Business Profile: Digital Thinkers Inc., operating as Footloose Games, is a creator of unique online casual games for people of all ages to play together. The games are available on a PC, Mac, online and through mobile devices.

Their Story: Building their own business is the ultimate game.

For Vlado Jokic and Bill Finlay, electronic gaming isn‟t just fun and games – it‟s a creative story-telling medium through which users connect with others and communicate personal experiences.
Vlado and Bill met as students in the Computer Sciences program at the University of Waterloo.

Vlado had previous experience with entrepreneurial ventures and he was interested in the work Bill was doing in 3-D graphics. The pair launched Footloose Games in 2009 shortly after graduation because they see games as the next big form of self-expression, just like books and movies have been for years.

The following year, 2010, was an important year in the development of Footloose Games. The company hired employees, received funding and support through CYBF‟s Spin Master Innovation Fund and moved into the Communitech Hub, an incubator for technology companies in the Kitchener-Waterloo region. The start-up steered its first commercial game to the market in 2011.

According to Vlado, CYBF mentor David Strucke has been instrumental to the success of Footloose Games. “It was because of David‟s help in decision-making and planning that we were able to keep our production within budget and get the staff and skills we needed.”
Vlado and Bill have helpful advice for young entrepreneurs. “Start a business in a field that you already intimately understand,” they advised. “Also, run a business because you want to run a business, not just because you want to make money.”

These young entrepreneurs love what they are doing. “Building your own business is the ultimate game,” they said. “Building a business that creates games is even more fun!”

Short Quote:
“Without a doubt, our financial success is largely attributed to the support we received from CYBF through the Spin Master Innovation Fund. It helped us to grow past our basement operation and was the critical point where our business flourished.”
- Vlado Jokic and Bill Finlay, Footloose Games

Long Quote:
“David, our mentor, has helped us stay on task and focus on the critical elements of the business. It was very easy for us to get sidetracked with unimportant tasks due to our inexperience as business owners. David made sure that we focused our energy on what the business needed the most – a serious financial plan, interested investors and strategic growth.”
- Vlado Jokic and Bill Finlay, Footloose Games

Spin Master Innovation Fund
Through the Spin Master Innovation Fund, CYBF and Spin Master Ltd. support young entrepreneurs who have innovative business ideas. Young entrepreneurs receive up to $50,000 in start-up financing, world-class mentoring, learning workshops, professional networking opportunities and access to an online innovation peer group to help make their business idea a reality. www.cybf.ca/innovation

About CYBF
The Canadian Youth Business Foundation (CYBF) is a national non-profit organization dedicated to growing our nation’s economy one young entrepreneur at a time. We look at character not collateral, when providing youth, age 18-39, with pre-launch coaching, business resources, start-up financing and mentoring, to help them launch and sustain a successful entrepreneurial business. CYBF is a founding member of the global G20 Young Entrepreneurs’ Alliance (G20 YEA). Visit www.cybf.ca.