CHARLOTTE, N.C. (WBTV) – Venture Valley is a video game that teaches people about business and entrepreneurship.
Players have only a short time to make as much profit as possible by creating several businesses. It was created back in 2020, and three years ago, Venture Valley took the game on the road and traveled to college campuses to hold competitions to inspire students to become entrepreneurs.
For the first time, Venture Valley took the competition to a Historically Black College and University (HBCU). Johnson C. Smith University is Charlotte’s only HBCU. About 75 students from high school and college showed up for the competition held on the campus.
Each game lasts 10 minutes. Players compete with others to build businesses and make a profit. Students say the game is addictive and knowledgeable.
Nick Night created the game. He believes what players learn in the game can translate into life skills.
“Venture Valley is giving you a glimpse of what it’s like to be an entrepreneur,” Night said. “All the decisions you have to make. Each of our businesses start with taking out a loan, just like in real life … They’re learning how to make quick decisions and how to make the right decisions when you have competition right across the street.”
Venture Valley surveyed college students, and the results showed 80% of students reported the game effectively enhanced their understanding of owning a business, and 82% of them said the game inspires them to become entrepreneurs.
“When we got the email of $1,000 for first place, we said ‘We got to lock in on this,’” JCSU senior Cameron Curtis said. “Ever since then, we go to the library during our empty period where we don’t have class. We just play that game — practicing.
It is estimated about 87% of the Gen Z population plays games regularly. Students were encouraged to see their peers come out and participate.
“I feel like it’s a really good opportunity,” Curtis said. “I feel like it encourages a lot of people to come out and learn about things that otherwise they wouldn’t have pushed themselves and learned about this. It has attracted a lot of people who probably aren’t interested in business.”
Students were allowed to play the game for five hours. When that time was up, whichever students made the biggest profits received cash prizes. TD Bank provided the cash prizes. The bank also had representatives there if young people wanted to open accounts or needed more information about opening a business.
“We know that these students are our future leaders,” TD Bank’s Amber Tofilon said. “This is the key group we need to be talking to now, to give them the tools and resources they need to have that financial confidence as they head out into the world.”
Five thousand dollars was handed out to students who did a good job.
Austin Luangvitham of JCSU won first place. He won $1,000. Cameron Curtis came in second place. He won $500. Phillip O. Berry student Cory Smith came in third place and walked away with $300, and Suraya Hodges came in fourth place with $250.
Forty other winners who did well playing the game walked away with $50.
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