Chicago-based mom Dhana Cohen got the inventing bug about 17 years ago with the birth of her first child. Her idea, a front door sign saying “Shhh! Please Knock, I’m sleeping,” was a nod to her light-sleeper son, who'd wake up at the sound of the doorbell ringing. Soon to follow was an entire line of products geared to helping babies communicate.

Cohen had years of experience with both marketing and advertising, which she put to use when she started her own home-based marketing firm. But she soon found that her strong business background didn't cover the pitfalls of product development. “I always stopped short and got scared,” she says. “I didn’t get financial help for my inventions. I’d always go on to another one.”

Today, Cohen supports others with Women Inventorz Network (W.I.N.), an online community that helps women get their products to market. Co-owned with Seattle-based mom Melinda Knight, W.I.N. provides many low-cost or free marketing services, including celeb gift-giving and the ability to post products on the site. It also provides women inventors with targeted guidance: “I think women lead with their heart," says Cohen. "Many times they get taken advantage of in the process. We’re hoping we can provide them with the right type of businesses that won’t take advantage of them.”

One notable W.I.N. success story is that of the founder of greeting card company That’s All Greetings. W.I.N. gave her an award after evaluating her product and determining it was retail-ready. “She said that award helped elevate her business,” Cohen says. The cards are now carried in more than 500 stores (from just 15 stores pre-award) and will soon be in one of the largest national department stores.

Cohen's tips for launching a successful product: 

• Do your research and make sure there isn’t an existing patent on your idea.
• Expect to spend more than you’d like.
• Don't settle for less than professional product or website design.
• Make sure your product has passed all safety requirements.
• Consider work life options like working on your product part-time rather than full-time or licensing your product to make a small percentage.
• Enlist a team of supporters, whether professionals or just your friends. 

Find out more info about W.I.N. here.