Above Board Company (ABC), a dynamic entertainment business, has transformed the concept of “vibes” into an immersive and unique gaming experience. ABC offers various avenues for individuals to engage in this experience: attending hosted ABC events, renting a curated board game package, or booking the company to facilitate special events or team-building sessions. The core aim of ABC is to provide wholesome social opportunities that bridge generational gaps through the medium of board games, creating an atmosphere where families can come together, connect, and engage in meaningful, joyful interactions. The company’s mission is not merely to sell board games but to sell experiences—experiences that are thoughtfully packaged and available for rent, teaching and facilitating board games in a way that also subtly instills biblical principles of behavior. ABC’s overarching goal is to minister the gospel through analogies drawn from various games and through the deeper conversations and friendships that emerge from these gaming experiences.
Co-Founders: Dr David Coker (Dr Vybzz) and Emily Coker
The inception of ABC dates back to the tumultuous year of 2020, during the COVID-19 lockdown when human interaction was severely limited. At a time when social connections were dwindling, the founders, Dr David Coker (Dr Vybzz) and Emily Coker saw a profound need for an initiative that could revive the lost art of face-to-face interaction. The name “Above Board” emerged as a natural choice, embodying the values of openness, truth, honesty, and integrity—principles that the founders wanted to infuse into their business. The tagline, “beyond the Game,” encapsulates their mission to use board games as a medium for deeper, soul-enriching conversations and connections. ABC is designed to be an antidote to the often morally questionable and degrading forms of entertainment that are prevalent today. Instead, ABC offers an alternative experience that promotes positive emotions such as joy, peace, togetherness, love, acceptance, and a sense of belonging. Through ABC, the founders aspire to create an environment where participants leave feeling enriched and edified, not just entertained.
Balancing this entrepreneurial venture with their full-time careers in healthcare and the responsibilities of raising a toddler has been no small feat for the founders of ABC. The demands of juggling work, family, and a new business have been challenging, but their passion for hospitality and serving others keeps them motivated. Inspired by the words of their mentor, Myron Golden, who believes that “disruption follows intention,” the founders are fully committed to their entrepreneurial intentions, even amidst the disruptions of life. They draw strength from the biblical teaching that whatever one does should be done with all their might, as an offering to God, and this belief fuels their perseverance in the face of difficulties.
The vision for Above Board was sparked in 2020, when David, one of the co-founders, felt divinely inspired to start a board game business. Sharing this inspiration with Emily, his partner, marked the beginning of their journey together. The idea stemmed from David’s decade-long experience of hosting regular game nights and witnessing the powerful connections and unforgettable memories these gatherings created. This passion for sharing the social benefits of board games with a broader audience became the foundation of ABC.
Since its inception, ABC has achieved several significant milestones, most notably organizing a massive game night for 120 campers in 2023. This event showcased the company’s dedication and passion for bringing enriching experiences to communities, fostering fun, connection, and camaraderie through board games. In May 2024, they hosted 186 participants at a Cocoyea Open Bible Games Night event, further solidifying their reputation for creating engaging and impactful events. The official launch event on August 17, 2024, was another major milestone, attracting over 140 attendees. The event was a resounding success, filled with games, laughter, live entertainment, and a palpable sense of community. The overwhelmingly positive feedback from this event has energized the founders to plan more events, with the aim of bringing even more people together for nights of unforgettable fun.
The journey of entrepreneurship has taught the founders valuable lessons, including a newfound respect for small business owners and an understanding of the immense work involved in running a business. The steep learning curve of marketing, social media, and sales has been challenging, but their perseverance has paid off, as evidenced by the success of their launch event. Initially, social media content creation and ticket sales were slow, but with time and effort, they saw significant improvement, eventually surpassing their targets. These experiences have reinforced their commitment to their goal of serving the community in a meaningful way and have motivated them to continue growing both personally and professionally.
To aspiring entrepreneurs, the founders of ABC offer the advice to start now and not wait until they feel ready. They emphasize the importance of identifying a problem that their offering can solve and then boldly launching into action.
When it comes to branding, ABC views a brand as a unique identity that distinguishes a business or product in the market. It is more than just a name or logo; it is the overall experience and emotional connection that customers have with what the brand represents. For ABC, their brand is synonymous with a movement of wholesome entertainment that goes “beyond the game,” enriching the whole individual.
In contrast, they define a business as the organizational mechanisms that manage the people, planet, and profit aspects of a company. A brand, on the other hand, is the public image and customer perception of how the business carries itself.
Reflecting on the local brand community in Trinidad and Tobago, the founders have found it to be a somewhat challenging environment. They have observed that while some local businesses follow their Instagram page, there is a noticeable lack of engagement. Despite this, they remain hopeful and open to collaborating with other established businesses in the area, believing that there is enough business for everyone and that they are not here to compete but to offer something unique.
Currently, ABC is not involved in markets or pop-ups, as their focus is on offering experiences rather than products. However, they are open to the idea of participating in markets in the future to showcase their offerings. For now, they continue to host their events every two months, with plans to expand and accommodate the growing demand from their patrons.
ABC’s story is one of passion, perseverance, and a commitment to providing wholesome, enriching entertainment experiences that go beyond the ordinary, creating lasting memories and meaningful connections.
