FAU Hosts Maverick Innovation Awards

Florida Atlantic University recently presented the Maverick Innovation Awards to celebrate entrepreneurship, new startups and innovation in South Florida.

Florida Atlantic University recently presented the Maverick Innovation Awards to celebrate entrepreneurship, new startups and innovation in South Florida.

The awards ceremony, hosted by FAU's College of Business Florida Atlantic Entrepreneurship Institute, gave out over $20,000 in prizes across four tracks in the Adam's Center for Entrepreneurship's Business Pitch Competition and the Florida Atlantic Wave Program Competition.

"Entrepreneurship is one of the most powerful expressions of the American dream. The concept that anyone with a good idea, hard work and the right support has the opportunity build a business that can improve their life and the lives of others," said Daniel Gropper, Ph.D., dean of the College of Business and Kaye Family professor. "Events like this help make that opportunity real for our students and for this community."

The ceremony, attended by more than 250 guests, also featured remarks from FAU President Adam Hasner and Gropper. eMerge Americas CEO and co-founder Melissa Medina also joined for a beachside chat with Kevin Cox, Ph.D., director of the Entrepreneurship Institute, on the advantages of South Florida's entrepreneurial ecosystem.

"We are honored to host an event that keeps growing in the best possible way," Cox said. "This year's competition brought our greatest number of finalists yet, and that's a reflection of the ingenuity and entrepreneurial energy that exists right here in South Florida. Every venture that comes through this program adds to an ecosystem that is putting this region on the map."

Afferent Marine, a cost-effective fishing innovation reducing shark bycatch in commercial longline operations won in the new Ocean Blue Economy track. It was founded by Stephen Kajirua, Ph.D., professor of Biological Sciences and Kyle Newton, postdoctoral fellow.

The Ocean Blue Economy track was sponsored by the Marine Research Hub in collaboration with the School for Environmental, Coastal and Ocean Sustainability. It focuses on solutions and business ideas connected to ocean, coastal or marine-dependent industries.

Kajiura also won first place in the Innovation Pilot Award Program through the Office of Tech Development for his research on the use of galvanic electric fields to reduce shark bycatch in commercial fisheries, advancing a sustainable solution that protects marine life without disrupting fishing operations.

Q-Beam Technology, founded by students Samkit Bothra, Adi Tal, Adam Brown and Charan Jarguala, won in the student track. A surgical planning platform, Q-Beam leverages quantum annealing for surgical precision in complex brain procedures.

The winner of The Runway at Florida Atlantic Accelerator Track was AZ1.ai. Founded by Hal Casteel and Matias Meirelles van Vliet, it's an AI-powered software that enables companies to build compliance systems faster and at lower cost.

In the Veterans track, Hahcra, founded by Andrene Alexander, won first place. It's a shoe brand blending cultural tradition into its designs in the sneaker space.

Florida Atlantic Wave, a student-focused applied research and entrepreneurial competition, awarded the 2026 winners who demonstrated excellence in their innovation projects targeted at solving societal problems.

The FAU Community Engagement Winner, sponsored by the Office of Government Relations, was Minds over Matter, a program aimed at addressing teen mental health by building student-led high school clubs that create safe spaces for open conversation, promote healthy habits and foster real connection.

The Palm Beach State College Wave Winner, presented by Natacha Nettles, assistant dean of Palm Beach State College, was LimitlessRm. They create low-cost, 3D-printed bionic arms that are fully customizable and interactive.

The grand prize winner for the Dr. Eric H. Shaw Florida Atlantic Wave Excellence in Innovation Award was WalkSoFlo, an AI-powered app designed to create safer walking routes by factoring in crime data, traffic patterns and lighting conditions.

For the full list of runners-up and more information on the ventures, click here.

-FAU-