The Next Generation of Founders Takes Flight at FAU’s 2026 Business Pitch Competition
The 18th annual Florida Atlantic University Annual Business Pitch Competition 2026 showcased one of the most diverse and innovation-driven cohorts in the event’s history, bringing together student founders, veterans, accelerator startups, and Spanish-language entrepreneurs in a unified celebration of entrepreneurship.
Launched in 2009, the FAU Business Pitch Competition has grown into one of South Florida’s longest-running university-based startup competitions. Far more than a traditional startup competition, the competition continues to serve as a regional launchpad for early-stage ventures across South Florida, connecting founders with mentorship, funding opportunities, and ecosystem partners across academia, industry, and government.
Dr. Kevin Cox, Director of FAU’s Entrepreneurship Institute, shared, “The programs have completely transformed since the early days of the Center and the Competition.”
“Today, we offer a comprehensive new venture accelerator that all 29 finalists from across the four tracks, the most ever, are invited to join. The accelerator originally supported just 3 - 4 companies per year, but is now positioned to serve more than 50 companies at any given time.”
A Diverse Multi-Track Innovation Platform
The 2026 competition was structured across multiple specialized tracks, each designed to highlight a different segment of the entrepreneurial ecosystem:
Student Track | Sponsored by the FAU Adams Center for Entrepreneurship, the Student Track was open to current Florida Atlantic University students and recent graduates (December 2025). Teams were required to maintain good academic standing and include at least one eligible FAU student or recent graduate.
Blue / Ocean Economy Track | Sponsored by the Marine Research Hub in collaboration with the School for Environmental, Coastal & Ocean Sustainability (ECOS), this track highlighted ventures focused on ocean, coastal, marine, and water-dependent industries. It reinforced Florida’s growing leadership in climate resilience and blue economy innovation.
Veteran Track | Sponsored by The Dr. Eric H. Shaw Endowment for the Veterans Entrepreneurial Excellence Awards, this track was open to FAU veterans and participants in the Florida Entrepreneurship Program cohorts. It spotlighted veteran-led ventures addressing real-world operational and security challenges.
The Runway Track | Sponsored by The Runway at Florida Atlantic University, this track featured startups emerging from FAU’s venture development pipeline. Participants were required to complete entrepreneurship training programs such as the Boot Camp and Market Validation Workshop.
FAU Wave Competition Showcase | Sponsored by multiple partners such as FAU Gov’t Affairs Office, Palm Beach State College, and the late Dr. Eric H. Shaw, the Florida Atlantic Wave showcase featured applied research and student-led innovation projects addressing real-world and community challenges. Unlike the competitive pitch tracks, Wave participants presented their work in a poster-style format focused on mentorship, funding access, and experiential learning.
2026 Winners and Final Results
This year’s pitch competition showcased a strong shift toward practical, human-centered innovation, with founders focusing on solving real-world challenges across healthcare, infrastructure, sustainability, and community wellbeing.
Many teams emphasized resilience and accessibility, developing technologies that strengthen storm preparedness, expand mental health support, improve water and air quality, and make assistive devices more affordable.
Student Track
Winner: Q-Beam Technologies - Founded by Samkit Bothra, Adi Tal, Adam Brown, and Charan Jarugula, Q-Beam Technologies uses quantum annealing to rapidly optimize neurosurgical planning with sub-millimeter precision, improving patient outcomes while reducing surgery time and costs.
Runner-Up: AuthAI - Founded by Anik Sahai, ΛuthΛI automates prior authorizations by integrating with existing EHR systems, using federal interoperability standards to streamline clinical data collection and submission without disrupting workflows.
Runner-Up: Stingray Technology Solutions - Founded by Liam Lafferty and Aiden Lafferty, Stingray Technology provides a secure data platform that connects fragmented financial systems without exposing sensitive information, enabling finance teams to work faster, reduce risk, and gain immediate insights.
Blue / Ocean Economy Track
Winner: Afferent Marine - Founded by Stephen Kajiura and Dr. Kyle Newton, Afferent Marine develops a cost-effective fishing solution that reduces shark bycatch while increasing target catch, improving both sustainability and profitability in commercial fishing.
Runner-Up: FungiFlow - Founded by Christian Woehr, FungiFlow creates eco-friendly, mushroom-based air filters that reduce waste and costs while providing sustainable, accessible indoor air purification.
Runner-Up: AquaCrown - Founded by Ryan Watach, AquaCrown is an advanced water filtration system that removes harmful contaminants while preserving essential minerals, improving health and accessibility without the need for added remineralization.
Veteran Track
Winner: HAHCRA - Founded by Andrene Alexander, HAHCRA is a culturally inspired brand that blends tradition and modern artistry in sneaker design, starting with its debut “Afrospice” collection to bring cultural expression and style into footwear.
Runner-Up: Titan Secure - Founded by Dr. Brooke Coslett and Ashley George, Titan Secure is a veteran and woman-owned company developing an advanced anchoring system that strengthens manufactured homes against extreme winds using engineered ground anchors and reinforced strapping to improve storm safety and resilience.
The Runway Track
Winner: AZ1.ai - Founded by Hal Casteel and Matias Meirelles Van Vleit, AZ1.ai’s CODITECT platform uses AI-driven software development with persistent memory and multi-model verification to help regulated industries build compliant systems up to 10x faster, at lower cost, and with improved reliability and speed to market.
Runner-Up: Intelligent BioPharma - Founded by Eric McDavid, Intelligent Biopharma is an AI-powered multi-agent R&D platform that unifies fragmented drug discovery and clinical workflows to accelerate development, reduce costs and risk, and improve efficiency in bringing new therapies to market.
FAU Wave Track
Winner: WalkSoFlo (Excellence In Innovation) - Founded by Vinceline Bertrand, WalkSoFlo is an AI-powered app that improves pedestrian safety by generating optimized walking routes based on crime, traffic, lighting, and real-time hazards, while also using community data and social features to make walking safer and more engaging.Vinceline Bertrand
Winner: LimitlessRM (Palm Beach State College) - Founded by Tom Cruz and Camila Escobar, LimitlessRm provides affordable 3D-printed bionic arms for children that are customizable and interactive, making prosthetics more comfortable, less stigmatizing, and more widely used by boosting confidence and engagement.
Winner: Minds Over Matter (Community Engagement) - Founded by Sarah Roldan and Layla Ashry, Minds Over Matter supports teen mental health by establishing student-led high school clubs that promote safe dialogue, healthy habits, and peer connection while expanding access to mental health resources and support.
When asked what was the inspiration for his project, Anik Sahai, dual-enrolled FAU High School student and Student Track Runner-Up with AuthAI, told South Florida VTC, “I founded this company after watching my father, a physician, stay up late doing work that should never have required his time in the first place.”
He continued, “Coming from a family of 13 surgeons, I grew up seeing how much medicine is slowed down by preventable administrative burdens and I wanted to build something that actually fixes that.”
Collectively, the projects reflect a broader trend toward integrated, scalable solutions that not only advance technology, but also improve quality of life and address pressing regional and global needs.
From Pitch to Scale: The FAU Innovation Pipeline
A key insight behind many of the program’s success stories is that the journey does not end on pitch day. Many of the most successful companies weren’t just pitch winners, they continued into accelerator programs that helped them refine their business models and scale. This pipeline typically follows a progression from the Business Pitch Competition to accelerator programs such as The Runway, followed by access to investors and new growth opportunities. It is this continued support that often transforms a pitch-stage startup into a scalable company.
“It’s been really exciting to see how quickly Q-Beam has progressed, especially winning two FAU competitions and taking first place within just a few months,” shared Charan Jarugula, A.D. Henderson University School & FAU High School dual-enrolled student and part of the first place student track winning team Q-Beam Technologies.
“FAU has been a huge resource for us throughout this process. After each competition, they’ve consistently helped point us toward bigger opportunities and next steps. For example, after winning the FAU Business Pitch, we were connected to the REEF Governor’s Cup the very next weekend, where we ended up placing third. That kind of support has really helped us keep growing and moving forward.”
Entrepreneurship (ENT) programs at FAU, through the College of Business, also play a critical role in strengthening the university’s startup ecosystem. These programs are closely connected to key initiatives such as startup competitions, business incubators, venture accelerators, and commercialization pathways. Students enrolled in ENT coursework are encouraged to move beyond the classroom and participate in hands-on opportunities that build real-world experience.
This journey typically follows a clear progression, from ENT coursework to the Business Pitch Competition, into accelerator programs, followed by investor access and continued growth. It is this structured pipeline that helps transform early ideas into viable businesses and fuels many of the startup success stories emerging from FAU’s entrepreneurship community.
“Probably our most successful FAU alumni and ENT programs alumni is Jan Bednar of ShipMonk, now valued at over $1 billion, who was part of the first class of the accelerator,” said Dr. Cox. “Another great story is recent graduate Andria Beal of Epipaws, who recently closed an investment round with NWA’s new innovation fund.”
Building the Future of Innovation at FAU
The Florida Atlantic University Business Pitch Competition continues to evolve as a cornerstone of South Florida’s innovation ecosystem. By integrating academic research, accelerator pathways, and community-based entrepreneurship, the competition serves as both a showcase and a launchpad for the region’s next generation of startups.
As these ventures move beyond the competition stage, many are expected to continue into accelerator programs such as FAU’s The Runway ecosystem or pursue external investment opportunities. Together, these pathways strengthen South Florida’s position as a rising hub for innovation-driven economic growth.
