KANSAS CITY, MO (January 26, 2023) - Make48 is bringing its signature 48-hour invention-competition back to Kansas City, MO this spring. The University of Missouri-Kansas City has been selected to host the March 31 - April 2, 2023 Make48 National event. Seven teams will ideate at the UMKC Robert W. Plaster Free Enterprise and Research Center. The Plaster Free Enterprise Center is a hub for students, faculty and the Kansas City community to discuss, design, build and innovate. Features of the center include a 3D printing lab and fabrication studio to build prototypes, high-performance computing equipment and software, and $3 million of augmented and virtual reality equipment. Some of the technology within the labs is not available anywhere else in Kansas City, allowing UMKC to remain state-of-the-art in research and education while helping community partners do the same.
“The UMKC School of Science and Engineering is thrilled to host Make48’s National event,” said Kevin Truman, dean of the School of Science and Engineering. “Our Robert W. Plaster Free Enterprise and Research Center is the perfect location -- as it was designed to be a resource for entrepreneurial ideation, innovation and prototyping -- exactly what Make48 is about.”
The seven teams heading to Nationals are the first-place winners from the 2022 regional competitions held in; Wichita, Milwaukee, Madison, Indianapolis, North Little Rock, Wichita, Beloit, and Kansas City, KS. They will now compete on the national stage for a grand prize of $10K. The teams are composed of varied backgrounds including friends, family members, students/teachers and co-workers. Make48 has held fruitful partnerships with company leaders from Stanley Black & Decker, Koch Industries, Harley-Davidson, TREK Bikes, Corteva Agriscience, and more have helped support the seven regional competitions.
The event will mark Season 6 of Make48’s docuseries and the challenge will be filmed in real-time once the 48-hour clock starts ticking. Nationals will be filmed for distribution on Roku’s This Old House maker channel. For the last 6 years, Make48 has launched 19 innovation-based competitions and has been a nationally syndicated television program with a reach of over 4 million viewers a year. https://www.make48.com/competitions
Since its inception in 2015, Make48 has continued to expand exponentially, in tandem with the global maker movement. This year, the company announced a new initiative which will allow for community makerspaces as well as those at colleges and high schools to license the Make48 name and competition format to host their own events. Make48 will provide the turn-key blueprint to successful maker events, including timelines, promotional materials, detailed checklists, sponsorship templates, and dedicated space on Make48.com. Most importantly, access to Make48 staff for guidance from planning through execution will be part of the licensing agreement.
If you’re interested in learning more about the Make48 national event please reach out to Make48’s CEO Tom Gray at tom@make48.com or communication director Cassandra Munoz at cassandra@make48.com.
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Make48 is:
Inventing against the clock. Everyday people apply as teams and compete to develop a new commercial product in a 48-hour invent-a-thon weekend. Teams have 48 hours to plan, prototype, and pitch a new idea, within the specifications of a challenge, determined by the challenge sponsor. Teams utilize a variety of tools, materials, workspaces, and expert guidance provided by a resource-rich fabrication workshop. Teams have access to qualified expert “Tool Techs.” Tool techs will assist teams with the provided fabrication tools to prototype ideas of ranging complexity. No prior invention experience is necessary. Teams create a promotional video and pitch their prototype to the judges. Winner is announced at the end of the 48-hour window.
About the University of Missouri-Kansas City
The University of Missouri-Kansas City, one of four University of Missouri campuses, is a public university serving more than 16,000 undergraduate, graduate and professional students. UMKC engages with the community and economy based on its mission: placing student success at the center; leading in life and health sciences; advancing urban engagement; excelling in visual and performing arts; embracing diversity; and promoting research and economic development. For more information about UMKC, visit umkc.edu. You can also find us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter, see us on Instagram and watch us on YouTube.