Forward Vision Games: Paving the Way for Canada’s Economic Future

A recent study by The Canadian Bank of Commerce has revealed a pressing need for improved financial literacy among Canadians, with nearly 60% of respondents wishing they had a stronger understanding of personal finance. A survey by Angus Reid for Tangerine Bank corroborated this sentiment, showing that only 3% of Canadians could accurately explain six common banking acronyms. Inspired by these statistics and her personal experiences, Meaghan Daly, the CEO and Founder of Forward Vision Games, is striving to transform financial education through simulation-based gaming.

Daly’s mission revolves around creating experiential games that impart essential financial skills in blended learning environments. Players engage with pretend money, virtual bank accounts, and credit cards, allowing them to make financial decisions and observe their consequences over time. Daly emphasizes that experiential learning is critical, stating, "Most people learn skills through experience. In life, it’s one of our best teachers. However, when it comes to learning financial skills, this can be a very expensive way to learn." Through these simulations, participants gain skills in problem-solving, explore various financial tools and investment options, and lay the groundwork for financial prosperity.

Daly’s journey to this innovative endeavor was not straightforward. Previously a Senior Equity Trader on Bay Street, her experiences during the 2007-2008 financial crisis clued her into a widespread deficit in foundational financial knowledge, affecting individuals across varying levels of education and wealth. Motivated to effect change, she volunteered in the financial literacy sector but was disheartened by outdated teaching methods. This prompted her to found Forward Vision Games, aiming to modernize financial education.

In addition to promoting financial literacy, Daly is committed to economic reconciliation. Integrating Indigenous perspectives into her games, she fosters inclusivity and recognizes that true economic reconciliation requires ongoing efforts. Forward Vision Games features a 50% Indigenous-identifying user base and signed a memorandum of understanding with the Indigenomics Institute in 2023, focused on advancing the participation of women and newcomers in financial literacy. These initiatives are designed not only to promote inclusivity but also to yield long-term benefits for various financial sectors and partnerships, including schools.

Daly is also enthusiastic about leveraging data from gameplay to better understand financial behaviors and enhance product offerings. As she retrospectively evaluates her journey, Daly acknowledges the challenge of raising capital. An early setback in securing funding led her to adopt a bootstrapping approach to develop a minimum viable product. Now, with scalable technology that has achieved market validation across four provinces, she aims to accelerate growth and anticipates her first funding round within the next year.

In her advice to fellow founders, particularly women-identifying ones, Daly underscores the importance of genuine curiosity in learning from others’ entrepreneurial journeys. She finds that building relationships through authentic interactions is more effective than rapid pitches during networking opportunities.

Daly’s broader mission reaches beyond entrepreneurship to foster economic reconciliation and empowerment, as shown by her efforts to integrate experiential learning into curricula. As Forward Vision Games continues to focus on data-driven scalability and strategic partnerships, it aspires to shape a financially empowered future for all individuals. For those interested in learning more or connecting with potential investors, Forward Vision Games offers resources on their website.