Season 8 of Make48 reached its conclusion at the National competition, where six extraordinary teams from across the US came face to face at Operation Breakthrough in Kansas City. While we bid farewell to another amazing season (until March 2025!), the memories and connections built will last a lifetime.
A Showcase of Brilliant Young Minds
Prepare to be amazed! These teams delivered some of the most impressive pitches we've ever seen. Representing a diverse array of schools and backgrounds, each competitor brought a unique perspective and talents to the table:
WSSB Lions: Washington State School of the Blind (WA)
Golda Girls 2.0: Golda Meir School (Milwaukee, WI)
The Knights: UW-Stout & Beloit High School (WI)
EH Royals: Eastern Hancock FFA (Indiana)
Mob Mentality: Rivercrest High School (Arkansas)
Innovation Hall Bears: Willow Springs High School (Missouri)
These bright young minds — some navigating college life, others just starting to drive — truly represent the future of innovation. We can’t wait to see what they achieve next!
Designing for Accessibility: The Carriage House Entrepreneurs Challenge
At Make48 Nationals, teams tackled the "Carriage House Entrepreneurs" challenge, focused on creating accessible home workspaces for visually impaired entrepreneurs.
The challenge called for innovative prototypes that would enhance safety and usability in one of the following business areas:
Bike repair
Music tuning and cleaning
Jewelry and craft making
Teaching virtual cooking classes
Braille signage production and testing
Growing and selling produce
By addressing the unique needs of individuals with low or no vision, the goal was to empower visually impaired entrepreneurs to overcome employment barriers and build successful businesses.
This challenge provided a unique opportunity for teams to step into the shoes of those with visual impairments, challenging their assumptions and encouraging them to think creatively. Through the process, they gained valuable insights into different forms of vision, braille usage, and the realities of living with blindness.
Adding another layer of support, Mara and Jimmy, two former Make48 competitors from the Kansas State School for the Blind (KSSB), served as invaluable mentors, sharing their firsthand experiences and expertise with the teams.
Expert Guidance Every Step of the Way
The atmosphere at Nationals was driven by the passion of our teams and the incredible support system surrounding them. A huge thank you to our dedicated mentors, tool techs, volunteers, and chaperones who traveled from all corners of the country!
A special shout-out to our rockstar Tool Tech crew: Adam, Tyler, Brandy, Craig, Michael, Tamela, Steve, Miles, Ryan, Mariyah, Lydia, Luis, Evan, Melissa, Bucky, Stan, Philip and Brooks! From building prototypes, trophies and helping create a safe environment, the techs were crucial this weekend. As well as our volunteers, Sandra, Reese, Andi, and Laura – your contributions were invaluable!
We were fortunate to have the expertise of patent attorneys Andrea Evans (The Law Firm of Andrea Hence Evans, LLC) and Chris DeBacker (Law Office of Mark Brown).who provided detailed, legal guidance to our teams throughout the weekend.
Pitsco Education was on hand to help empower some future innovators. Their commitment to providing future-ready materials and hands-on STEM learning experiences perfectly aligns with the Make48 mission. Thank you to Paul and Kyle for your exceptional skills as Tool Techs!
Ignition Lab: Where Ideas Spark to Life
We extend our deepest gratitude to Mary Esselman and the entire Operation Breakthrough team for their exceptional hospitality and support. From Craig Fabin and Michael Overstreet, Mariyah Williams, Evelyn Etienne, Shirl and the Bytes with Soul team, security personnel, and the OB students and teachers – your contributions were instrumental in making this event a success! This inspiring environment, equipped with cutting-edge tools and expert guidance, empowered our teams to bring their ideas to life.
Of course, none of this would be complete without our talented cinematographers who diligently documented every moment of the journey. From insightful interviews to behind-the-scenes action, they captured the essence of Make48.
In the meantime, see the captured moments from the busy weekend. From reels to laughs, our social media team kept morale high and invigorated during the stressful 48 hours. Watch all the fun at Make48’s Instagram page https://www.instagram.com/gomake48/
Stay tuned for more updates and the Season 8 sizzle reel – coming next week!