TAMPA — Jackson Poynor, a computer science major at USF, is turning a passion for game development into a business venture. After winning the Startup Team Challenge this fall, he’s now preparing to pitch his own business idea at the upcoming Daveler Pitch Competition.
“For the last two years I’ve been wanting to start my own game development business,” Poynor said. “Because of this, I took on a minor in entrepreneurship.”
Poynor and his teammates react after learning they won the Startup Team Challenge.
Poynor discovered the Nault Center for Entrepreneurship’s mentorship and competitions through his Principles of Business class. From there, he applied to as many programs as he could — and quickly found his place.
“The Startup Team Challenge helped me grow a lot as a student founder,” he said. “Preparing for it taught me how to solve complex problems quickly by breaking down the possible outcomes and working through them with a team. The competition really pushed me to adapt at a fast pace and got me out of my comfort zone when it came to pitching.”
Preparing for Competition
Poynor’s next stop is the Daveler Pitch Competition, where he’ll present his plan solo before a panel of judges. While that might sound intimidating to some, he says the key to success isn’t perfection — it’s preparation.
“The first thing I do is try to get as much information about the competition as possible, finding out everything I can about the rules and the structure of the event,” Poynor said.
From there, his approach is simple. He practices his timing and makes sure to show up early and well-rested.
“I always find that helps clear my mind and makes sure I don’t forget anything,” he said.
Frank Nunez
At the Nault Center, students are encouraged to see competitions as learning experiences, not high-pressure performances. Frank Nunez, program planner at the Nault Center, reminds students that confidence grows through small steps.
“You don’t need to have a perfect pitch to participate,” he advises. “The goal is to learn how to tell your story and get feedback from experts.”
Some additional tips from the Nault Center team include:
- Start with a rough draft of your idea and refine it gradually
- Ask mentors or peers to listen and give kind, constructive feedback
- Focus more on what excites you about the idea than on “selling” it
“Most students are surprised by how supportive these competitions actually are,” Nunez said. “You’re not being grilled — you’re being guided.”
Learning to Lead and Listen
Outside the classroom, Poynor leads as president of USF’s Association for Computing Machinery, a student organization that promotes collaboration through coding and tech projects.
“My role as president of USF ACM has given me a lot of warranted and unwarranted confidence when it comes to building my startup,” he said jokingly. “The best thing ACM has taught me is the power of working with people.”
That shift — from solo work to building teams — is at the core of Poynor’s entrepreneurial growth.
“Overall, this inspired me to go from working on games independently to actively building a team that can take on larger projects together,” he said.
Overcoming Obstacles
Like most entrepreneurs, Poynor has faced challenges. One of the biggest? Reshaping his perspective when things don’t go as planned.
“I’ve heard a million times that failing is a part of growing. But failing in entrepreneurship is different,” he said. “I find that I may fail two, three, four times before I ever find a solution to a problem.”
At first, the setbacks made him question his path, but they ultimately pushed him to grow.
“As long as you stay resilient, there’s always a way out of any situation. The solution just may not be immediate,” he said
He credits his mentors at the Nault Center for helping him develop that mindset.
“The most valuable lesson I’ve learned is the importance of asking questions more than making comments,” Poynor said.
Advice for Fellow Bulls
For USF students with ideas but lingering nerves, Poynor offers this advice: Don’t let overwhelmingness stop you from starting.
“Working in tech, it can be really hard to know how to turn your project into a business,” he said. “The internet will give you an ocean of advice. If you can find a way to give yourself a strict deadline, then it becomes much easier to look past the abundance of information and focus on starting and getting to the end.”
Looking ahead, Poynor hopes to grow his business into a studio that blends creativity with impact.
“Once I’ve graduated, my experience at USF will have provided me with a huge skill set and network of people to fall back on,” he said. “I’m hoping to use what I’ve learned to build teams that are highly motivated, productive and ready to make a positive impact on the video game industry.”
Learn more about the current initiatives available at the Nault Center. The next competition in the fall 2025 semester is the Daveler Pitch Competition. The deadline to apply is Nov. 1.