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August 25, 2025
VASA Pet Named Finalist for 2025 Cade Prize for Inventivity
Read more about Cade Prize here: https://www.cadeprize.org/news
Pump-free, dishwasher-safe waterwheel pet fountain recognized in national innovation competition.
Tampa, Fla. — August 25, 2025. VASA Pet has been named a finalist for the 16th Annual Cade Prize for Inventivity, a national competition honoring breakthrough ideas with strong commercial potential. VASA Pet is recognized for its first and only waterwheel pet fountain, designed to make pet hydration more reliable and hygienic.
The Cade Prize, awarded by the Cade Museum for Creativity and Invention in Gainesville, Fla., received 100 applications from 16 states this year. Fifteen teams were named finalists across five categories: Environmental, Healthcare, Technology, Sports, and Wildcard. Finalists will compete for $10,000 category prizes and the $50,000 grand prize during live judging at the Cade Prize ceremony on Tuesday, October 14, 2025, at the Cade Museum.
VASA Pet’s fountain addresses common pain points with conventional pump-based systems, which often suffer from motor failure and biofilm buildup. By using a precision-engineered waterwheel to circulate water, the fountain eliminates submerged pumps, reduces cleaning complexity, and helps pet parents maintain fresher water with less effort. All water-contact parts are dishwasher-safe, and the system is designed for long-term durability.
“Pet parents want hydration solutions that actually work in daily life. Pump failures and slimy interiors are the reasons many give up on fountains,” said Darren Scott, founder of VASA Pet. “We’re honored that the Cade Prize judges see the potential in our approach, which replaces the pump with a waterwheel and makes weekly cleaning as simple as loading the dishwasher.”
Finalists will showcase their inventions in an expo-style format during the Cade Prize event before presenting to judges and a live audience. Winners of each category, the Grand Prize, and the Student Choice Award will be announced that evening.
Availability: The VASA Pet waterwheel fountain is expected to be fully available in late October 2025 at vasapet.com.
Press kit: please inquire at support@vasapet.com.
About VASA Pet
VASA Pet designs premium hydration products for cats and small pets. Based in Tampa, Florida, the company was founded on 3 principles:
1. Solve Exceptional Pet Problems Focus only on the biggest pain points in pet care—issues that truly matter to cat parents and vet professionals—and solve them in ways others won’t.
2. Keep Solutions Simple Strip away the unnecessary. Every design choice should feel natural, intuitive, and effortless for both pets and their pet parents.
3. Leave Pet Health Better Every product must leave pets healthier, owners more confident, and the standard of care elevated.
Its flagship product, the VASA Pet pump-free waterwheel fountain, is designed for homes and veterinary clinics seeking reliable, hygienic hydration solutions. The VASA Pet waterwheel fountain and its filters are covered by multiple United States Patient and Trademark Office. Learn more at vasapet.com.
Media Contact
Darren Scott
support@vasapet.com
https://vasapet.com
