Cohort Spotlight: Jubileague Academy – Calvin Robertson

For Calvin Robertson, the inspiration to start a business was deeply rooted in his love for his family. “My children were my inspiration,” Calvin shares. “I wanted to leave them an inheritance—not just financially, but something meaningful they could carry forward for generations.” While his professional expertise lay in enterprise software development, Calvin envisioned a venture that would be fun and engaging not only for himself but also for his children and grandchildren. His answer: video games.

Calvin’s journey began with volunteering to teach coding through game design, often bringing his kids along to share in the experience. During these sessions, he noticed a transformative effect on the students—they discovered a passion and career path they hadn’t previously considered. “So many young people didn’t even know game design was an option,” Calvin recalls. This realization led to the creation of Jubileague Academy, an innovative program designed to inspire and empower the next generation of game creators.

The cornerstone of Jubileague Academy is the Playmaker program, which equips middle school, high school, and college students with the skills to design, develop, and market their own games. By blending STEM education with storytelling, creativity, and collaboration, the program fosters critical thinking and teamwork while preparing students for diverse career paths. “Games are more than entertainment,” Calvin explains. “They’re a gateway to skills like communication, decision-making, and even entrepreneurship.”

However, the road to success was not without challenges. Calvin faced significant doubt, both from others and within himself. “There were peers who dismissed my ideas and colleagues who undervalued my contributions,” he recalls. “But those moments taught me resilience.” Calvin realized his greatest successes came in environments that valued his unique talents—a realization that inspired him to create such environments for others through Jubileague Academy.

Today, Jubileague Academy is thriving. The Playmaker program has partnered with local schools and youth tech hubs to expand its reach, with plans for scalable models to integrate the program into more educational institutions. Student ambassadors and collaborations with educators have been pivotal in driving growth.

A defining moment for Calvin came during an early workshop when students presented their games to friends and family. “One student, who didn’t want to be there on the first day, ended up being one of our top contributors by the last day,” Calvin shares. “Seeing his transformation reminded me why I started this.”

Calvin credits The Boost Pad as a key factor in his success. “The Boost Pad gave me the tools, mentorship, and community I needed to move forward. The weekly sessions provided timely instruction to refine my business plan, and the encouragement from my peers kept me motivated. My ability to pitch the Playmaker program and communicate its value has significantly improved because of this experience.”

Calvin’s vision is clear: to cover the world with “playmakers,” turning consumers into creators and showing the power of play as a tool for learning and innovation. Through Jubileague Academy, he’s proving that games aren’t just fun—they’re transformative.