Industry Innovators Interest Form” for updates on inventor and Creative Factor opportunities for Toy Fair 2027, taking place February 20 to 23 at the Javits Center in New York City.