When Mat Franco graduated from URI with a marketing degree in 2010, his big idea was to use his new business skills to promote and advance his career as a magician. You could say he’s done that.

With a unique performance style that blends college humor with shocking magic and interactive presentations, Mat was named 2013’s Best Male Performer by Campus Activities Magazine. That’s no surprise at URI, where he’s been astonishing freshman orientation audiences since he was a student. And he’s formed “Franco Talent” – a specialty talent agency featuring only the best college performers the world has to offer.

So now, Mat’s big idea is to win America’s Got Talent. And the truth is, he’s got a chance.

He had the judges and audience jumping out of their seats when he auditioned in June with a card trick story tailor made for America’s Got Talent. And then he won four yes votes from the judges for his second card trick performance on July 22 during Judgment Week. Now, he moves on to the live rounds at Radio City Music Hall.

Mat says that said without URI, his career never would have developed.

“It wouldn’t have even been a possibility without the business education I received at URI,” he said. “I had to learn the business side of things to maintain my magic habit. When I started, people learned about me through word-of-mouth, and I handed out business cards. But the marketing program at URI was just fantastic, and it gave me a perspective on things and where I could go as an entrepreneur.”

 

See Mat Franco—now in the America’s Got Talent semi-finals—on Livestream at URI!