From Garage Idea to Licensing Deals: How Fanbags Reinvented Cornhole with Patents, Pivots & Persistence

What does it take to turn a backyard game into a scalable business with patents, licensing deals, and national recognition? In this episode of The Bold Inventor Show, hosts J.D. Houvener and Matt Kulseth sit down with Brian Poeter, inventor and founder of Fanbags Cornhole, to unpack the journey of transforming a simple idea into a thriving company that’s innovating one of America’s favorite pastimes.

Brian takes us back to his college days when he first spotted the problem: cornhole boards were clunky, worn out, and expensive to replace. From a $350 garage prototype to a patented interchangeable playing surface system, he reveals the scrappy beginnings and the pivotal design iterations that made Fanbags stand out in a crowded market.

But it wasn’t all smooth sailing. Brian shares the hard lessons learned from trying DIY patent filings, how COVID nearly shuttered his 6,000-sq-ft shop, and why licensing with other companies became a survival—and growth—strategy. He pulls back the curtain on the art of negotiating licensing deals, what pros and cons come with allowing other brands to white-label your patented product, and why he chose to keep tight control over the Fanbags name.

You’ll also hear about Brian’s foray into sponsorships with ESPN cornhole pros, near-misses with NFL licensing, and how he balanced protecting IP with building authentic business relationships. The conversation is rich with practical nuggets for inventors, entrepreneurs, and anyone looking to take an idea from concept to commercialization.

💡 “If you’ve got an idea, write it down, protect it, and just take your shot. You only get one life—why not throw that bag?”

👉 Tune in for behind-the-scenes stories, legal insights from J.D. and Matt, and Brian’s no-nonsense advice for bold entrepreneurs ready to bring their visions to life.

📌 Key Takeaways

• 🛠️ How Brian turned a $350 garage project into a patented product
• 📜 The dangers of DIY patent filings (and how pros saved the day)
• 🔄 Lessons from pivoting product design through four iterations
• 🤝 Licensing deals: handshake agreements vs. formal contracts
• 🎯 Why Brian refused to let others use the Fanbags name
• 📈 Sponsorships, ESPN exposure, and building credibility in niche sports
• 💰 The real costs of licensing with the NFL, NCAA, and Marvel
• 🚀 Entrepreneur mindset: protect your IP, but never stop iterating