Makers, and a national spotlight, will return to Wichita. Make48, a competition featured in a PBS documentary series, will make a third trip to the city.
Make48 will be at GoCreate on the Innovation Campus at Wichita State University June 10-12. The challenge, sponsored by Koch Industries Inc., held a similar event last year at GoCreate, and the organization's national competition was held in Wichita in March.
“This June will mark the third competition Make48 has held at GoCreate, which is a testament to their world-class facility, rich with resources in both equipment and mentorship,” Make48 CEO Tom Gray said in a release. “We are proud to continue our partnership with Koch Industries, as our brands share the values of innovation, creativity, and teamwork. Koch’s reach within the Wichita community, combined with support from the city itself, continue to foster inspiration in the maker movement and beyond.”
Applications for the June competition are available online.
The first place team in Wichita will win $2,000 and advance to the Make48 national competition slated for March 2023, and a chance to win $10,000.
Eight local teams will get just 48 hours to take an idea from design to prototype — including a promotional video and sales sheet — to be presented to a panel of judges. Specific contest details are not reveled until the start of the challenge.
“Last year’s partnership highlighted the creative talents among Wichita entrepreneurs and their determination to develop innovative solutions to everyday problems,” said Meredith Olson, vice president of community affairs for Koch. “GoCreate will once again host the event, providing an ideal environment for teams to dream big.”
