.png)
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Aloft Biotechnologies of Alachua, Florida, won the Grand Prize at the 17th annual Cade Prize for Inventivity on Wednesday for Float-Layer, a bubble-free gas delivery technology for growing living cells.
Aloft also won the Technology category, bringing its total award to $60,000 in equity-free cash. Fifteen finalist teams from across the country competed for more than $100,000 in prizes during the final round of judging and awards ceremony at the Cade Museum for Creativity and Invention in Gainesville.
"The Cade Museum is close to our hearts, as Aloft's founders are both University of Florida alumni and Alachua entrepreneurs. It's an honor to be recognized by an institution that celebrates the inventive spirit and legacy of Dr. Robert Cade,” said Shannon Fedenko, CEO and Co-founder of Aloft Biotechnologies. “Aloft was founded on inventivity when my co-founder, Isaac Finger-Baker, made a discovery driven by curiosity and scientific process. That innovation has grown into a platform technology that can transform how we manufacture biological products. Our mission now is to turn that potential into real-world impact.”
Winners in the remaining categories each received $10,000 in cash plus legal, marketing and product development services from sponsors. The category winners are:
Environmental: Sealor of Miami, Florida, for a subsurface, nature-based limestone-forming technology that strengthens and seals vulnerable coastal ground, helping seawall owners, buildings, coastal infrastructure and low-lying communities manage underground water and reduce flooding.
Healthcare: AMG Detection of Atlanta, Georgia, for The Joey, a wearable seizure predictor that provides 10 to 45 minutes of warning before a seizure begins.
Sports: DiveBeacon of DeLand, Florida, for a face mask that gives scuba divers, firefighters and first responders hands-free, real-time directional guidance and an automatic emergency location system.
Wildcard: MisTee Wants To Know of San Jose, California, for MisTeePRO, a handheld hair detangling tool that releases an oily steam to quickly work through knotted, tangled hair.
Local college and high school students in attendance selected AMG Detection for the Student Choice Award.
This year's competition drew a record 157 applications from inventors and entrepreneurs in 26 states, with affiliations ranging from research universities to private companies and technology transfer offices.
“Every year, I'm inspired by the creativity, courage, and determination of the inventors competing for the Cade Prize,” said Brad Gamble, CEO of the Cade Museum. “This year's finalists remind us why it's so important to inspire the next generation to think like inventors, ask questions, and tackle problems head on. That's the spirit of Inventivity, and we saw it on full display last night."
The evening also honored Tony Barr, creator of the original Statistical Analysis System, or SAS, as the 2026 Cade Inventor Laureate.
Now in its 17th year, the Cade Prize has named 17 Grand Prize winners and 102 finalist teams and has awarded more than $1 million in equity-free funding to early-stage inventors and entrepreneurs.
The 17th annual Cade Prize for Inventivity was sponsored by The Community Foundation of North Central Florida, Scott R. MacKenzie, Florida High Tech Corridor, Gatorade, Cyle Sage, Lee & Associates, OneSixOne Ventures, Saliwanchik, Lloyd & Eisenschenk, NVision Strategies and Hyatt Place Downtown.
About the Cade Prize for Inventivity
The Cade Prize for Inventivity, named for Dr. Robert Cade, lead inventor of Gatorade, celebrates inventors and entrepreneurs who demonstrate a creative approach to solving problems in their field through an innovative invention. Learn more at cadeprize.org.
Media Contact
Julie DeCarmine
jdecarmine@cademuseum.org
###
