I have been workin on an Idea for a couple years now, It involves a system that can prevent hose whips in most cases and damage to pumps personal and property from plugs. I have a provisional pat. and have been told by a kingpin in the safety side of this biz. if it can do what I claim, it will be mandated in the industry. I have a couple other guys in the industry that are on my team, togather we have around 75 yrs under our combined belts. I am in need of some funding ( aprox. $20,000) to get this built, and tested. I would like to have it done for the Con Ag show, but thats another story. I dont need the amount of cash that a funding giant would require, I'm small change ( their words). So where would you guys suggest I may look for funding in these economic times? Ideally I would like to hook up with a pump company as a seperate entity and use their fleet for testing and advertising. I'm just askin what would you guys do?

I'd ask Schwing or Putzmeister. If it really is so great they might want to help you before an other competetor takes of with the credits :-)

Problem is.. If it really becomes mandatory it will not be a unique sellingpoint for the manufacturer that is helping you.. But still enough money to make I guess..

Nothing will replace experience.

Right, because as long as you have experience your hose wont whip. wait... or will it? You're right, the pump and the concrete knows an experienced op from a newbie therefore the hose will only whip for the newbie. Thanks for the clarification.

If you know it will work and be mandated, do it on your own so you dont end up losing half or more of your profits to your investor.  20000$ shouldnt be to hard on a credit card. 

Dipstick There are several reasons a manufacturer is better off with this as an after market tool. (been down that rd.)

Rusty22 No comment.

Shotgunrider I dont do C.Cards.

custer-   something a bit different.... over here we have a tv show called dragons den for entrepreneurs looking for hard cash without the involvement of banks, dont know if u have an equivalent?

http://www.bbc.co.uk/dragonsden/

Yes, there is a US version.  It's called, Shark Tank.  http://abc.go.com/shows/shark-tank

It followed Canada's spin off of the UK series: http://www.cbc.ca/dragonsden/

The cool thing is that the US version has 2 Canadian 'Sharks'.

Custer:

 My suggestion would be spend the 5k for the full patent then pitch the idea to your manufacturers.  The provisional patent lasts a year.  Trust me when I say people will wait that year to see whether you take it to the next step.  I use the number of 5000 loosely it is around that much.  If need be get your other operators to chip in with you $1666.66  isn't a huge amount to gamble on an idea.

Grandad I thinl I will start a fund raiser here, and then go to Shark Tank. Thanks

Thanks to all who have responded! I have had some very interesting input and have been given several options to look into. I will continue to contact all that have responded in the order that you responded to this post as time permits. Thanks again.