The University of South Florida announced a $14 million donation today from Kate Tiedemann and Ellen Cotton. The gift is to be used to create a Fintech “hub of excellence” at USF Muma College of Business.
Tiedemann and Cotton said about the gift:
“It brings us great joy to help USF students build their expertise in Fintech, so they are ready for the fast-changing business world that awaits them. The faculty on the USF St. Petersburg campus, on all USF campuses, possess the talent and experience needed to effectively develop the curricula that will make USF a leader in this space. Fintech spans many disciplines, and we couldn’t be happier to play our part in creating new opportunities for students.”
Moez Limayem, the Lynn Pippenger Dean of the USF Muma College of Business, said that Fintech is one of the fastest growing sectors in the world:
“There is a seemingly endless array of Fintech applications, and this gift will help us educate students on blockchain, cryptocurrency, artificial intelligence, automation and data science that is the backbone of innovation.”
The gift will be used to help hire a world-class faculty, research emerging opportunities as well as review risks and how to mitigate them. As well, the school will embed Fintech modules into core curricula to ensure all USF business students, regardless of major, will be exposed to Fintech.
USF said the gift will “further solidify the Tampa Bay region’s footprint in Fintech.” The community is already home to Raymond James and firms like ARK Invest and Dynasty Financial Partners – both relocated to the area.
In general, Florida has emerged as a burgeoning Fintech-friendly state – and clearly, it is not just Miami – a community that has pursued blockchain firms. Jacksonville is also home to a growing number of Fintechs – along with the Tampa Bay area. A combination of great weather, low taxes, and business-friendly governance have made Florida a top state for relocation from traditional financial services hubs like New York and New Jersey. By investing in the development of the future of finance, Tampa aims to keep this growth opportunity going.