7 Questions with Chi Nwogu

As CEO of GameFlo, Chi Nwogu is making an impact in education and business, while giving back to student entrepreneurs in the UNC-Chapel Hill community. GameFlo is an education technology company that harnesses the popularity of sports and games to teach data analytics to students and bring data to life. The company’s basketball card game called PickUp brings to mind other games like Pokemon or Dominion, but introduces and reinforces math concepts like probability. An MBA alumnus of the UNC Kenan-Flagler Business School, Nwogu also works as an entrepreneur-in-residence at the UNC Entrepreneurship Center and regularly hosts one-on-one “Chats with Chi” sessions where he provides advice and mentorship to the next generation of aspiring entrepreneurs.

Our Innovate Carolina team wanted to know more about Chi’s work to gamify data analytics education at GamFlo and his perspectives on entrepreneurial coaching. You can also check out the GameFlo’s current Kickstarter campaign for PickUp and learn more about this new educational basketball game experience.

1. What is GameFlo? What is it trying to accomplish?

Gameflo is an independent gaming company building communities by empowering people on their own terms and to their own abilities. We design games, from physical card games to digital experiences, as a way of building communities and culturally-relevant skill development. 

2. When you decided to launch GameFlo as a Carolina MBA student, what resources did you find helpful at UNC to help you on your entrepreneurial path? 

I came to Kenan-Flagler Business School in 2016 knowing that I was going to start a venture. My goal was to learn how to build a venture that had social impact while still being for-profit. The most beneficial resource along this journey was the UNC alumni base. The idea for Gameflo came from conversations with a coach I was assigned in the Adam’s Apprenticeship Program (Phaedra Boinodiris), and my day-one company advisory board was composed of all UNC alum whom I met during my first year in business school. The mentorship I received during those early days up until today has been invaluable.

3. Why is it important for students to have access to the programs that GameFlo provides, especially now that many are doing school work virtually? 

I strongly believe that there is genius in all of us. The key is allowing that genius to flow through the things that really excite and bring us joy. Students today (and many adults) love games, and this is a trend that is only going to continue as technology advances. Rather than looking at this as a negative (people are wasting time playing games), I see this as an opportunity to let students do what they enjoy, while making sure that gaming experience provides value by helping them build on important skills needed in the creator economy.

4. What type of impact is GameFlo having – and where do you see yourself and GameFlo in the next year?

We’ve been doing a lot of customer discovery work through schools and K-12 STEM programs. Simply seeing the population of young people we’ve worked with leave a session saying “that was fun, this doesn’t feel like school” is enough validation to let us know we should keep pushing forward. With school being shifted to a remote learning model, we’ve been able to create a digital community for students who love video games to interact and form friendships.

5. Tell us about the Chats with Chi sessions you hold with students through the Entrepreneurship Center.  

First impressions are important, and it’s been great being the entry point for students to be connected to the Eship Center and other resources across campus. I meet with any student (undergrads, graduate and doctoral) to help them navigate going from their current state to their intended state. That often involves creating an action plan with the student, connecting the student to resources on campus, and making introductions to alumni and community members who can serve as mentors. I come into every Chats with Chi session with a smile and happily share the lessons I’ve learned from my journey as an entrepreneur. 

6. As a successful entrepreneur, why is it important to give back as a mentor?  

I would not be here without the mentors in my life. The impact that mentorship has had on me is too great for me not to reciprocate. I firmly believe that to whom much is given, much is expected. I’m privileged to be in the position I am in, and I want to use to privilege to impact the lives of others so that they can do the same for others. I also get joy from helping others, so my mentorship is also self-serving. The amount of talent that UNC students have is mind blowing, and I learn so much from them while serving as mentor.

7. What’s the best piece of advice you received as a student entrepreneur that you pass on to current students?  

Ideas are great to have, but having a customer is more important. The better you know your customer and their needs, the better you can create a product or service that will provide value.