Canadians gain entrepreneurial skills with new Venture Zone Game

Aspiring Canadian entrepreneurs can now learn to run their own business with the Venture Zone Game, a new app that teaches business skills in a fun way. The app is now available for free download on the Apple App Store in Canada and is fully accessible for Canadians who are blind or partially sighted.

The Venture Zone Game allows players to create and name their own company, select products to sell based on three price points, and determine their source of funding. Players are responsible for making key business decisions about branding, marketing and production, as well as analyzing sales and other data. The goal of the game is to accumulate cash and score a high brand value by carrying out different activities.

“Many Canadians who have sight loss are highly educated, have a wealth of knowledge and creativity, but are looking for ways to gain more business skills and work experience,” says Kevin Shaw, manager of entrepreneurship and lead of employment for the CNIB Foundation. “The Venture Zone Game provides Canadians with an accessible, fun and risk-free way to gain entrepreneurial experience.”

In 2018, CNIB developed the International Levels of Employment Survey (ILES), a survey of working-age adults living with sight loss that aimed to understand the nature of employment as well as barriers to workforce participation. More than 1,200 Canadians participated in the survey, along with people living with sight loss in Australia and New Zealand.

According to the study, one in every six working-age Canadians who are blind or partially sighted is self-employed, which is double the Canadian national average for self-employment.

"Canadians with sight loss are accustomed to smashing barriers and creating opportunities for themselves," says Mr. Shaw. "The Venture Zone Game aims to bridge the gap between those living with a disability and being able to succeed as an entrepreneur."

The Venture Zone Game is fully accessible and was created especially for aspiring entrepreneurs who have sight loss, but the game can be enjoyed by anyone, including sighted Canadians. The game is currently available in English and will be available in French when version 2.0 is released in 2020.

Created by Totem Learning Ltd. and the CNIB Foundation, the game is named after CNIB’s entrepreneurship program of the same name – which provides Canadians who are blind or partially sighted with the skills, resources and tools to be successful as an entrepreneur.

As May 16th is Global Accessibility Awareness Day – a day that focuses on access and inclusion for people with different disabilities – visit the Canadian Apple App Store to download the free Venture Zone Game.

About CNIB Foundation

CNIB is a non-profit organization driven to change what it is to be blind today. We deliver innovative programs and powerful advocacy that empower people impacted by blindness to live their dreams while tearing down barriers to inclusion. Our work is powered by a network of volunteers, donors and partners from coast to coast to coast. To learn more or get involved, visit cnib.ca.

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BROADCAST COPY:

Aspiring Canadian entrepreneurs can now access the Venture Zone Game, a new gaming app that will help them develop business skills.

The game allows players to create and name their own company, select products to sell based on three price points, and determine their source of funding. Players are responsible for making key business decisions about branding, marketing and production, as well as analyzing sales and other data.

The Venture Zone Game is fully accessible and was created especially for aspiring entrepreneurs who have sight loss, but the game can be enjoyed by anyone who is looking to improve their entrepreneurial skills.

The app is now available for free download on the Apple App Store in Canada.

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