Young entrepreneurs' game on display during N.J. Makers Day

Game showcases science, technology, engineering and math as a way to entrepreneurship for young people.

FLEMINGTON - Productive Play's two innovators, brother and sister, Joey and Heidi Hudicka, who created an entrepreneurial kids' game called "LAUNCH," will share their creative thinking and excitement about entrepreneurship at the New Jersey Makers Day exhibition Saturday at 10 a.m. at the Piscataway Public Library.

The Hudicka family of Flemington have created a competitive kids' entrepreneurial board game. (Courtesy of the Hudicka family)

NJ Makers Day, now in its third year, is a grass-roots statewide initiative designed to celebrate and showcase STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) making, tinkering, entrepreneurship and innovative play.

In 2015, the Hudicka family created Launch, which introduces young people to art of entrepreneurship. It presents them with different investment opportunities and teaches them how to make good business decisions and negotiate.

The game has five levels and kids are taught dozens of business terms and strategies as they progress through each level. There is an accompanying Young Entrepreneur's Dictionary to help them play and understand the game while learning the language of business.

The game earned Joey and Heidi the 2016 Amazing Kids in Business Award from the Hunterdon County Chamber of Commerce.

More than 300 schools, libraries, colleges, makerspaces, afterschool programs, across all 21 NJ counties, will be hosting activities, programs, demonstrations and more in their communities on Friday and Saturday.

Family creates kids' entrepreneurial game

"We are extremely excited to have Joey and Heidi joining us this year for our NJ Makers Day event here at the Piscataway Public Library as one of our featured exhibitors," said Doug Baldwin, president of the New Jersey Makers Day Board of Trustees. "Their inspiring story embodies the values and ethos inherent in both making and entrepreneurship we want to highlight during our event. I know they will inspire our visitors in thinking about what is possible when working toward making your ideas become reality."

Joey began his entrepreneurial career when he was 5. By age 9, Joey created two mobile apps and achieved sales and downloads in more than 60 countries.

Heidi began her entrepreneurial career at age 4, designing her own fashion clothing line for her 18-inch dolls. One year later, she wrote her first book. She is Productive Play's Chief Fun Officer.