Scots Head to NFTE Innovate South Florida Regional Competition in Miami

Students in Ms. Cristen Magaletti’s Honors Finance and Investments course recently took part in the 8th Annual NFTE Innovate South Florida Business Plan Competition, presenting original business ideas and financial models to a panel of industry professionals.

The competition began with the semifinal round on Friday, February 27, in the Cohen Auditorium, where 54 students across 14 teams pitched their ventures after weeks of research, financial planning, and preparation. Each team developed a business concept, prepared financial projections, and delivered a formal pitch to demonstrate the strength and viability of their idea.

The semifinal round was judged by Colin MacKay, Daniel Munson, and Mitchell Sinberg, who evaluated the teams on their business strategy, market opportunity, financial reasoning, and presentation effectiveness. After deliberation, four teams advanced to the final round of the competition.

The finalists included:

• Align 360 – Genoveva Galindo ’28, Georgia Friedman ’28
• Cap Co – Nate Damashek ’27, Cole Heirigs ’27, Brady Ross ’27, Lucciano Simons ’27
• Soft Landing – Leyla Warren ’27, Tessa Batlle ’27, Haley Fox ’27, Sophia Sorkin ’27
• Veil – Angie Anderson ’26, Camila Bartra ’27, Nana Wang ’27

The final round took place on Wednesday, March 4, in the Cohen Auditorium, where the finalists presented their refined presentations and answered questions from a panel of judges that included Will Bordelon, Ignacio Macías, and Colin MacKay. 

Judges challenged students to think critically about their financial assumptions, competitive advantages, marketing strategies, liability structures, and the overall feasibility of their ventures. The discussion pushed students to defend their ideas, explain their strategic decisions, and consider how their businesses could operate and scale, creating a dynamic exchange between students and experienced professionals.

Preparing for the competition required students to move through the full entrepreneurial process, from identifying a problem and developing an idea to conducting research, building financial models, and delivering a compelling pitch. The experience provides students with the opportunity to apply business concepts in a real-world setting while strengthening skills in collaboration, communication, and strategic thinking. 

Reflecting on the event, Ms. Magaletti shared, “I am incredibly proud of the way students grow through this experience. It is exciting to watch their ideas evolve from an early concept into a polished and professional pitch. Along the way, they develop an entrepreneurial mindset, learn to refine their thinking through feedback, and use creativity to amplify their message. Seeing them become so engaged and confident while presenting their ideas to experts from our community is one of the most rewarding parts of this program.”

Angie Anderson ’26 also shared her experience, stating, “The competition was one of the most exciting experiences I’ve had at Saint Andrew’s School. It was so much fun to work with my team to develop our idea and bring it to life on stage. Hearing real-world feedback from the judges is something I will carry with me into my future career, and the experience strengthened my confidence and public speaking skills in ways I will not forget.”

Congratulations to the students behind Veil who will go on to represent Saint Andrew’s School at the NFTE Innovate South Florida Regional Competition on April 14, where they will compete against other private schools from Palm Beach, Broward, and Miami-Dade counties.