Intel, Oracle, Autodesk, Kickstarter, and Arduino Executives to Keynote at MakerCon

SEBASTOPOL, CA–(Marketwired – Apr 30, 2014) – The inaugural MakerCon event, produced by MAKE has confirmed a speaker lineup that represents a veritable “who’s who” in the maker movement. During the course of the two-day conference, 10 keynotes, 44 sessions and 4 workshops will be available to the over 500 makers who have registered for the premiere conference. Among the keynote presenters are Carl Bass, CEO and president of Autodesk; Mike Bell, vice president of the new devices group for Intel; Yancey Strickler, CEO of Kickstarter; Massimo Banzi, co-founder and CEO of Arduino; and, Mark Hatch, CEO of TechShop. The first MakerCon, presented by Intel, will be held at the Oracle Conference Center in Redwood City on May 13-14, the week leading up to Maker Faire in the Bay Area, May 17-18 in San Mateo.

“MakerCon is a conference by and for makers. The event acknowledges the disruptive effects, practical insights, and impact the maker movement is having across a broad spectrum, from local and global manufacturing, to design, workforce development, and education, as well as creative culture,” said Dale Dougherty, CEO and founder of Maker Media, and publisher of MAKE magazine. “There is so much going on and we felt the need to create the ‘big tent’ with MakerCon in order to bring makers together to meet and learn from each other.”

MakerCon’s extensive programming explores the impact of making and the maker movement on education, business and community, focusing on three main themes: maker community building, tools of innovation, and the business of making. On day one of the conference, four 3-hour workshops will be hosted by leaders in their respective areas of expertise including Advanced Manufacturing by Bunnie Huang; Making a Maker City by Travis Good; Citizen Exploration by David Lang and David McKinnie; and Prototype to Production by Scott Miller. MAKE and Deloitte the Edge will host a three-hour roundtable to study the impact of making on manufacturing, education, government policy, citizen science and retail.

Themed sessions begin following lunch in a multi-track format giving attendees multiple options based on their specific interests and information needs. The popular Innovation Showcase and reception, featuring 24 early stage startups and new products, as well as prototypes, caps off Tuesday evening. Wednesday’s packed agenda includes over 20 sessions across multiple themes, including panels and hosted conversations.

Top Technology Companies Sponsor the First MakerCon
In addition to Intel who is the presenting sponsor for MakerCon, other sponsors include technology leaders Oracle as host sponsor; Autodesk Fusion 360 as track sponsor; ShopBot and HAXLR8R as supporting sponsors; Engadget as media sponsor; and Marketwired as communications sponsor.

A detailed agenda with session descriptions across the three tracks and a complete list of speakers can be found on the website. Full conference registration with workshop options can also be purchased via EventBrite on the site.

About MAKER MEDIA
Maker Media is a global platform for connecting makers with each other, with products and services, and with our partners. Through media, events and ecommerce, Maker Media serves a growing community of makers who bring a DIY mindset to technology. Whether as hobbyists or professionals, makers are creative, resourceful and curious, developing projects that demonstrate how they can interact with the world around them. The launch of MAKE Magazine in 2005, followed by Maker Faire in 2006, jumpstarted a worldwide Maker Movement, which is transforming innovation, culture and education. Located in Sebastopol, CA, Maker Media is the publisher of MAKE Magazine and the producer of Maker Faire. It also develops “getting started” kits and books that are sold in its Maker Shed store as well as in retail channels.