People of Play, a division of The Toy Association, has announced the speaker lineup and agenda for the 2026 Global Inventor Pitch & Innovation Conference, taking place Nov. 5-7 at the Embassy Suites in Rosemont, Illinois.
The three-day event will bring together inventors, students, designers, and industry leaders for educational sessions, networking opportunities, and product pitches. More than 80 product acquisition executives representing 60 companies are expected to attend, including Mattel, Hasbro, Goliath, Asmodee, Moose Toys, Gray Matter Games, Jumbo Group, Thames & Kosmos, Basic Fun!, The Op, TOMY, Jazwares, Amigo, and Ravensburger.
“Inventing can often feel like a solitary pursuit, but this conference reminds creators that they are part of an incredibly supportive and collaborative global community,” says Mary Couzin, Senior Vice President and Founder/Leader of People of Play at The Toy Association. “For three days, inventors at every stage of their careers can share ideas, learn from one another, meet the people who can help move their concepts forward, and make connections that can last well beyond the conference.”
The conference programming covers artificial intelligence, legal and intellectual property topics, marketing strategies, and influencer collaboration.
Chris Gollaher, director of product design and development at Disney Consumer Products, will deliver the keynote address alongside representatives from Lucasfilm and Hasbro who will be announced at a later date. The session, titled “From Galaxy to Toy Aisle: How Disney & Hasbro Bring Star Wars Toys to Life!,” will offer a behind-the-scenes look at how Disney and Hasbro designers collaborate to develop Star Wars toys.
The event will also feature Speed Meeting/Pitch sessions, where new inventors can showcase their ideas at exhibit tables and connect directly with companies for feedback and potential licensing opportunities.
Expert panels will feature industry professionals including Azhelle Wade of The Toy Coach, Yanira Wells of Duracell, Arta Alagheband of Jazwares, Elana Woldenberg Ruffman of hand2mind and Learning Resources, Michael Gray of Nixon Peabody, Matt Nuccio of Design Edge, Amy Friedland of Carve Communications, Rachel Griffin of Playwise Partners, Tracy Dudkiewicz of TAP Marketing, Steve Rad of Abacus Brands/Radical Games, and Jackie Brooks of Loudr Agency.
Attendees can also book one-on-one mentoring sessions covering manufacturing, design, legal, retail, PR, social media, and other areas. Mentors include professionals from companies and organizations including Carve Communications, Playwise Partners, Brown Creative, Abacus Brands/Radical Games, Toys of Our Lives, Goliath Group, BitOGenius, Marky Sparky, and Irwin IP.
Evening networking receptions will offer additional opportunities for attendees to connect with toy and game executives and dealmakers.
Conference registration also includes admission to the Toy & Game International Innovation Excellence Awards (TAGIEs) on Nov. 6 at Joe’s Live Concert Venue and the Chicago Toy & Game Fair, taking place Nov. 7-8 at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center.
Founded in 2006, the Inventor Pitch & Innovation Conference brings together new, professional, and student inventors with product acquisition executives. The event is sponsored this year by Duracell, Longstore Limited, Backdrop.com, Eastar Game Manufacturing, Nextoy, Kid Group, and Brown Creative.
Register online at chitag.com.
