FAU Grad Making Waves with New Iguana Trapping Company

A Florida Atlantic University graduate from the College of Business is making headlines after launching an iguana trapping business based on his patented iguana trap design.

Pierce Kennamer, class of 2023, came up with the idea for his trapping technology two years ago after noticing how invasive the iguana population was and the lack of sustainable solutions to the problem. The patented IggyTrap can catch up to 25 iguanas at one time and has already grabbed the attention of Florida state government, business owners and residents.

“I realized there had to be a better way to remove them since this is not only an environmental issue, but also an economical one for the state,” Kennamer said. “Due to their rapid reproduction rate, we knew the problem needed a solution that could capture as many as possible in the most efficient manner, while also being scalable to fit different properties and environments.”

Kennamer received his bachelor’s degree in finance with a minor in cybersecurity information technology in the spring of 2023. He credits his time at FAU’s College of Business with helping make his company the success it is today.

“I had a great support system at FAU,” he added. “My finance classes really helped me understand the baseline on what I was going to have to do not only to get the business started, but also to support the growth of my business in the most effective and efficient way.”  

Kennamer’s company has since kicked off, garnering the attention of local TV stations like WPTV and WPBF and outlets in Australia.

“As the dean of his college, I could not be prouder of Pierce,” said Daniel Gropper, Ph.D., dean of FAU’s College of Business. “As a Finance major and SGA president, I thought he might take a job with one of the big firms, like Morgan Stanley or Bank of America. When he said he had an entrepreneurial startup focusing on pest control, I was surprised. He then elaborated that they had a great product for trapping and removing iguanas and had done pilot projects with some parks and golf courses. I just broke into a smile. I always ask our student entrepreneurs what need in the marketplace their company will meet, and there is no doubt that many golf courses, neighborhoods and others will demand his company’s services. I am constantly impressed by the entrepreneurial spirit of our FAU students.”

Kennamer recently met with leadership at the Florida Wildlife Commission to discuss his iguana trapping technology and has plans to expand on his business in the future.

“I’m an innovator, and I’m planning for this to be a large-scale environmental solutions company,” Kennamer said. “We have proven ourselves with the iguana business, and I’m looking to rapidly expand with different ventures.”

-FAU-