Aloft Biotechnologies of Alachua won the Grand Prize at the 17th annual Cade Prize for Inventivity on Wednesday, Oct. 14, earning $60,000 in equity-free funding for its bubble-free gas delivery technology used to grow living cells.
According to a Cade Museum release sent Monday, the company also won the Technology category, bringing its total award to $60,000. Fifteen finalist teams from across the country competed for more than $100,000 in prizes during the final judging and awards ceremony at the Cade Museum for Creativity and Invention in Gainesville.
Aloft Biotechnologies developed Float-Layer, a technology designed to deliver gas to growing cells without creating bubbles. The company aims to use the platform to improve the manufacturing of biological products.
“The Cade Museum is close to our hearts, as Aloft’s founders are both University of Florida alumni and Alachua entrepreneurs,” said Shannon Fedenko, CEO and co-founder of Aloft Biotechnologies, in the release. “It’s an honor to be recognized by an institution that celebrates the inventive spirit and legacy of Dr. Robert Cade.”
Fedenko said the company was founded after co-founder Isaac Finger-Baker made a discovery through curiosity and scientific process. The technology has since developed into a platform with potential applications in biological manufacturing.
The winners in the remaining categories each received $10,000 in cash, along with legal, marketing and product development services from sponsors.
The category winners were:
- Environmental: Sealor of Miami for a nature-based limestone-forming technology designed to strengthen and seal vulnerable coastal ground, helping protect seawalls, buildings and other infrastructure while reducing underground water intrusion and flooding.
- Healthcare: AMG Detection of Atlanta for The Joey, a wearable device designed to predict seizures 10 to 45 minutes before they begin.
- Sports: DiveBeacon of DeLand for a face mask that provides scuba divers, firefighters and first responders with 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 help work through tangled hair.
Local college and high school students attending the ceremony selected AMG Detection for the Student Choice Award.
This year’s competition received a record 157 applications from inventors and entrepreneurs in 26 states. Applicants represented a range of organizations, including research universities, 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, in the release. “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.”
The ceremony also recognized Tony Barr, creator of the original Statistical Analysis System, known as SAS, as the 2026 Cade Inventor Laureate.
Now in its 17th year, the Cade Prize has recognized 17 Grand Prize winners and 102 finalist teams, awarding 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.