The five-day Makerthon held at C4DLab brought together student innovators in an intensive, collaborative environment designed to transform ideas into practical, market-ready solutions. Over the course of the program, teams worked through ideation, prototyping, business model development, and pitching, with continuous mentorship, technical support, and structured feedback from experts and facilitators.
The final three days marked a critical phase in the innovation journey. On Day Three, teams presented their progress and received feedback before returning to focused work sessions in research and development, business thinking, and team collaboration. A key highlight of the day was an insightful session by Prof. Mibei on the journey from teaching and research to innovation and commercialization, which gave participants a practical perspective on turning ideas into viable ventures.
Day Four built on this momentum with Prototype II presentations, business model reviews, and speed presentations facilitated by Deborah Bartlett. The day also included a storytelling and pitching session, preparing teams to communicate their solutions more confidently and effectively. Participants further benefited from a reflective session on transforming research and design into products for the market, as well as sessions from industry experts.
Day Five culminated in final design preparation, pitching, judging, and results. Teams showcased their solutions to the judges, followed by feedback, awards, and a closing ceremony led by the AFRETEC Coordinator. The day ended with a shared lunch and later a dinner that provided a relaxed space for networking and reflection.
Overall, the Makerthon at C4DLab was a success, creating a vibrant platform for student innovators to learn, build, present, and connect. The experience not only strengthened technical and entrepreneurial skills but also reinforced the importance of collaboration, creativity, and practical problem-solving in developing innovations with real-world impact.