Draw the solution to a problem on the back of a napkin, like all entrepreneurs of legend. Teams will have to work together and solve problems creatively for this game to work.
Number of participants: 6-24, divided into teams of 3-4
Duration: 10-20 minutes
Objective: Promote unconventional thinking and teamwork
How to play
1. Come up with a bunch of open ended problems. These could be related to your business, an imaginary product, an environmental problem, etc.
2. Divide all players into teams of 2 to 4 players – basically, what you would see in a team of startup co-founders. Ideally, these would be people who’ve never met or worked together.
3. Give each team a folded napkin and a pen.
4. Ask the teams to draw a solution to the problem as a flow chart/sketch/graph. Evaluate all solutions and pick the best one.
Optional: Offer prizes to the best solution
Strategy
The “back of the napkin” is where so many great product and startup ideas first came into being. This simple team building exercise replicates this tiny canvas, giving participants something fun to do while promoting teamwork and outside-the-box thinking.
