MAKE48 IS HEADING TO NORTH LITTLE ROCK WITH AR INNOVATION HUB SELECTED TO HOST

Make48 is bringing its signature 48-hour invention-competition City Series to North Little Rock, AR this fall. Make48 has tapped the Arkansas Regional Innovation Hub at Winrock International to host the event at their facilities October 7-9, 2022.

Now open to teams nationwide, competitors from North Little Rock and beyond will be able to participate in the unique maker competition, which helps participants discover what is possible in just 48 hours. The winning team will win $2k and advance to compete at the national competition, slated for March 2023, where one team can win $10k.

Applications are open now. Details on applying can be found HERE.

Make48 is a nationwide invention-competition docuseries that gives teams a challenge at the start of a two-day event. With just 48 hours, teams must create a prototype, promotional video, sales sheet, and present their idea to a panel of judges. The teams have access to a makerspace and numerous Tool Techs that can make almost anything. Teams receive a hint about the challenge theme, but specific details are revealed at the start of each competition, allowing everyone to have a level playing field and the chance to win.

Team applications are now open. The 2-4 member team can be students, friends, families, co-workers, or anyone who wants to learn more about inventing, innovation and collaboration. At least one member of the team must be 18 years old. Visit the North Little Rock Event Website. The deadline is approaching soon - be sure to apply by August 31, 2022.

“We are thrilled to welcome Make48 to North Little Rock, Arkansas!” Errin Stanger, Director at The Arkansas Regional Innovation Hub conveyed. “We have been eagerly waiting for this opportunity, and now it's time to show off the incredible creative talent in Arkansas. We invite our community to join us at The Innovation Hub as we celebrate making, innovation and unique problem solving that happens over a 48-hour period. Entrepreneurs, creatives, makers, engineers, and artists of all ages are welcome to form a team or volunteer to experience the magic of collaboration and ingenuity. We are looking forward to this experience and we would like to thank our sponsors and the Make48 team for this opportunity!”

Make48 Co-creator and CEO Tom Gray said, “Arkansas is home to large and small innovative companies across multiple sectors. North Little Rock is a tight knit community and extremely supportive of all those that live there. The Innovation Hub is one of those connectors of STEAM that many younger ones from the area get the chance to visit and explore. We look forward to many of these groups competing as teams.”

The Arkansas Regional Innovation Hub at Winrock International is dedicated to improving the lives of Arkansans by inspiring innovation and expanding opportunities. Since the Hub’s opening in 2014, their state-of-the-art facilities have provided tools and training to entrepreneurs, students and other makers, preparing them to join and grow Arkansas’ economic ecosystem. Regardless of demographic identifiers or geographic location, Arkansans are generating and inspiring innovation in cutting-edge technology, business, and creative fields. The Innovation Hub uses tools, skills, and expertise to inspire innovators and entrepreneurs who expand the range of educational and economic opportunities for themselves, for their communities, in our state and throughout the world.

Following a successful four-city series of events in 2021, Make48 is expanding its reach in myriad ways for 2022. Applicants to City Series competitions were previously restricted to participants residing in the host city. Applications are now open nationwide, allowing for diversity and removing geographical limitations. Make48 recently launched a licensing initiative for its competition blueprint, giving community makerspaces, colleges, and high schools the opportunity to host their own events by licensing the Make48 name and format. In addition, Roku has included the Make48 docuseries, currently in syndication on PBS, as featured programming in their newly launched This Old House Makers Channel.

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