COS students earn cash awards at MavPitch competition

Monday, Sep 15, 2025 • Greg Pederson :

Two College of Science students at The University of Texas at Arlington earned top awards for turning their scientific discoveries into product concepts in UTA’s annual entrepreneurial competition.

Alisher Talgatov and Broderick Nelson, both doctoral students in chemistry, won cash prizes for their ideas during the two-phase final round of the 2025 Maverick Business Pitch Competition, or MavPitch. The program gives students the chance to develop and present new venture ideas.

Sherri McFarland, professor of chemistry and biochemistry, is faculty mentor for both students and said their projects reflect both creativity and real-world impact.

“I couldn’t be prouder of Alisher and Broderick,” McFarland said. “Winning at MavPitch is no small feat — the competition is designed to be challenging, with multiple rounds and tough judging panels, and only the most innovative and well-developed ideas rise to the top.”

Talgatov received a total of $13,000 for his entry, a device designed to help heal chronic wounds in elderly patients called LumaPatch. He describes the device as a next-generation Band-Aid that speeds up healing and kills bacteria with the help of photodynamic inactivation. It is a light-activated antimicrobial technology designed to treat chronic wounds while also serving as a versatile, deployable solution for preventing and managing infections in field settings.

“When I learned I was a winner of MavPitch, I was honestly overwhelmed with excitement and gratitude,” Talgatov said. “It felt incredible to see all the hard work — from late nights refining the pitch to the hours spent developing the idea — pay off in such a big way. More than the funding, it was the validation from the judges and mentors that really motivated me. It gave me the confidence to believe that our idea has real potential, and it made me even more determined to push it forward.”

Nelson received a total of $3,500 for his entry, a research startup company called Loyalty Technologies which converts agricultural waste into multifunctional carbon materials. The carbon materials can then be used for applications ranging from wastewater treatment to energy storage in batteries, he said. Nelson partnered in the venture with Joseph Wright, a civil engineer from Virginia whom he met during his undergraduate days.

“When I found out I was one of the MavPitch winners, I felt incredibly honored and excited,” Nelson said. “It was validating to see our vision recognized, and it motivates me to keep pushing forward with this work. The competition also gave me confidence that there is strong interest in sustainable materials and their impact across different industries.”

Developing carbon materials from agricultural waste involves converting diverse plant-based residues into materials like graphene, carbon nanotubes, and biochar through methods such as pyrolysis, hydrothermal carbonization, and microwave synthesis. This sustainable approach creates materials suitable for various applications including water treatment, energy storage, catalysis, and soil enhancement.

“Each of their projects shows how our students can transform fundamental research into solutions that matter,” McFarland said. “This highlights the culture we’re building at UTA — where students are encouraged not only to do excellent science, but also to think entrepreneurially, develop product concepts, and communicate their ideas to broad audiences. Alisher and Broderick did an outstanding job, and I think their achievements set a great example for future MavPitch competitors.”

The MavPitch competition begins with a three-minute video pitch, with selected entries advancing to the Phase I Finals, a live “Shark Tank”-style presentation. The strongest projects then move on, and students receive mentoring, coaching, and access to other resources before participating in the Phase II Grand Finale, another live event with a six-minute pitch and Q&A, this year held on August 14.

--

The UTA College of Science, a Carnegie R1 research institution, is preparing the next generation of leaders in science through innovative education and hands-on research and offers programs in Biology, Chemistry & Biochemistry, Data Science, Earth & Environmental Sciences, Health Professions, Mathematics, Physics and Psychology. To support educational and research efforts visit the giving page, or if you're a prospective student interested in beginning your #MaverickScience journey visit our future students page.