Bring
back
recess
Building an experience around adult play and connection
Hopscotch brings classic playground games into adult life. As cofounder, I helped develop the concept, test it through two activations, and pitch the business. We placed second in the HMC INC pitch competition, securing $3,000.
- Role
- Cofounder
- Activations
- 2
- Attendees
- 50
- HMC INC pitch
- 2nd · $3,000
The opportunity
We started with a simple observation: adults want opportunities to connect, but meeting people can feel like another task. Recess offered a familiar starting point—games people already knew, a reason to participate, and something to do together.
Our concept combined playground games, music, and refreshments to make spending time with other people feel easy and playful.
Promotional flyers I designed for the event.
Starting small
Our first activation was a lemonade stand with games, designed to introduce Hopscotch and promote a larger event. It gave people a way to experience the idea rather than just hear a pitch.
For the next event, we added a DJ, lemonade, and recess games, drawing 50 attendees.
Giving play more structure
Between the first activation and the larger event, we introduced more structure to the experience. We found that this helped sustain participation and keep people engaged.
“Creating a playful atmosphere also requires planning how people join in and what keeps them involved.”
Exploring the business
We developed a proposed corporate offering, ranging from pop-up recess events to team recharge days and retreats. The idea was to offer companies a more playful approach to team building.
We presented the business in the HMC INC pitch competition, placing second and securing $3,000. We did not pursue corporate customer interviews or pilots, so that direction remained untested.
What we demonstrated
Hopscotch moved from an idea to a live experience attended by 50 people. The response was enthusiastic, and the second event gave us practical experience translating a concept into something people could participate in.
The project taught me to distinguish enthusiasm for an idea from evidence of a business—and to use small, real-world experiments to understand an experience before expanding it.
My role · Cofounder
I developed the “bringing back recess” concept, designed the promotional flyers, created merchandise designs, and built most of the pitch deck. Working with my cofounder, I helped turn the idea into two live activations and a business proposal that placed second in the HMC INC pitch competition, securing $3,000.