Partnership Cade Prize Competition Welcomes Sports Category with Gatorade Collaboration
Since its founding in 2010, the Cade Prize for Inventivity has been a beacon for innovation and entrepreneurial vision in the United States. Named after Dr. Robert Cade, the celebrated physician, professor, and lead inventor of Gatorade, the prize supports early-stage inventors, scientists, and entrepreneurs who are striving to transform bold ideas into real-world solutions. With more than a decade of history backing inventive talent, the Cade Prize offers equity-free cash awards, resources, and visibility to innovators tackling some of the world’s most pressing challenges.
Now entering its fifteenth year, the Cade Prize is preparing to break new ground with the announcement of an exciting new partnership and a fresh category aimed at revolutionizing the world of sports. For the 2025 competition cycle, the Cade Museum for Creativity and Invention has teamed up with Gatorade, the globally recognized sports hydration brand born from Dr. Cade’s own laboratory, to introduce a brand-new award category: Inventivity in Sports.
A Legacy of Innovation Meets the Future of Athletics
The creation of this new category marks a milestone in the Cade Prize’s evolution. The “Inventivity in Sports” award aims to spotlight the groundbreaking innovations that are reshaping the athletic landscape. Whether it’s cutting-edge training equipment, wearable technology that enhances performance, systems for injury prevention, or digital tools that transform the fan experience, the category is open to a broad spectrum of sports-related breakthroughs.
“Through this competition, we support inventors and entrepreneurs at their earliest stages, when they need it most,” said Brad Gamble, CEO of the Cade Museum for Creativity and Invention. “We’re thrilled to partner with Gatorade to help find and support the next potentially game-changing idea in sports. Dr. Cade’s legacy is rooted in improving athlete performance through science. This new category allows us to celebrate and extend that legacy in a way that will inspire new generations of inventors.”
The decision to introduce a sports-focused category was not only driven by Dr. Cade’s historic contribution to athletics but also by the explosive growth of the global sports industry. As athletic performance becomes increasingly tied to technology and innovation, the Cade Prize aims to be at the forefront of this dynamic intersection.
Open Categories for the 2025 Cade Prize
In addition to the new “Inventivity in Sports” category, the 2025 Cade Prize continues to accept entries in its traditional fields:
- Environmental: Innovations addressing sustainability, climate change, energy efficiency, and natural resource conservation.
- Healthcare: Breakthroughs in medical devices, diagnostics, treatment delivery, mental health tools, and patient care systems.
- Technology: Developments in AI, robotics, data systems, cybersecurity, and software applications.
- Wildcard: A flexible category for inventions that defy categorization or cross multiple sectors, giving room for unconventional or interdisciplinary breakthroughs.
Each submission is reviewed by a panel of judges representing academia, industry, and the investment community. The finalists and eventual winners are selected not only for their ingenuity but also for their potential to impact society, disrupt industries, and solve real-world problems.
Supporting Inventors at the Earliest Stages
Unlike many startup competitions and accelerators that take equity stakes in return for funding, the Cade Prize awards non-dilutive grants—allowing winners to retain full ownership of their ideas and businesses. This equity-free model underscores the Cade Museum’s mission to serve as a catalyst for early innovation by removing financial barriers and offering unrestricted support.
Over the years, the Cade Prize has awarded more than $600,000 in prize money to over 40 startups and inventors, many of whom have gone on to secure further funding, launch successful products, or form thriving companies. Past winners include inventions such as sustainable bioplastics, novel medical devices, clean water technologies, and advanced energy systems.
Key Dates and Application Information
Inventors interested in participating in the 2025 Cade Prize competition should take note of the following key deadlines:
- Awards ceremony: October 1, 2025, at the Cade Museum for Creativity and Invention in Gainesville, Florida
The awards ceremony is a dynamic celebration of creativity and invention, drawing innovators, investors, scientists, and community leaders together for an evening of networking, inspiration, and recognition. Finalists are honored in front of a live audience, and the winners are announced during the ceremony.
Applications can be submitted online via the Cade Prize website. The process includes providing a description of the invention, its potential impact, and any progress made toward commercialization. Both individuals and teams are eligible to apply.
Honoring Dr. Robert Cade’s Enduring Impact
Dr. Robert Cade, for whom the prize is named, was not only a brilliant physician and researcher but also a mentor and role model who believed in the transformative power of science. His invention of Gatorade in 1965, originally designed to help University of Florida football players rehydrate and perform in the sweltering heat, went on to become a billion-dollar global brand and a fixture in athletic performance worldwide.
The Cade Prize seeks to perpetuate that spirit of inventivity—defined as the combination of invention and creativity—and ensure that bright ideas from today’s innovators have the opportunity to become the next world-changing technologies.
Learn More and Get Involved
To explore more about the Cade Prize, including detailed information on eligibility criteria, past winners, and how to attend the 2025 awards ceremony, visit
Whether you’re an inventor, investor, educator, or simply a supporter of innovation, the Cade Prize offers a unique opportunity to witness and support the inventions that could define tomorrow. With the addition of the Inventivity in Sports category, 2025 promises to be a landmark year in the prize’s history—carrying Dr. Cade’s legacy into new arenas of human performance and possibility.
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