Engaging Gen Z through interactive gaming

This article is a part of Startup Spotlight, a series that features young, up-and-coming startups.

Image credit: Timmy Loen

During the pandemic lockdown, three young game developers entered a competition to build a financial literacy game. This project caught the attention of a major financial institution.

The organizers awarded Finute a five-digit contract. This indicated that interactive worlds could effectively engage younger demographics.

😟 Problem

Educational experiences and civic outreach programs struggle to hold the attention of Gen Z users. Most public education content relies on static websites or classroom slides.

Institutions recognize that traditional methods fail to reach digital-native audiences. Roblox reports over 97 million daily active users globally. Public trust depends on reaching youths on these interactive platforms.

💡 Solution

Finute turns public engagement into immersive virtual environments on platforms like Roblox. The startup designs educational gameplay featuring progression systems.

These virtual experiences offer several core capabilities, including: 

• Roleplay scenarios to teach concepts like crime prevention.
• Digital twin recreations of real-world spaces for cultural institutions.
• Multiplayer interactions that encourage voluntary return visits.
• Safe, simulated environments for practicing cybersecurity awareness.

Image credit: Finute

📊 Market size

Singapore’s public sector includes 16 ministries and over 60 statutory boards. Many organizations command significant annual budgets for public education.

Across Southeast Asia, governments are actively investing in youth engagement initiatives. Roblox users worldwide spend billions of hours on the platform monthly.

🤝 Team

• Winston Ng. Co-founder and CEO. He leads the company’s work at the intersection of game development, education, and public engagement.
• Zachary Lim. Co-founder and CTO. He oversees the technology behind the company’s virtual experiences and community platforms.
• Om Tirodkar. Advisor. He advises on product development and partnerships with public institutions.

🚀 Traction

🏆 Competition

💰 Financials

🚩 Risks