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Make48 Roles
It Takes a Village
Make48 is a 48-hour competition where teams are given a challenge, must build a physical prototype, sales sheet, and a 1-minute marketing video, and then pitch it to judges. The twist is that we have tool technicians and access to a Makerspace full of equipment and tools to help the teams build almost anything their imaginations can come up with to solve the challenge. Collaboration is the key to success.
We have an 8-City series where the winners of each move on to the Nationals competition fillmed for the PBS documentary the following March.
We can't do this without the support from the community in several different roles during the competition. Scroll below to find out the details about each role.
Make48 City Events
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Mentors
Your Role: You are the INDUSTRY expert, not a tool tech that will be building. The teams will ask about manufacturing, trends, retailers, marketing, etc. You have insider TIPS on the category and should guide the teams.
Time Commitment:
Friday 11AM-6PM
Saturday 8AM-4PM
Sunday 9AM-Noon (optional)
Sunday Judging starts at 2PM
What to Wear: Avoid bright colors, Business or Business Casual, No big logos, No hats
Watch this Video:
Focus Group
Your Role: You will be giving your opinion of the teams product idea at the 24 hour mark as a CONSUMER. Please give constructive advice. You should NOT tell them to pivot unless they have two invention ideas.
Time Commitment:
Saturday arrive at 11AM
Focus Groups will run from Noon-3PM
Sunday Judging starts at 2PM (Optional)
What to Wear: Avoid bright colors, Business or Business Casual, No big logos, No hats
Judges
Your Role: You will judge the team pitches and prototypes during the closing ceremonies of the competition.
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Each pitch will be 10 mins total including Q&A
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The clock will be visible to both you and the teams
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Ideally, one question from each judge at least per pitch
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Be fun & engaging
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Don't attempt to use the prototypes (in case of breakage)
Time Commitment:
Sunday arrive at 11AM
Review Criteria 11-11:30 AM
Meeting with Tom & Lunch 11:30-Noon
Interviews with film crew Noon-1PM
Pre-judging from 1PM-2PM
Pitches 2PM-4PM
Deliberation 4-5PM (teams eat)
Announce winners 5:30PM
What to Wear: Judges tend to wear business casual, not too dressy. Avoid bright colors, Business or Business Casual, No big logos, No hats
Watch this Video:
Patent Attorneys
Your Role: The teams will brainstorm for a few hours before they will be ready to meet with you. Your job is to help guide them through the research process of making sure their products are not infringing on any existing patents. Bring your own laptops and you'll have access to the WiFi
Time Commitment:
Friday:
Arrive at 2PM & Meet with teams until 6PM
Saturday:
Arrive at 10AM & Meet with teams until 1PM
Sunday Judging starts at 2PM (Optional)
What to Wear: Avoid bright colors, Business or Business Casual, No big logos, No hats
Tool Techs
Your Role: You are the experts in prototype fabrication, so teams will be asking you to build their ideas. Using the sponsored equipment and equipment found in the host makerspace, you will help bring their ideas to life!
Time Commitment:
Thursday 6:30-8:30PM Orientation Dinner
Friday 10AM-4PM or 4PM-10PM
Saturday 7AM-4PM or 4PM-LATE
Sunday 7AM-Noon
Sunday 2PM Team Pitches (Optional)
What to Wear: Closed toe shoes, comfortable pants/shorts and supplied Make48 Tool Tech T-shirt.
Watch this Video:
General Volunteers
Your Role: You will be helping out the Make48 team with anything from setting up signage & chairs, to cleaning up after meals have been catered to making coffee or picking up things around town.
Time Commitment:
Thursday:
6:30-8:30PM Orientation Dinner
Friday:
Time Slots from 8AM-7PM
Saturday:
Time Slots from 7AM-7PM
Sunday:
Time Slots from 7AM- Noon
Team Pitches start at 2PM (Optional)
What to Wear: Comfortable Pants/Shorts and shoes plus the Make48 supplied Volunteer t-shirt
Watch this Video:
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