A smartphone propped next to a small device.

#MakeWhatsNext Patent Program

The Microsoft #MakeWhatsNext Patent Program offers female inventors patent support and mentorship so they can protect their ideas and further their innovation.

The patent process

Applying for a patent can be a lengthy and complex process, and the #MakeWhatsNext Patent Program sets out to simplify it.

Having a patent has many benefits. A patent protects an idea from theft, spurs others to innovate alternative solutions, and creates a market for ideas where others pay fees to inventors for access to the intellectual property.

Microsoft is a champion of intellectual property and encourages its employees to file for patents to protect their ideas. This same spirit is what brought the #MakeWhatsNext Patent Program to life. All patents filed under the program are in the inventor’s name.
Is your idea original? Is it useful? Is it obvious or something others could easily think of? These are the basic qualifications to consider as you determine eligibility of your idea.

Microsoft patent lawyers vet all prospective teams’ ideas to ensure their inventions are patent-eligible.
Keep records of your progress. Good records help protect you and your idea, in the special case your patent is challenged or infringed on.

The patent lawyers advise teams on how and what to document in order to protect ideas and create a thorough application.
Hiring a lawyer can help you navigate the process. Patent lawyers not only have to pass the bar, but they must also pass a thorough examination through the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office (USPTO).

All legal expertise and application fees are covered pro bono by the Microsoft patent law department, at an estimated value of $50,000.
Patents cover three basic varieties of invention: design, plant, or utility. Determine which category your invention falls under.

The lawyers participating in the Patent Program help to navigate the application process, and they make sure that all submitted applications are thoroughly completed.
A US provisional patent is not required, but it allows you to be the first to claim your invention—deeming your invention “patent pending.”

The patent lawyers take care of filing your application and ensure that all teams have a “patent pending” status while waiting for the USPTO to fully review applications.
Once your paperwork is in, the USPTO will determine when your idea can be patented. This process takes time and patience.

While waiting for the USPTO to review applications, the Patent Program provides support through the Patent Advisory Board. This board of incredible female executives across disciplines at Microsoft assists the inventors to continue to innovate and bring their ideas to life.

Patent Program teams

Meet the amazing female inventors working to change the world one invention and patent at a time.

2020-2021 teams

Members of Greenon Inventeam pose outside for picture.

Patent granted

Smart Netting System

This Ohio high school team invented an intelligent netting system to decrease man-made debris that enter waterways from residential storm drains, posing a threat to animals who reside in nearby creeks and rivers.

Learn more about this system

2018-2019 teams

Patent pending

Heart & Sole

An all-girl high school team from Pomona, California, developed an at-home device to aid in monitoring progress and development of the health of diabetics’ feet—through the gathering of useful and relevant medical data.

Learn more about the device

Patent granted

Mosquito Agitator

This high school team developed a device designed to disrupt mosquito breeding cycles by disturbing the surface tension of stagnant water, making it difficult for mosquitos to lay eggs and/or for pupae to transition into the adult stage.

Learn more about this creation

Patent granted

Troposphere

A female climate scientist developed this air-quality monitoring system that tells you what’s in the air, identifies the source of any impurities, and provides recommendations that help you and your family breathe easy.

Learn more about the monitor

2017-2018 teams

Patent granted

Base Operations

A female MIT MBA/MPP student and her team created an app based on the Waze API that allows users to report dangerous areas in a given geography. They successfully tested their app in Mexico and continue to test in other countries.

Learn about Base Operations

Patent granted

Underwater Camera

This high school team developed an underwater camera to study the prevalence of invasive species in the Great Lakes. The camera is able to take key measurements like salinity and pH level, and they are developing a fish recognition system.

Learn about their invention

Two young girls work on a project together.

Patent granted

Smart Wallet

This high school team developed a smart wallet that helps people who are blind or low vision sort their money into their wallet. They were inspired after watching a TV show where a blind man received a $1 bill instead of a $20 bill at a store.

Learn about the smart wallet

2016-2017 teams

A group of girls work together on a project.

Patent granted

Tactile

With only hours to spare at a hackathon, these female MIT engineering students developed a text-to-Braille device. When scanned over text, pins on top of the device translate the text into Braille.

Learn more about Tactile

Patent granted

AfriGals

Two young women from Uganda developed a mobile sickle cell diagnosis app, which allows people who aren’t doctors to diagnose sickle cell anemia with a simple app and phone attachment.

Meet the AfriGals team

A large group of women watch a device being tested on a young girl.

Patent granted

CareNGrow

A young female doctor in India developed an IoT system to monitor the health of children in rural areas, and help prevent diseases that go unnoticed because of a lack of doctors.

Patent granted

AMANDA

This team from Greece created a virtual reality game to understand bullying. The system mimics experiences and monitors a user’s blood pressure, heart rate, and palm sweat.

Learn more about AMANDA

Female inventors throughout history

Find examples of women, past and present, who have changed the world with their inventions.

1715 Sybilla Masters

Sybilla Masters was the first female inventor in recorded history. She invented a special way for cleaning and curing corn crops. Her patent was issued in her husband’s name by the British courts in 1715.

1809 Mary Dixon Kies

In 1809, Mary Dixon Kies was the first American woman to receive a US patent. She invented a process for weaving straw with silk or thread.

1865 Number of patents

From 1855 to 1865, women only received 10.1 patents per year while men received 3,767.

1882 Maria Beasley

In 1882, Maria Beasley was given a patent for her invention of life rafts. Her life rafts were used on the Titanic and were responsible for saving hundreds of lives.

1885 Judy W. Reed

In 1885, Judy W. Reed became the first African-American woman to get a patent for her dough kneader and roller.

Old fashioned dough kneader lined illustration

1903 Mary Anderson

In 1903, Mary Anderson, a woman from Birmingham, Alabama received U.S. Patent No. 743,801 for her invention of windshield wipers.

1967 Yvonne Brill

In 1967, Yvonne Brill received a patent for her development of rocket and jet propulsion technologies.

1988 Gertrude Elion

Gertrude Elion, an influential biochemist and pharmacologist, not only received a Noble Peace Prize in 1988, but her name also appeared on 45 different patents.