News Archive
ExLabs Goes Virtual in 2021
By Jamie Boyle
ST. PETERSBURG (June 1, 2021) -- Exploratory Lab boot camp (Ex Labs) graduated 15 Muma College of Business students from its first entirely virtual experience this May. The students were resourceful as they took the initiative to create their various business plans. Each group is given the objective to create a business plan, identify a problem and solve it using IoT.
The industry and type of project they chose was up to each group. “It was the best class we have had,” said Pat Gehant, managing partner of Ex Labs. This year’s virtual format gave the students more opportunities to “meet” with their mentors and start building those relationships earlier in the process and more frequently than in years past. Gehant said that this mentorship resulted in “the best ideas we’ve ever seen.”
The program began with several weeks of boot camp sessions that prepared students for developing a business plan. These pre-sessions also covered topics including Gallop Strengths-Finders, communication, diversity and inclusion, emotional intelligence, creative confidence and meeting with their mentors.
Of the three groups, the parking solution, U-Park was declared the winner. U-Park is designed to provide a premium parking experience by utilizing data analysis that will result in sustainable solutions. The judges felt that the plan was marketable and impacted the greatest number of people.
The other two groups were Ubiquity, an integrated wallet to manage and streamline the curbside process, and AlphaAuto, which offers vehicle owners an IoT-connected product that enables them to monitor and fix mechanical issues with their vehicles, improving safety, extending vehicle life and saving money.
Among the winning group was junior Junayed “JJ” Jahangir. “The Ex-Labs program,” he said, “helped me develop a unique approach towards generating business solutions. By gaining valuable perspectives from industry professionals, I developed technical skills in IoT, cybersecurity, digital business transformation, agile methodology.”
“The program also strengthened understanding of emotional intelligence, cultural diversity and equity, said Jahangir, who served as a project leader throughout the program. “This unique experience has enhanced my ability to lead, strengthened my data analytics skills and has given me the tools necessary to excel in my professional life.”
Assistant Director of Undergraduate Programs for the Kate Tiedemann School of Business and Finance Jeff Morris feels this internship format gives students a great hands-on experience.
“This is not a traditional internship,” he said. “These students don’t work for Tech Data, they work with Tech Data. “It is a project-based internship that gives them exposure to Tech Data policies and processes to learn from.”
Three students from this year’s class will stay on to intern with Tech Data this summer. In previous years, many of these Tech Data internships have led to full-time employment for USF students.
“You walk away from the program with a career path,” said Gehant. Although only a few are offered internships with Tech Data, the students realize that they have strengths in different fields outside of their major, the program offers an array of new opportunities for them.”
To view the U-Park presentation click here.
To view the Ubiquity presentation click here.
To view the AlphaAuto presentation click here.