Empowering the Everyday Innovator: The Role of Mentors at Make48

The clock in the makerspace reads 39:24:10, steadily ticking downward. The shop floor is buzzing with the hum of CNC routers and the scent of sawdust and coffee. In one corner, a team stares at their cardboard mockup with hesitation, unsure how to bridge the gap between their concept and the finished build. 

Then, a mentor steps in.

At Make48, innovation is an extreme sport. While raw creativity sets the stage, the true engine driving every breakthrough is a dedicated ecosystem of Tool Techs, industry leaders, and specialized mentors. These experts don’t take over or dictate the design; instead, they ask clarifying questions that unclog a design jam and empower teams to see their ideas through. 

A well-rounded circle of experts guides the competitors through every stage of product development: 

Industry Mentors: Professionals who offer insider knowledge on market trends, manufacturing feasibility, material selection, and retail placement to ensure products are commercially viable. 

Industry Mentors and Focus Groups give teams valuable insights

Focus Groups: This trio provides real-time consumer feedback, offering candid, constructive perspective and feedback on usability, branding, and customer appeal without steering the teams off their vision. 

Tool Techs: Skilled woodworkers, machinists, and makers who translate rough sketches into builds. From 3D printers to CNC routers to textiles, turning raw materials into functional prototypes. 

Tool Techs make the difference at the competitions

Patent Attorneys: Intellectual property professionals who make sure the teams aren’t infringing any previous IP. With only 48 hours, the attorneys have a limited amount of time to research the millions of patents out there, but they make sure all the teams are in the clear every single time! 

Attorneys from Hovey-Williams with Women In STEM team

The demand for guidance isn’t unique to the 48-hour competition, it’s the cornerstone of both the business and creative industries. This blend of technical expertise and practical guidance creates an environment where everyday innovators thrive. Dr. Ronda Hamm, Director of the Food, Farm, and Energy Experience at Conner Prairie, and a longtime Make48 mentor, embodies this philosophy: “My mission is to empower the everyday innovator. As a mentor at Make48 events, I try to help them see what’s possible. Watching an idea evolve from a rough sketch to a working prototype in just 48 hours is incredible, but seeing a team realize they’re truly capable of building it is what it’s all about."

Ronda Hamm with team at Fishers, IN

The mentorship impact extends far beyond the live competition floor. Through the Make48 Innovation Classroom Experience, this same mentor-driven culture is integrated into middle schools, high schools, and colleges nationwide. Student teams tackle authentic design problems from real-world companies, while teachers step into the role of facilitators, and community mentors visit classrooms to offer candid feedback on retail viability.

In both areas, mentorship strips away the intimidation factor of invention. A student who has never touched power tools or written a sales sheet suddenly realizes their perspective has tangible value. 

Whether students are exploring challenges in their classroom or preparing to compete at the Season 10 National Championship at Operation Breakthrough’s Ignition Lab in Kansas City, mentorship supports them through the innovation process. When teams finally step on stage to pitch their inventions, they bring more than just a working prototype; they bring the confidence of having built something real with industry experts standing directly in their corner.