We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Tom Gray a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Tom , looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. So let’s jump to your mission – what’s the backstory behind how you developed the mission that drives your brand?

Only a small percentage of people possess the diverse skill set needed to transform a raw idea into a product ready for store shelves. Make48 empowers the next generation to change the world, one idea at a time, by teaching them the essential steps of prototyping through collaboration.

For the past nine seasons, the Make48 docuseries has showcased the nation’s fastest invention competition. A decade ago, Make48’s co-founders, experienced inventors and entrepreneurs themselves, recognized that only about 5% of the global population has the ability to conceive, build, market, and ultimately bring an idea to market. Their vision for Make48 was to demystify this process and provide a tangible roadmap for aspiring innovators.

In the intense 48-hour competition, Make48 teams are tasked with planning, prototyping, and pitching a new idea that adheres to specific challenge parameters. Teams have access to a wide array of tools, materials, and makerspaces. The true “secret sauce” lies with the qualified expert “Tool Techs.” These skilled individuals provide invaluable assistance, helping teams utilize fabrication tools to bring ideas of varying complexity to life. Throughout this process, collaboration is not just encouraged, it’s essential for success.

A devoted team and a growing network of supporters are passionately committed to expanding Make48’s reach, ensuring more aspiring inventors have the opportunity to learn, create, and innovate.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

For those new to our world, Make48 is an organization dedicated to unleashing the inventive spirit in everyone. We’re an invention competition and docuseries that showcases the incredible journey of taking an idea from concept to prototype in just 48 hours.

Our journey into this unique industry began about ten years ago with our co-founders, experienced inventors and entrepreneurs themselves. They realized a significant gap: while many people have brilliant ideas, only a small fraction, perhaps 5% of the world, actually possess the diverse skill set to build, market, and ultimately bring those ideas to store shelves. They were passionate about demystifying this process and sharing the practical steps of invention and market entry. That passion evolved into Make48, designed to teach these crucial skills through an exciting, high-stakes competition.

At its core, Make48 offers a unique educational and experiential service wrapped in an engaging docuseries. We provide:
– A structured invention competition: Teams are given a specific challenge and just 48 hours to plan, prototype, and pitch a new idea.
– Access to cutting-edge resources: Competitors utilize a wide array of tools, materials, and professional makerspaces.
– Expert guidance: Our “secret sauce” is our team of qualified expert “Tool Techs.” These skilled individuals provide invaluable assistance, helping teams navigate the fabrication tools and bring their ideas, no matter how complex, to life.
– A compelling docuseries: Our show, now in its ninth season, captures the intensity, creativity, and collaborative spirit of the competition, allowing viewers to witness the invention process firsthand.

Problems We Solve and What Sets Us Apart
We solve a fundamental problem: bridging the gap between an idea and its realization. We break down the intimidating process of invention into manageable, collaborative steps.

What truly sets us apart is our unique blend of education, entertainment, and practical application. Unlike traditional educational programs, we throw participants into an intense, real-world scenario where they must collaborate and innovate under pressure. Our “Tool Techs” are also a differentiator – they don’t just oversee, they actively assist, empowering teams to create prototypes they might never have thought possible. We emphasize that collaboration is the key; no one invents in a vacuum.

What are we most proud of? It’s seeing the incredible transformation in our participants. We’ve witnessed countless individuals, often with no prior prototyping experience, develop working prototypes and pitch compelling ideas in just two days. We’re immensely proud of democratizing invention and showing that with the right resources and mindset, anyone can be an innovator.

We’re proud to inspire the next generation to tackle real-world problems with creative solutions.
For potential clients, followers, or fans, the main thing we want you to know about Make48 is this: we believe in the power of ideas, and we provide the platform and the tools to bring those ideas to life. Whether you’re an aspiring inventor, an educator looking for an engaging curriculum, or simply someone who loves to see innovation in action, Make48 offers a unique and inspiring experience. We’re not just about building prototypes; we’re about building confidence, fostering collaboration, and igniting the inventive spirit that can truly change the world, one idea at a time.

Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?

Like many organizations in 2020, Make48 faced unprecedented challenges and had to pivot significantly. With our traditional large-scale competitions on hold, our CEO, Tom Gray, quickly developed a contingency plan to ensure our mission of fostering invention continued.

Tom reached out to WORKBENCHcon, and together, we filmed three unique episodes from the private homes of well-known makers. We maintained the core Make48 mission of creating something in 48 hours, but this time, our teams collaborated with incredible charities including Autism Speaks, the River Kelly Fund, and the 87 & Running Foundation (supporting Operation Breakthrough).

This experience was a revelation. Instead of hosting one large national competition a year for PBS, we realized the potential of a more decentralized model. We’ve now shifted to a format where multiple cities host their own Make48 events. The winners from each city then advance to a national competition. This strategic decision has been incredibly successful, allowing Make48 to expand its reach to various cities and towns across the Midwest and beyond, empowering even more aspiring innovators in their own communities.

We’d love to hear about how you met your business partner.

The concept for Make48, our signature 48-hour invention competition, was born in 2014. It began with Rich Brull and Curt McMillan, who, while chatting in a brewery, sketched out their vision for an invention competition on a bar napkin. This humble beginning is actually the inspiration behind our iconic paper airplane logo.

In early 2015, Bob Coulston joined as Director, and Tom Gray came on board as co-creator and CEO. These four passionate inventors officially founded Make48, LLC, and produced the very first Make48 event in April 2015 at Union Station in Kansas City, Missouri. The inaugural competition was a resounding success, earning enthusiastic feedback from the inventor teams, sponsors, judges, and organizers alike.

After a few more successful competitions, including a notable event held at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History in Washington, D.C., in June 2016, PBS approached Make48. That partnership marked a pivotal moment, transforming Make48 into the nationally recognized docuseries it is today.

Season 1-5 were aired on PBS. Seasons 6-8 are now playing on This Old House Makers Channel on Roku.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.make48.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gomake48/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GoMake48/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/make48-llc/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/make48

Image Credits

Make48