Startup Journey to a Sustainable Future
The Entrepreneur’s Path to Sustainability Begins on a Board Game
A board game is not just entertainment—it can spark creativity in building sustainable businesses. By simulating the journey from initial ideas to scaling a real enterprise, the SX IDEA LAB at SUSTAINABILITY EXPO 2025 introduced a new hands-on learning experience through Basecamp: The Startup Journey. This workshop immerses participants in the entrepreneurial path—one that is not a smooth road but a mountain climb filled with obstacles and opportunities—leading to milestones or “basecamps” of success along the way.
From Motherhood to a Game that Builds the Future
Kanjana Ordsab, CFP®, Founder & CEO, FinDice Education Co., Ltd., shared that the inspiration for this board game came from her role as a mother who wanted her children to understand financial literacy. She discovered that kids can learn complex concepts like money management through play. After first running a board game café before the Covid-19 crisis, she later joined Chiang Mai University’s Startup Guide program, gaining both funding and mentorship to start her business. Drawing from her own startup experience, she designed a game that blends learning, decision-making, and sustainable financial management. Her belief: “No one is too young or too old to learn about money.”
A Game that Teaches More than Winning
The board game is designed for players aged 14 and above (younger children can play with parental guidance). Players must make strategic decisions to manage human resources and capital, transforming an idea into an innovation. The ultimate goal is to build a business valued at 300 million baht, earning the title of a “Pony.” Along the way, players face real entrepreneurial challenges: networking, prototyping, logistics, legal hurdles, customer acquisition, and risk-taking decisions such as borrowing. The game also adds excitement with special cards related to customers, reliance on luck or blessings, and investor pitching, pushing players to weigh both “profit” and “value creation” at every step.
Basecamp: The Startup Journey is not just a board game that ends when the pieces are packed away. It is a simulation of real entrepreneurial life, where every decision is a lesson and every small step lays the foundation for success. Most importantly, it reflects the idea that sustainability is not just a final destination, it is a journey we must all take together.
