Lessons from a videogame start-up

The Comox Valley Women's Business Network hosts Jason Kapalka, co-founder and chief game designer of PopCap Games.

Jason Kapalka is co-founder and chief game designer of PopCap Games.

Jason Kapalka is co-founder and chief game designer of PopCap Games.

PopCap Games started about a decade back with three guys working out of their apartments. It has since become a 500-person company with offices around the world.

What went right? What went wrong? What can you learn that’s applicable to your own business or entrepreneurial plan?

Find out Thursday at the Best Western, where the Comox Valley Women’s Business Network hosts Comox resident Jason Kapalka, co-founder and chief game designer of PopCap Games.

The Edmonton-raised Kapalka moved to San Francisco during the dot-com boom of the ’90s when he helped create pogo.com. He started PopCap Games in 2000 with John Vechey and Brian Fiete. The company now has offices in Seattle, San Francisco, Vancouver and Shanghai.

PopCap’s hit games include Bejeweled, Plants vs Zombies and Peggle. The games have received numerous awards and honours, and sold hundreds of millions of copies. Last fall, PopCap was acquired by Electronic Arts in a deal worth upwards of $750 million.

Doors open at 5:30 p.m. for networking. Dinner is at 6:15 p.m.

RSVP at www.cvwbn.org.

Comox Valley Record