Maker Faire is the product of incredible effort by a passionate community and a team that works throughout the year. And it would be completely impossible without the help of sponsors. We are grateful to find sponsors who get what this “Maker” thing is all about, and don’t treat the event like a boring old trade show. If you’re heading to the fair this weekend, do yourself a favor and check out the hands-on experiences (and swag) from our biggest supporters.
Arduino
Arduino is on a mission to empower everyone to learn, solve real-world problems and innovate. From fun experiments to high-performance edge AI, they showcase versatile tools like the new Arduino UNO Q and Arduino VENTUNO Q dual-brain boards. Visit their booth to get to know them first hand, and discover interactive projects built by makers from around the world.
Additionally, Arduino co-founder Massimo Banzi will give a talk about a year of building projects with the Arduino UNO Q, including lights, musical instruments, open source doorbells and more. It will be an honest consideration about what the Arduino UNO Q is good at and what it is not. He will show a project made with the new Arduino VENTUNO Q and some community projects that inspired him.
xtool
xTool is a global leader in desktop laser cutting, engraving, printing, welding and empowering people to turn ideas into tangible expressions of creativity. Created to bridge the gap between digital design and physical creation, xTool machines combine advanced hardware with intuitive software to make professional-grade tools accessible to makers of all experience levels. This year at Maker Faire Bay Area, the “X Tool will experience” will not only focus on what are undeniably some of the coolest tools available to both novice and expert makers, but also “moments shaping as a maker, moments building as a maker.” Milestones in the Making was created to celebrate Maker Faire’s 20th and Maker Faire’s 6th anniversary, inviting the maker community to reflect on the brands and the memories that made them who they are. Visitors can engrave a personal memory, milestone or meaningful moment on a tile, then add it to the growing wall. Together, these individual stories become a collective work of art – a celebration of the creativity, curiosity and shared experiences that make the maker movement so special.
On Sunday, September 26 @ 1pm XTool partner and maker educator John Burns will share a special story-driven presentation on the Make: Le Tigre stage about raising his son Micah through the lens of making. From early moments of innovation to confident, self-directed builds, John shares the challenges, breakthroughs and unexpected moments that nurture creativity and resilience in a young maker. Whether you’re a parent, an educator or a maker thinking about the next generation, this talk is a hopeful, honest, practical case study in what’s possible when you give kids the right tools and the right confidence.
Open AI
Ai is on everyone’s mind at the moment. Manufacturers are no different, thought hey tend to approach AI from a different perspective – one that doesn’t make it less powerful, but considers it a tool rather than a takeover. Strategically using AI large language models create opportunities for manufacturers to push their capabilities to new limits and explore new ways of doing things. There are also a number of other companies developing (and leading the development of) open-source AI-IoT hardware and edge AI devices that incorporate large language models at Maker Faire.
At the Maker Faire Bay Area Foundry, Open Ai collaborates with makers and attendees to create a living mural! Scan the QR code on their booth to add something you want to exist and ChatGPT’s Imagegen will visualize your idea and add it to the mural. Chat GPT continuously finds sparks between ideas, identifying shared themes that occur when two or more ideas are combined – as of Sunday morning there were over 200 submissions. Go to Mare Island and add yours! See the tool and process HERE.
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At the HOTO stand, you’ll get hands-on with the latest SNAPBLOQ™ series – a compact desktop tool system built for makers and electronics enthusiasts. Try the tools yourself, make something and take it home. Every visitor can make a small project at our station – to keep you. You’ll also find HOTO’s wider tool lineup on display, including new directions in tool design you haven’t seen before.
Crunch Labs
Discover the fun of hands-on innovation at the CrunchLabs booth, with Build Box, Hack Pack, and the all-new Creative Kit. Test your skills with our Disc Launcher Challenge for a chance to win CrunchLabs Animal Friends collectibles or a Phat Gus plush! [Editors note: CrunchLabs, if you see this, please give an editor a plushie.]
Microchip
Microchip brings back ever-popular experiences with retro arcade games, a BLE-tuned balance bot, a robot claw machine and more. What can you build with CircuitPython, Bluetooth® LE and a little creativity? This mission comes full circle in the presentation of the Microchip team. Last year, Ross Satchell took the Maker Faire stage to talk about the growing role of AI in engineering education. This year he’s back, along with Microchip’s Bob Martin, the “Wizard of Make”, for a look at what’s changed in twelve quick months: Vibe coding as a real workflow for building embedded applications, and a first look at Zephyr®, the open-source RTOS supported by the Linux Foundation® that is quickly becoming a top pick in embedded. They will also introduce PyKit Explorer – an exciting new CircuitPython-based development platform coming soon to Microchip Direct and DigiKey, along with a full library of educational content and ready-to-run workshops built for classrooms and makerspaces.
These companies don’t just build tools, processes and workflows for manufacturers to help them achieve their dream builds or solve challenging manufacturing problems; by supporting Maker Faire, they open doors and opportunities for children and adults. An A-HA moment is precious – thanks to our Anchor and Coalshed partners for helping to create a weekend full of them for thousands of people of all ages.
