ORLANDO – Students from seven Florida universities competed for more than $50,000 in cash prizes as part of the Blackstone LaunchPad Florida Network Innovation Challenge, sponsored by the Orlando Magic. The final round of the challenge was held October 18-20 at the Kia Center.
Blackstone LaunchPad, run by the charitable arm of the world’s largest alternative asset manager Blackstone, seeks to close the opportunity gap by equipping primarily first generation and underrepresented college students with key entrepreneurial skills and career exposure.
The competition gives students access into real company operations, helping them build innovation skills and grow their personal and professional networks with peers from across the state. This year, the Orlando Magic presented the challenge to expand the NBA team’s international engagement strategy to new markets. For example, the Magic’s Brazil Night, hosted at a Magic home game, sells out annually and draws major stars from Brazil including football legend Ronaldo and megastar entertainer Claudia Leitte.
More than 500 students and 70 teams competed in qualifying rounds at Florida A&M University, Florida International University, Florida State University, University of Florida, University of North Florida, Miami Dade College and UCF.
“This innovation challenge offers unmatched opportunity and access for students to develop a track record and relationships toward growing their careers in the business of sports,” said Orlando Magic Chief Strategy & Innovation Officer Jay Riola. “Fan engagement – especially now in marketing to international audiences – is a core strategic opportunity for us as it is for all NBA franchises. We have been delighted to offer students from across the Blackstone LaunchPad Florida schools an opportunity to grow with us by offering new ideas and perspectives.”
Senior members of the Magic innovation team and business units worked with the students to refine their concepts and prepare for the final pitch to judges, who included senior executives from the Magic, UKG, as well as former two-time All-America FSU basketball star Morgan Jones and UCF alum Jim Balaschak ’86 ’92 from Beresford Ventures.
“Competition aside, I feel like this event benefited my teammates and myself hugely by giving us a chance to experience where the bar will be set for us in the sports world and any job situation,” said Jermaine Fleming II from FAMU. “This is especially important for me because I am a registered sports agent, and my dream is to ultimately work in the front office of a major sports franchise. On the very first night of this event, we met former Magic star player Bo Outlaw during our Kia Center tour, and after a great conversation, he invited me back for HBCU night. Thanks so much to everyone for this chance!”
Opening night of the final round competition aligned with the preseason matchup between the Philadelphia 76ers and the Magic on Oct. 18, offering students an immersive look at the live product the Magic presents to approximately 774,000 fans annually.
“More than just a conceptual project, this innovation challenge has been designed to be held to the same standard of excellence, analytical rigor and strategic thinking required for a major sports property to consider presenting it to their board of directors to be run as a real pilot program,” said Michael P. Lynch, Ph.D, UCF College of Business faculty member and Florida Blackstone LaunchPad Partnership Director. “Ultimately we are encouraging our students to reach for the stars in the platform to possibly have their ideas implemented by a major sports property. All of the coaching and preparation has been structured in that direction. It would be life-changing for one or more student teams to reach that goal.”
About the Blackstone LaunchPad & the Blackstone Charitable Foundation: Blackstone LaunchPad seeks to close the opportunity gap by equipping primarily first generation and underrepresented college students with key entrepreneurial skills and career exposure. In partnership with 60+ colleges/universities and mission-aligned nonprofits, LaunchPad helps students sharpen their growth mindset, creativity, critical thinking and leadership skills and access hundreds of curated, paid internships to apply these skills, expand their networks, and open doors to a more successful future.
About the Blackstone LaunchPad Team FL partnership: Blackstone LaunchPad has supported University of Central Florida for the past decade, delivering entrepreneurial skill-building programs to help their students launch successful companies and careers. As part of Blackstone’s broader commitment to Florida, Blackstone LaunchPad recently added partnerships with Miami Dade College, Florida International University, Florida State University, Florida A&M University, University of Florida and the University of North Florida to expand its program. Blackstone LaunchPad advances career and economic mobility in Florida by equipping students with skills, resources and opportunities to succeed across campuses serving 370,000 annually.
