Six Teams Enter S9 Make48 Nationals. Who Emerges Victorious?

Welcome to the Make48 Season 9 National Competition, the ultimate high-stakes showdown where the brightest young minds attempt to turn a brilliant concept into a market-ready prototype in a single weekend.

From November 14-16, 2025, Fishers Maker Playground in Fishers, IN, will once again transform into the high-octane stage for this creative sprint. 

The Call to Action: Corteva's "Food Forward" Challenge

The competition begins not with a blueprint, but with a secret. Six elite teams – the best of the best who battled their way through regional events in Dallas, Winona, and Kansas City – gather to hear the mission. This year, the challenge comes from Corteva Agriscience, a global leader in agriculture, hinting at the theme: "Food Forward."

Corteva’s involvement elevates the stakes, turning the competition into a real-world experience in global problem-solving. These teams know they aren't just building a gadget; they are aiming to create a solution with potential impact, continuing Corteva's legacy of focusing on food security and agricultural innovation.

When the challenge is revealed, the clock starts, and a wave of brainstorming and collaboration washes over the Maker Playground. These teams must accomplish a mountain of work before the final buzzer. 

The six competing teams are a powerhouse lineup. The teams include: We Fail Fast Too (Saint Thomas Academy); Wingers (Red Wing High School); Bolts & Brains (Vandermont); The Other Guys (Vandermont); The Dream Makers (The Kansas State School for the Blind), and the CTEC CAPS Creators (Cedar Trails Exploration Center)

Teams must brainstorm and solidify an original idea addressing the "Food Forward" problem. They will then work with the Tool Techs to build a functional, physical working model of their concept. Next, they will create a professional pitch, which includes a polished sales sheet and filming a compelling, one-minute promotional video. Finally, they must deliver an impactful presentation to a panel of expert judges.

The All-Star Support Crew

No great invention is built alone, especially under such tight deadlines. This is where the sheer resourcefulness of the Make48 Nationals shines.

Fishers Maker Playground provides the ultimate venue, brimming with 3D printers, laser cutters, CNC machines, and every tool imaginable. Guiding the teams through this technological maze are the Tool Techs, a dedicated lineup of returning favorites and new faces, helping the teams execute complex fabrication techniques. Great Lakes Hardware provides critical, on-the-spot material support, ensuring no design is stalled by a missing screw or part.

Adding another layer of real-world expertise, two patent attorneys, Amy Berg (Ice Miller) and Chris DeBacker (Avek IP), will be on site. They stand ready to advise the students on the viability and intellectual property of their designs—an invaluable resource that moves the competition beyond a school project and into the realm of entrepreneurship.

Fishers Maker Playground at Hub & Spoke in Fishers, IN

The Final Showdown

The last few hours of the 48-hour window are a blur of frantic final touches, script rehearsals, and video editing. Sleep is a distant memory, replaced by pure adrenaline.

The competition wraps up with a final pitch, where judges don't just evaluate the prototype; they consider multiple factors. Did the team solve the problem? Is the solution manufacturable? Is the pitch compelling?

The reward for conquering this massive endeavor is a massive $10,000 grand prize and the coveted national title. The Make48 Nationals isn't just a challenge; it's an example to the fact that when you combine the fire of ingenuity with the right resources, a groundbreaking idea can become a reality in just 48 hours.

Keep following us as we announce the winners of the competition next week!