Initial Findings Show the Free Venture Valley Video Game is a Risk-Free Way of Helping Students Gain Understandings of Business and Entrepreneurship
PASADENA, Calif., July 1, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Initial results from an ongoing evaluation research study being conducted by professors from Suffolk University and the Lemelson-MIT Program indicate that students who played the award-winning Venture Valley video game reported that the game enhanced their understanding of business strategy, entrepreneurship, and financial literacy. Venture Valley, the free invent education video game, blends the thrill of competition with practical business training as players become their own boss, building their business empires. According to the report, students found Venture Valley to be an engaging educational tool for learning about business and entrepreneurship in a risk-free, gamified environment.
Conducted by Dr. Sepideh Kaffash, Ph.D. Associate Professor, Information Systems and Operations Management at Suffolk University, and Dr. Stephanie Couch, Executive Director of the Lemelson-MIT Program, the ongoing study is evaluating the impact of Venture Valley competitions held as part of Suffolk University's Sawyer Business School's data & decision-making classes. During the first two in-class tournament, students played in teams and winners from each class earned cash prizes.
Key Findings from the Study:
- 85% said the game helped them better understand business and entrepreneurship in a risk-free setting.
- 89% said the game helped them learn about the impact of resources and resource allocation.
- 83% reported increased knowledge of financial decision-making.
- 87% reported collaborating with teammates to make decisions or overcome challenges.
- 76% said playing the game encouraged them to consider a career in business, entrepreneurship, or innovation.
"From an academic standpoint, it was fascinating to see how game-based learning like Venture Valley can meaningfully boost both student engagement and comprehension in business and finance education," said Dr. Kaffash. "The use of simulation games not only captures students' attention but also helps drive stronger learning outcomes by allowing them to actively apply concepts in real-time."
Students described Venture Valley as both challenging and rewarding and recognized its ability to mirror real-world business decision-making in a fast-paced, engaging format:
- One student said, "It's a great simulation for starting a real-life business and provides valuable experience. I had to think on the fly, make tough decisions, and compete with little room for error."
- Another said, "I learned how to think on my feet and make quick decisions to help my business."
Students also commented that they learned valuable lessons, including learning how to allocate resources effectively, understand employee compensation, manage multiple tasks, and adjust pricing strategies based on market demand. The students also developed the soft skills of real-world entrepreneurship, including recognizing the importance of teamwork, communication, and learning from mistakes.
"Seeing Venture Valley used in the classroom at Suffolk and at our larger November 2024 tournament at LMIT's space in Cambridge and BU has really confirmed its value as a meaningful tool for fostering student engagement in innovation and entrepreneurship," said Couch. "The game provides us with a ready-to-use resource that complements our mission of developing young inventors and gives students a hands-on way to think about how they could get their invention out into the world by starting a business."
Venture Valley offers a suite of free classroom-ready resources that have been used in more than 130 school districts, reaching over 900,000 students nationwide. These easy-to-use materials can be incorporated into classroom instruction and summer learning programs/camps. The standards-aligned digital curriculum and video topic series cover financial and business principles such as investments and dividends, fixed and variable expenses, loans, and net versus gross income. Educators have access to classroom lessons, printable and digital How-to-Play guides, video tutorials, and training via videos like an educator-led masterclass and EdWeb webinars. Partnerships with organizations like Jump$tart and Burton D. Morgan Foundation's YIPPEE Exchange platform extend the reach and impact of Venture Valley's entrepreneurial curriculum.
The game has been recognized for its effectiveness and impact, with more than 8 awards, including a 2025 "Best Entrepreneurship Education" Global Award from Money Awareness and Inclusion Awards (MAIAs), 2025 Webby Award for Learning and Education, an Anthem Award, Serious Play Awards, and Tech & Learning Awards. Free-to-play on PC and mobile (iOS and Android), Venture Valley puts students in the role of entrepreneurs growing their startups into thriving enterprises—from pet care businesses to drone factories and dating apps. The game's engaging esports-style multiplayer mode helps teach key concepts in entrepreneurship and financial literacy through hands-on learning.
More information on the Venture Valley game can be found at www.venturevalleygame.com and through our social media channels:
About Venture Valley
Venture Valley is a free (no in-app purchases or ads) PC and mobile (iOS and Android) game. The game is a project of the Singleton Foundation for Financial Literacy and Entrepreneurship, a nonprofit with the mission of making financial competence fun and engaging for everyone by using the power of entertainment to capture attention, create change, promote entrepreneurship, and to inspire individual achievement. https://venturevalleygame.com
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