NeoTrek Footwear Wins Prestigious Innovation Prize from USC Office of Research and Innovation
NeoTrek Footwear recognized for groundbreaking advancements in adaptive footwear technology, enhancing mobility for partial-foot amputees and individuals with unique foot anatomies.
IRVINE, CA — NeoTrek Footwear is proud to announce that it has been awarded the Innovation Prize from the University of Southern California’s (USC) Office of Research and Innovation (OORI). This recognition is part of the Student Empowerment Award program, a new initiative designed to support USC student-led startups and use-inspired research aimed at delivering social and economic impact.
The Innovation Prize is a competitive accolade focused on groundbreaking research that advances fundamental understanding while offering practical, real-world applications. NeoTrek Footwear was selected for its pioneering work in enhancing mobility for partial-foot amputees and individuals with foot differences. By combining cutting-edge three-dimensional (3D) computational modeling with innovative manufacturing methods, NeoTrek aims to provide custom-fit, adaptive footwear that addresses a significant gap in the market.
The Student Empowerment Award, conceptualized by Margo Apostolos, President of USC’s Academic Senate, aims to foster an environment where innovative research and early-stage entrepreneurship can thrive. The program encourages interdisciplinary collaboration among student researchers, faculty mentors, and postdoctoral researchers, setting the stage for impactful projects. This cycle of awards recognized nine teams across USC, with recipients spanning the Iovine and Young Academy (IYA), Viterbi School of Engineering, Marshall School of Business, Sol Price School of Public Policy, and Keck School of Medicine.
"Winning the Innovation Prize is a tremendous honor for our team," said Joseph Sherbanee, Founder of NeoTrek Footwear and a graduate student at USC’s Iovine and Young Academy. "This recognition validates our mission to improve the lives of individuals with unique foot anatomies. It enables us to push forward with our research, harnessing 3D computational modeling to create footwear that is truly tailored to each user’s needs. We’re excited to take this technology to the next level."
NeoTrek’s award-winning approach focuses on a proprietary manufacturing process that integrates precise 3D scanning with AI-driven modeling to produce custom-fit footwear. The technology is designed to address the lack of adaptive footwear options for partial-foot amputees, a community that faces significant challenges in finding comfortable, supportive footwear. By using advanced manufacturing techniques, NeoTrek is working to deliver shoes that match each user’s unique foot shape, providing enhanced comfort, mobility, and quality of life.
The project is being led by faculty mentor Grant Delgatty, a professor at USC’s Iovine and Young Academy, along with an interdisciplinary team of graduate students. Team members include Sarah Hope Smith, Jacob Patapoff, Connor Fitzgerald, and Lee Ann Daly, who have contributed their expertise to propel the innovation forward.
The Student Empowerment Award program, including the Innovation Prize, is part of USC’s broader commitment to fostering a dynamic research environment that supports student creativity and the translation of ideas into real-world solutions. OORI’s initiative has been uniquely positioned to support USC students, offering internal funding opportunities that are unmatched among peer institutions.
By winning the Innovation Prize, NeoTrek Footwear is poised to accelerate the development of its custom-fit footwear, working toward a Phase I pilot study to further refine and test the efficacy of its 3D scanning and AI modeling process. This is a key step in NeoTrek’s journey to revolutionize the footwear industry and bring about a future where custom-fit, adaptive footwear is accessible to all.
For more information about NeoTrek Footwear and its groundbreaking work, please visit https://www.neotrekfootwear.com.
About NeoTrek Footwear
Founded in early 2024, NeoTrek Footwear is dedicated to creating adaptive footwear solutions for partial-foot amputees and individuals with unique foot anatomies. Combining advanced 3D scanning, AI-driven modeling, and innovative manufacturing methods, NeoTrek is redefining custom-fit footwear to enhance mobility and comfort for those in need. NeoTrek is proud to be a finalist in the 2024 USC Iovine and Young Academy Venture Showcase and a recipient of the Innovation Prize from the USC Office of Research and Innovation.
For media inquiries, please contact Pamalyn Beeler at press@neotrekfootwear.com or (855) NEO-TREK (636-8735).