About the Team
What’s a game without a team? Pops & Bejou Games is a board game company created by four gamers with a passion for bringing individuals together. The group consists of Jake Sells, the Chief Marketing Officer; Jenna Radtke, the Chief Operating Officer; Danny Kvale, Art Director; and Austin Foss, the Chief Executive Officer. The four met in college; Jake, Austin, and Jenna all attended North Dakota State University (NDSU), while Danny attended school right across the river at Minnesota State University Moorhead (MSUM).
Like most, the creators of Pops & Bejou recognized the utilization of technologies and differing screen time activities, which struck a want to engage people through in-person interaction. Pops & Bejou Games recognized the hunger that the community had to return to in-person interactions during the pandemic.
“At Pops & Bejou Games, we believe board games bring people closer together. A great alternative to online communication, board games give us time to speak with one another in person. They allow us to be in a low-stakes competitive environment, and they are fun entertainment. Our team loves board games, and our goal is to share that love with others.”
About Pops & Bejou Games
Pops & Bejou Games celebrates all their wins, big or small, as a team. “Each new step in the process brings new excitement, from seeing our characters come to life through Danny’s amazing artwork, to hearing avid board gamers compliment our game mechanics, to seeing the official prototype from our manufacturer,” states Jenna. “We continue to celebrate these small successes and continue to be amazed at how far we’ve come.”
Their successful Kickstarter campaign raised $52,000, with an initial goal of only $15,000. Like any business, the highs come with the lows. Pops & Bejou have worked to overcome the challenge of finding the necessary resources to build their company. Whether financial, physical, or human, they have worked hard to overcome obstacles. From getting their game to enough playtesters during a global pandemic to raising money for manufacturing costs and even cutting back game components due to the rising cost of manufacturing materials, they have continued to push onward in their entrepreneurial journey and will continue to do so.
