TSU Alumna Leia Avery Makes Waves in Board Game Industry

Leia Avery, a native of Chicago, IL, and is a graduate of Tennessee State University (TSU) where she earned her degree in Business Administration. Leia did not just start her business education when she got to college. She has been testing the entrepreneurial waters since childhood. As a kid, Leia’s early entrepreneurial endeavors included hosting a carnival in her backyard. She would charge her neighbors 25 cents to play games like hula-hoop and throw the ball in the bucket from the old Bozo Show.

At TSU, Leia owned two businesses in the Global Mall at the Crossings, formerly Hickory Hollow Mall. She operated a kiosk selling music CDs from local DJs and artists. Leia also ran a Popcorn Lovers Plus business that sold gourmet cheesy caramel corn along with other treats. After college Leia began her professional career and a property manager and investor, but she never lost sight of her entrepreneurial spirit. Leia went on to create Just Play Entertainment, a company that offers unique events centered around fun and games.

In 2008, Leia’s passion for entertaining leader her to create the popular Catch My Drift Card Game, an interactive game of charades with and urban twist. The game pits one team against another to guess the most urban lingo phrases from the pop and hip-hop culture. This all must be done within two minutes without saying the violation words or security will clap the hand clapper and deduct points. The team that guesses the most words wins the game.

The game was partly inspired by watching the show The Big Idea. During the show, the creator of the game Cranium was being featured. Between 2008 and 2011 Leia has experienced some early success and many challenges with Catch My Drift
She has worked hard to test and improve her product over time. Since then Catch My Drift?!? has gained tremendous exposure from the Michael Baisden Show. The game was also highlighted on the New York Toy Fair website, and recognized as one of the top 10 Borden Busters at the Chicago Toy & Game Expo.

According to a recent Rolling Out Article, she has sold over 8,000 copies to customers all over the country. She has also made custom Catch My Drift?!? games for Tamar Braxton, Kandi Burruss, Tiny Harris, and Monique Rodriquez of Mielle Organics Hair Company. Leia is looking to expand by getting her product into the mass market and make it available to specialty retailers.

If you want to help Leia take her product to the next level by becoming an investor, you can support her in launching Catch My Drift 2.0. This new version is an updated, expanded, and will include a Catch My Drift App. For more information visit the Catch My Drift KickStarter page or the Just Play Entertainment website.

If you’re interested in owning the original Catch My Drift Card Game, it is available to purchase online.

Sources: Rolling Out Magazine, Just Play Entertainment