The Countdown is On! 7 Teams Head to Kansas City for Make48 Season 10 Nationals
- Make48+Team
- 1 hour ago
- 3 min read
Kansas City, MO – August 20, 2026 — Innovation is taking center stage in the heart of Kansas City! Make48, the inspiring docuseries that captures the high-stakes excitement of physical product invention, is gearing up for its biggest event of the year.
From September 18–20, 2026, seven regional champion teams will meet at Operation Breakthrough’s Ignition Lab: Powered by 87 & Running to go head-to-head in the Season 10 National Championship, tackling a real-world design challenge to benefit the Veterans Community Project (VCP).
After receiving the secret challenge 24 hours before launch, teams will have just 48 hours to design a physical prototype, draft a sales sheet, and produce a 1-minute marketing video. They’ll cap off the weekend by pitching their big idea live to a panel of judges, special guests, and their peers.
Meet the Season 10 National Contenders
Having proved their innovativeness, creativity, and speed across the regional qualifiers nationwide, these teams are ready to lock in for the ultimate 48-hour sprint. Here are your Season 10 National Contenders and the regions they represent:
From Wichita, KS (GoCreate)
1st Place & Best Innovation: Team Yogurt (Andover CAPS)
Teammates: Seth Scripter, Connor Scripter, Bridger Grantham, and Alonzo Lucas
Runner-Up: Hot Springs EAST (Hot Springs Junior Academy)
Teammates: Aspen Hamm, James Hall, Ethan Peabody, and Trinity Moss
From Detroit, MI (Wayne State University C2 Pipeline Program)
1st Place: Team Pipeline Pals (Warren Woods Tower)
Teammates: Nancy King, Serina Lo, Pamela Cook, Emily Angel, and Denver Smith-Whitt
From Atlanta, GA (SkillsUSA Event)
1st Place & Best Innovation: Smarts & Sparks (Oak Harbor High School – Oak Harbor, WA)
Teammates: Ivan Perez, Joel Christopherson, Julianne (Lux) Eby, and Chris Whiteman
Runner-Up: Challenge Accepted (Career & Technology Center @ Fort Osage High School – Independence, MO)
Teammates: Garrett Gearhart, Silas Jones, and Randy Ledbetter
From Menomonie, WI (UW-Stout Polytechnic)
1st Place & Best Innovation: The Bears (White Bear Lake Area – MN)
Teammates: Eric Olson, Logan Blalock, Ben Bower, and Jack Firkus
Runner-Up: Architecting The Mastery (Cotter Schools – Winona, MN)
Teammates: Eric Paulsen, Jack Slaggie, Jaxson Greshik, and Brielle Staudacher
An All-Star Lineup of Mentors and Tool Techs
To help these young makers bring their bold concepts to life, they won't be building alone. A squad of seasoned Tool Techs will be on the floor offering hands-on build support.
The teams will also have access to a world of tools, materials, and mentorship, thanks to industry partners, including ShopBot Tools, Trimble (SketchUp), Thunder Laser, MakerBot, UltiMaker, Dynamism, Fastenal, Westlake Ace Hardware and Rhys Ivy.
The atmosphere inside the Ignition Lab will be fueled by inspiration, collaboration, and non-stop momentum. Backed by dedicated returning mentors like Michael Stonestreet and Craig Fabin, the weekend will be a true celebration of community and next-gen innovation.
The entire weekend will be captured in real time by our camera crews. Three episodes of the national competition will air on Roku's This Old House Makers Channel, bringing the complex world of rapid prototyping to homes across the country.
Follow the Action!
Don't miss a single update, behind-the-scenes build peek, or team profile.
Visit https://www.make48.com/2026-season-10-nationals-kcmo to join the fun!
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About Make48
Make48 is a nationwide invention competition docuseries that gives teams a challenge at the start of a three-day event. With just 48 hours, teams must create a prototype, promotional video, and 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, patent attorneys, marketing experts, and more. This format allows everyone to have a level playing field and the chance to win, with no prior technical knowledge necessary. Make48 Facebook Instagram LinkedIn Twitter YouTube
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