No one tells you just how exhausting 48 hours can be, but every minute was worth it!
The event kicked off at 11:30 am on Friday with an atmosphere that felt like a high school pep rally—pure electricity in the air! The excitement was palpable. Make48's Amy Gray set the stage, introducing the Design Challenge. Dr. John Walz, Milwaukee School of Engineering (MSOE) President, warmly welcomed us to MSOE's We Energies STEM Center, led by the fantastic Elizabeth Taylor. I had the honor of introducing The DeBruce Foundation Agilities©. With formalities out of the way, the clock started ticking!
Teams raced to their workspaces, diving headfirst into brainstorming and team formation. Ideas were flying as sketch paper filled the air. A patent attorney, John Osmanski, was on hand to discuss potential IP issues, giving the green light to those who cleared the check.
Next, the teams met with a focus group to test the market viability of their ideas. After a few tweaks and adjustments, it was time to plot a plan for building their prototypes.
8 teams participated at the MSOE-Make48 Event
Saturday morning began with a trip to Bliffert Lumber & Hardware Store! Teams, armed with shopping lists, loaded onto the bus. It was like an episode of "Supermarket Sweep" as everyone stood at the entrance, waiting for the go-ahead. With only 30 minutes to gather materials, the scramble was intense. Then it was back to the MSOE We Energies STEM Center to get to work.
The center buzzed with activity: Tool Techs working alongside teams to bring their ideas to life, CNC machines whirring, 3D printers humming, and table saws cutting wood. Mentors moved between groups, challenging their thinking and helping them refine their concepts. By Saturday evening, marketing experts arrived to assist with video editing and pitch development.
Meanwhile, Make48 welcomed local VIPs to experience the excitement firsthand. With the launch of the Make48 Innovation Experience Curriculum for middle and high schools, conversations swirled about how this program could transform classrooms. A panel discussion followed, featuring Elizabeth Taylor (MSOE WE Energies STEM Center Director), Tom Gray (Make48 CEO), Kristie Larson (The DeBruce Foundation), Kathy Henrich (MKE Tech Hub Coalition), and myself, Sharrell Howard (Make48 Education Team). The discussion set the stage for a social hour, where everyone had the chance to mix and mingle.
Sunday morning arrived, and the countdown was on. Teams were feverishly finalizing their sales sheets, 60-second videos, and working prototypes while practicing their pitches. The atmosphere was chaotic but exhilarating. Then, it was 3... 2... 1... Time’s up!
The big pitch event began with a resounding, “We Survived Make48!” The cheers were deafening. One by one, teams took the stage to present their solutions and prototypes to the judges. What came out of those 48 hours was nothing short of astonishing. The depth, creativity, and intentional thought put into each project were remarkable. It was evident the teams pushed themselves to think critically and develop the best possible ideas with real market potential.
Judges Kristie Larson (The DeBruce Foundation), Natalie Villegas (MSOE), and DeAnna Leitzke (MSOE) had the most challenging job of the weekend: deciding on the winners. Prizes included Best Use of Agilities, Best Pitch, and the coveted Overall Innovation Winner title. The winners would also receive a cash prize and advance to Nationals in Kansas City in November.
After careful deliberation, the results were in! Congratulations to the COAH Crew (City on a Hill) for winning Best Use of Agilities. The Cookie Cre8tors (Girl Scouts of Wisconsin Southeast) took home the Best Presentation award. And a BIG congratulations to the Golda Girls 2.0, who clinched the title of Overall Winner! This marked the Golda Girls' second time competing and their first victory and the tears in their eyes said it all—this win meant the world to them!
This was my first time attending a Make48 competition in person, and it certainly lived up to the hype!