Florida Investment Conference
February 6th, 2026
Dive into finance. Deliver a stock-pitch and listen to leading financial keynote speakers.
The Florida Investment Conference introduces students interested in finance to leading finance industry officials via a stock pitch competition. Winning teams split $6,000 in cash prizes.
Hosted by the Warrington College of Business’s Gator Student Investment Fund, The Founders Fund and Finance Professional Development Program, the Florida Investment Conference’s purpose is two fold: to expose students to speakers who deliver keynote speeches and competition judges from hedge funds, institutional asset management, private equity, investment banking and alternative investing.
Join the competition
Student teams from across North America are invited to attend and/or participate in the stock pitch competition. The application typically opens in the fall semester.
If you are not ready to submit yet, you may sign up using the interest form instead. Students on the interest list will receive reminders, updates, and all relevant deadlines to ensure they don’t miss the opportunity to apply.
Conference agenda
The conference consists of the following:
- 7:45am – 8:15am: Check-in and breakfast
- 8:15am: Opening remarks
- 8:35am – 9:20am: Fireside chat with Jon Korngold
- 9:30am – 12:00pm: Stock pitch, preliminary round
- 12:30pm – 1:00pm: Lunch and corporate networking
- 1:00pm – 1:45pm: Fireside chat with Scott Friedman
- 2:00pm – 2:45pm: Investor panel
- 3:00pm – 5:00pm: Stock pitch, final round
Featured speakers
Scott Friedman
Cofounder & Partner of Soroban Capital Partners
Jon Korngold
Head of Blackstone Growth
Derik Coffey
Director of Quantitative Analysis at Channing Capital Management
Industry speakers and judges
- Jon Korngold, Head of Blackstone Growth
- Scott Friedman, Co-Founder & Partner, Soroban Capital Partners
- Ian Lane, Managing Director, HarbourVest
- Nick Appelo, Investment Professional at Capco Asset Management
- Mark Baumgartner, CEO and CIO of UFICO
- Derik Coffey, Portfolio Manager at Channing Capital
- Canon Coleman, Former Portfolio Manager at Invesco and UF Adjunct Professor
- Charlie Dudley, Managing Director at Broadcrest Asset Management
- Bobby Griffin, Managing Director at Raymond James
- Michael Harris, Chief Executive at a Single Family Office
- Makayla Ho, Investor at Liontree
- Brandon Ladoff, Founder and Portfolio Manager of Denmark Capital
- Todd Ludgate, Senior Investment Officer at State Board Administration of Florida
- Mason Pullum, Junior Analyst at Broadcrest Asset Management
- Alessia Russo, Investor at Insight Partners
- David Schamus, Senior Portfolio Manager at Millennium
- Grant Stanish, Analyst at Tallwoods Capital
- Lamar Taylor, CIO of State Board Administration of Florida
The stock pitch competition
The conference features a stock pitch competition that prepares students for success in the real-world.
- Teams of two-to-four undergraduates will pitch an equity — long or short.
- Equities must trade on either the NYSE or NASDAQ with a market capitalization over $500mm.
- Pitches should introduce the company, provide a clear thesis on why the company is undervalued and lay out an analysis to support each claim.
- Pitches should emphasize a differentiated view from the market, supported by detailed analysis.
- Applications must include a one-to-two page submission highlighting the proposed investment.
- Applications should be in PDF format, with Times New Roman 12 point font and one-inch margins.
- Submit application by due date.
- Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis.
- Additional scheduling and logistical information will be provided upon admission.
- Selected competitors will present to a panel of judges on the morning of the conference.
- PowerPoint/PDF format, with 15 slides maximum. Appendix allowed.
- Finalists will present in front of all conference attendees for a chance to win $6,000 in prizes.
- Presentations will be 12 minutes, followed by eight minutes of Q&A from judges.
- All teams must have a faculty member sponsor their application.
- Teams selected as finalists must pay a $50 participation fee.
Timeline
- Applications Close — January 4th, 2026
- Finalists Notified — January 7th, 2026
- Finalists Accept & Pay $50 Fee — by January 12th, 2026
- FIC 2026 Conference: February 6th, 2026
UF bracket (Freshmen and Sophomores)
- UF teams not allowed to apply to regular stock pitch competition, but UF freshman & sophomores can apply to a UF-only bracket
- Preliminary round judged by UF seniors — February 4th, 2026
- Final round — February 6th, 2026
- UF finalists are invited to attend the conference reception
Travel information
The conference is held at the Warrington College of Business on the University of Florida campus. Several airports and hotels provide convenient options for participants.
Airports
- Gainesville Regional Airport (GNV)
15-min drive - Jacksonville International Airport (JAX)
1.5-hour drive - Orlando International Airport (MCO)
2-hour drive - Tampa International Airport (TPA)
2-hour drive
Hotels
- AC Hotel Gainesville Downtown
0.1 miles
Book the AC Hotel conference block - Holiday Inn Gainesville
0.2 miles - Hyatt Place Downtown Gainesville
1.1 miles - Sweetwater Branch Inn
1.3 miles
Contact information
For Faculty Inquiries:
- Dr. Maxim Dolinsky — Director of Finance Professional Development
- Annabelle (Groux) Dobson — Assistant Director of Finance Professional Development
For Student Leadership Inquiries:
- Robert Craig — Senior Advisor
- Watson Hewitt — Director
- Makenzie Ho — Director