Gulf Coast MakerCon 2015 is more than twice as big as our 2014 event, featuring more than 75 Maker groups representing a wide diversity of interests, skills, hobbies, trades and professions ranging from textile and other heritage crafters, to amateur radio, inventors and 3D printing enthusiasts.
Sponsored by USF Connect, the Florida High Tech Corridor, the National Academy of 
Inventors and TECO Energy, with a grant from Hillsborough County Economic Development Innovation Initiative (EDI2), our event brings together the creative, entrepreneurial and inventive energy of over 300 technologists, artists, crafters, mechanical and electrical wizards, costumers and prop makers, roboticists, musical artists, inventors, gamers, coders, and more.
Tampa Hackerspace creation
Over a dozen area makerspaces from across four counties will be showcasing their programs, tools and services, along with member creations. A half dozen schools will be anchoring our Young Makers area, with great Maker Education exhibits and hands on fun and learning.
The Tampa Bay Inventors Council Inventors Showcase will feature over a dozen local inventors, many with their products for sale. Gamers on the Edge is heading up the ComicCon & Gaming area and SPC’s Orthotics and Prosthetics department will be partnering with e-Nable to demonstrate 3D prosthetics printing.
Special events at Gulf Coast MakerCon include:
- Deconstruction Zone, hosted by Scrap on Spot e-waste recycling
- Electrathon race, by Electrathon of Tampa Bay, with over a dozen racing teams from around the state
- Southeast Combot Championship competition, hosted by the University of South Florida Robotics Interest Group (RIG) featuring 25 fighting robots (so far!)
- Workshops on starting a makerspace, raising investment capital for inventors, injection molding process, rapid prototyping, patent process, renewable energy, and more
Plus FIRST robotics scrimmages, project demos, instrument petting zoo, live chemistry show, tabletop, arcade and video gaming, ComicCon, live entertainment and loads to see, do, try and learn about as we celebrate the DIY Inventive Spirit!
Gulf Coast MakerCon is produced by the Eureka Factory in partnership with Mity Mo Creative, the Innovation Lab at Seminole Community Library at St. Petersburg College, the Tampa Bay Inventors Council, Scrap on Spot, F5 Live: Refreshing Technologies, and Real Life, Inc. . Gulf Coast MakerCon 2015 is a USA Science & Engineering Festival Satellite Event, and a National Robotics Week event.
You can see our full list of exhibitors on our Makers Page, and our event program and exhibitor map will be online soon. Advanced online ticket sales, at $2 off gate prices, run through April 17.
Come Make Your Day with us!
