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AquaHacking Finale 2026: Which Team Will Emerge as the Champion in Detroit?

October 22, 2026
As the world’s largest freshwater watershed, home to 40 million people and a $9.3 trillion economy, the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence region faces increasing water challenges due to extreme weather, population growth and industrial demand. Enter AquaHacking, an annual competition that serves as a launchpad for innovation by students and early-stage entrepreneurs in the water technology sector.

As the first-ever binational (Canada-US) AquaHacking Challenge, this year’s competition has brought together the brightest young innovators from across the region. More than 300 students and early-stage entrepreneurs have been preparing for this Finale for the past seven months.

Under the guidance of industry experts who offered mentorship, technical, and legal guidance and strategic support, they have worked hard to turn their ambitious ideas into market-ready solutions. And now, on Nov. 5, the top 12 teams will compete in a live, high energy, Shark-Tank-style finale, making their final pitch to the judges.

With a top prize of $25,000 and a total of $50,000 in seed funding up for grabs, this is the largest prize pool in AquaHacking’s 11-year history.

Which cutting-edge water-tech solution will be voted the most innovative and impactful of them all? Find out at this full-day event, also featuring expert panels with leaders from across the water innovation ecosystem. Expect keynotes from Carlos Del Toro (78th Secretary of the US Navy), Frank Ettawageshik (United Tribes of Michigan) and Hilary Doe (MoveDetroit), and much more. The full program is available online now: https://aquaaction.org/en/our-programs/aquahacking-challenge/binational-finale-2026

Participation in the Challenge, not to mention the Finale event, is free of charge, thanks to a strong network of sponsors and partners. This year’s Challenge is presented by AquaAction, and co-hosted by The Great Lakes–St. Lawrence Governors & Premiers and The Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Cities Initiative, and the Finale event is powered by Urban Tech Xchange.

The 12 finalist teams are: AquaHQL, BlueLoop, CelluPure, DMRI-UIC AquaTech Ventures, EchiDNA Environmental, Enactus Windsor (100% Fish), Lake Monitor, OriginEAUX, Limnetic Optical Solutions, WaterSentinel, Portable Autonomous Imaging Cytometer, and WELs. Read more about the finalists here: https://aquaaction.org/en/press-releases/top-teams-advance-in-aquaactions-most-ambitious-freshwater-innovation-challenge . Be sure to vote for your favorite team!

Register for the Finale today: https://us.aquaaction.org/our-programs/aquahacking-challenge/binational-finale-2026