The second annual competition for the Cade Prize for Innovation has drawn an impressive list of semi-finalists covering everything from a high-tech wound cleanser to better running shoes.
Now the 16 semi-finalists will try to advance to the finals on May 12 when one deserving inventor will earn the $50,000 cash prize that the Cade Museum for Innovation and Invention is awarding.
This year’s semi-finalists include several companies that are creating products from discoveries made at the University of Florida. Also, several companies are returning to the competition after placing well last year.
A respected panel of 10 judges, including many current or former local entrepreneurs, chose the semi-finalists. In the next round, a new panel of judges will choose four finalists, whose names will be announced on April 12. The winner of the prize will be chosen from among the finalists by a separate panel of judges and announced at a presentation on May 12. In addition to the cash prize (made possible by a grant from the Gainesville Community Foundation), the winner will receive one year of free membership and office space at the Gainesville Technology Enterprise Center, sponsored by the Center for Economic Outreach. The three runners-up each will receive $5,000, donated by Gainesville entrepreneurs Richard Allen, Infinite Energy, Bill Petty and Randy Scott.
Semi-Finalists
| Team Leaders | Entry Title | Organization |
|---|---|---|
| Mary Alford, Michael Amish, Ryan Santosh | Post-Disaster Transitional Housing | Barrels of Hope |
| Thierry Dubroca | Explosive Detection System | Delta R Detection |
| Jerome Foster | EmeraldSmarter Solution | Emerald Endeavors |
| Johnny Godowski | Passive Dynamic Exoskeleton | Xobotix, LLC |
| Alex Green | Green Pyrolizer Gasifier | Green Liquids and Gas Technologies |
| Stephen Hsu | Biopolymer Formulations for Topical Delivery | Univ. of Florida College of Medicine |
| Ryan Kern | IdentEvent | Optima Neuroscience, Inc. |
| Ryan Martin, Stephen Miller | PolyEsterAcetals | Sestar Sustainables |
| David Mazyck, Anna Casaus, David Baun | Silica-Titania Composites for Indoor Air Purification | Sol-gel Solutions LLC |
| Stephen Miller | Polyester from Wood | Univ. of Florida Dept. of Chemistry |
| Meredith Rowe | AlzAlert | Univ. of Florida College of Nursing |
| Paul Rucinski | Irrisept | IrriMax Corporation |
| Cyle Sage | On Running Shoe | On Running |
| Swadeshmukul Santra, Bernd Lisenfeld | Cankicide | University of Central Florida |
| William Toreki | NimbuDerm | Quick-Med Technologies |
| Jerry Yachabach | SmartBrief | eTect |
