As more teens pick self-employment over summer jobs, they’re looking for ways to sharpen their skills – and from an increasingly early age. Mobile game Start-Up Dash aims to teach the basics of entrepreneurship to Gen Zers already thinking about getting ahead in their careers. We explore the insights behind the app and look at the ways Gen Z are teaching themselves new life skills.
Over three-quarters of 14- to 21-year-olds are already earning their own money in the US, and Start-Up Dash seizes the opportunity to teach them business skills in a fun format. The game sees players help two characters collect as many good ideas as possible to make their start-up successful. It demands speed and understanding of when it's time to accelerate their business, shoot sales targets, or sell the company. The app aims to prepare aspiring entrepreneurs, teaching them key concepts and developing the required mindset and skills.
With some kids getting smartphones from as young as age ten, Gen Zers are accustomed to teaching themselves new skills online. Apps like Start-Up Dash and Kahoot combine entertainment with education to gamify learning, appealing to the cohort’s playful engagement with technology – and the fact that many are bored at school.
With more people open to the idea that digital learning can be just as effective as what’s taught in a classroom, the worldwide e-learning market projected to surpass $243 billion in 2022. And as the usefulness of traditional education is being called into question, brands like WeWork are stepping in to teach entrepreneurship alongside maths and biology.
Lucia Seoane-Pampin is a behavioural analyst at Canvas8, which specialises in behavioural insights and consumer research. Born and raised in Spain, she loves experiencing different cultures. She studied psychology and communications in Boston and has a master’s in digital & visual media.
