February 28, 2018

For years, the first floor of the Pearlstein Building has been just that, the first floor of the Pearlstein Building. The spacious lobby was used solely for students and faculty members to access classrooms, that is until the Proving Ground was established. The Proving Ground is a four-part event series that aims to showcase young entrepreneurs and their companies, allowing starters to test their products and services, while interacting with their target markets.

The last Proving Ground session hosted video game startup, Gossamer Games. To get a better sense of how young entrepreneurs viewed the Proving Ground, we asked Gossamer Games director, Thomas Sharpe a few questions about the event and what his startup has in store for us next!

Why were you initially interested in the Proving Ground?

SHARPE: We're always eager for feedback on Sole, since it’s our debut production. Having worked on the game for so long, it's easy to get caught up on details that only the team notices because we're so close to the project. Having an opportunity to get fresh eyes on the game helps us develop a better understanding of the bigger picture and how players will experience our work upon release.

What did Gossamer Games get out of the Proving Ground?

SHARPE: Practicing the elevator pitch for your company is a skill you can only refine through practice. Pitching at events is a very different experience than speaking during a presentation or in individual conversations. Running through the basic pitch for both our company and game was great preparation for showcasing at larger events.

What can other entrepreneurs showcasing at the Proving Ground expect from the event?

SHARPE: Expect to put some thought into making a creative display that will draw people in and make them interested in learning more about your company. We all know that if students aren't either three minutes early or three minutes late to class, they're probably on their way to get food. Try to come up with ways to engage with students rushing from one place to the next.

What was your goal for the Proving Ground? Did you accomplish this?

SHARPE: We're always interested in talking about the business of independent video game development, so getting to meet other developers and students interested in the industry was our biggest goal. It was great talking with others about our entrepreneurial journey and the future of the industry over the course of the day.

What can we look forward to seeing from Gossamer Games within the upcoming year?

SHARPE: 2018 is going to be a huge year for Gossamer! As we start wrapping up development on our debut game Sole, we're also gearing up to create a prototype demo of a puzzle-adventure game we're creating in collaboration with the Science History Institute. This year serves as the culmination of all the hard work we've put in these past few years and is the beginning of an exciting new chapter for the team.

The Proving Ground isn’t over yet! Stop by the first floor of the Pearlstein Building on March 6 to see Orai, and learn all about the app that improves public speaking skills. If you are interested in being part of the Proving Ground to showcase your product or services to Drexel University’s growing community of students, investors and faculty, complete this form and we’ll send you more information. The Proving Ground has a space for you!

Sarah Temple and Orly Margulis, Communications, Charles D. Close School of Entrepreneurship