Chase the Bag
Maker Day 1 Report: Chase the Bag – A Gamified Financial Education App
Introduction
Financial literacy is a critical skill that remains underdeveloped among young adults, particularly Gen Z. Despite their growing interest in investing, banking, and wealth management, many find traditional financial education unengaging, complicated, or inaccessible. Chase the Bag, a gamified financial education app, seeks to address this gap by creating an interactive learning experience tailored to Gen Z’s preferences.
Market Landscape and Opportunity
The financial education market is projected to grow from $587 million to $1.3 billion by 2029, demonstrating strong demand for innovative learning solutions. The app targets a wedge market of 35 million Gen Z individuals (ages 19-26), including college students and early professionals, within a broader U.S. Gen Z population of 69 million.
Several factors make this the ideal moment for an interactive financial education platform:
Wealth Transfer & Workforce Entry: Gen Z is set to inherit $11 trillion by 2045 and will soon outnumber Baby Boomers in the workforce.
Increased Interest in Investing: Events like the rise of Bitcoin, meme stocks, and inflation have driven Gen Z’s interest in financial markets.
Financial Institutions’ Digital Shift: Banks are actively developing digital products to attract and retain Gen Z customers.
Growth of the Gaming Industry: The gaming sector, currently valued at $250 billion, continues to expand, making gamification a viable strategy to engage younger audiences.
These trends highlight the urgency of delivering finance education in a way that resonates with Gen Z, particularly through mobile-first, interactive experiences.
Customer Insights and Pain Points
Gen Z is tech-savvy, social, and gamification-oriented, with 85% preferring to learn through apps rather than traditional methods (Pew Research). However, despite their interest in finance, they struggle with barriers such as:
Lack of engagement: Finance education often feels boring, overwhelming, or scam-like.
Information overload: The vast amount of financial content on TikTok, YouTube, and social media can be difficult to navigate.
Fear of risk: Many young investors are eager to participate in markets but hesitate due to the fear of losing money.
Lack of structured learning paths: Many Gen Z learners are unsure where to start, often relying on fragmented, inconsistent advice from online sources.
Through 16+ user interviews, the research team found that Gen Z prefers fully immersive games (like FarmVille) over quiz-based models (like Duolingo). They also favor video-based advertising but are skeptical about product placements that seem intrusive or dishonest.
Proposed Solution: Chase the Bag
Chase the Bag is a gamified financial education app designed to provide interactive, structured, and engaging financial learning experiences. The platform incorporates:
Simulation-Based Learning – Users manage virtual portfolios, track investments, and experience real-world financial scenarios.
Gamified Daily Lessons – Short, quiz-based modules with incentives ensure continuous learning.
Community Engagement – Social features encourage peer discussions and knowledge sharing.
Freemium Model – Basic access is free, with premium subscriptions for advanced features and personalized learning.
AI-Personalized Learning Paths – Adaptive modules cater to different user knowledge levels and financial goals.
By integrating financial education with gaming mechanics, the app bridges the gap between entertainment and practical learning, making finance more accessible and enjoyable.
Business Model and Revenue Streams
The app follows a multi-tiered revenue model, targeting both consumers and businesses:
B2C (Direct to Consumer)
Freemium model with in-app purchases and subscriptions.
Gamified learning experiences tailored to individual users.
B2B (Institutional Partnerships)
Licensing educational content to schools and universities.
Offering financial literacy tools to banks and fintech companies.
B2B2C (Embedded Financial Education)
Partnering with banks and financial institutions to integrate learning tools into existing apps.
Monetizing through advertisements, product placements, and affiliate marketing.
This diverse approach ensures scalability while catering to multiple stakeholders in the financial education ecosystem.
Competitive Analysis and Market Viability
Currently, no major players dominate the financial education gaming niche, making Chase the Bag a first-mover in the space. Existing solutions fall into three broad categories:
Educational Content Platforms (YouTube, TikTok, Robinhood Learn) – Offer financial content but lack structured learning paths.
Investment Simulations (Stock market simulators, fantasy trading apps) – Provide experience but are often too technical or lack engagement.
Traditional Financial Education Tools (Bank-sponsored courses, university programs) – Are often static, text-heavy, and not optimized for mobile-first, gamified learning.
By combining gaming mechanics, AI-driven personalization, and financial simulations, Chase the Bag differentiates itself from existing alternatives while capturing Gen Z’s engagement.
User Engagement and Performance Metrics
The app’s success will be measured through key engagement metrics:
Daily Active Users (DAU) & Monthly Active Users (MAU) – Gauging regular app usage.
Average Session Duration – Measuring how long users engage with financial lessons.
Retention Rate (7, 30, 90 days) – Tracking how many users continue learning over time.
User Growth Rate – Assessing adoption trends.
In-Game Currency Mined per User – Evaluating participation in financial simulations.
Percentage of Users Completing Daily Assessments – Monitoring learning engagement.
Behavioral Change Indicators – Measuring financial habits like saving, budgeting, and investing after app use.
These metrics will provide insights into user behavior, helping refine the platform for maximum engagement and impact.
Monetization and Scalability
The app’s monetization strategy includes:
In-App Purchases & Subscriptions – Offering premium features, exclusive content, and personalized learning.
Advertising Revenue – Featuring non-intrusive financial ads from partner institutions.
Affiliate Partnerships – Collaborating with fintech companies, banks, and universities.
To scale efficiently, the platform will leverage AI-driven content adaptation, ensuring users receive customized financial lessons without constant manual updates. Partnerships with high schools, universities, and financial institutions will further expand the app’s reach, integrating it into educational curriculums and banking ecosystems.
Challenges and Risk Mitigation
While the concept holds strong potential, several challenges must be addressed:
Regulatory Compliance – Ensuring adherence to SEC regulations and financial education standards.
Credibility of Content – Partnering with financial experts to maintain accuracy and trustworthiness.
User Acquisition Costs – Leveraging influencer marketing, university partnerships, and network effects to drive organic growth.
Balancing Gamification & Learning – Ensuring the app remains both educational and entertaining without feeling like a traditional classroom tool.
By proactively addressing these concerns, Chase the Bag can establish itself as a leader in gamified financial education.
Conclusion
Gen Z faces significant challenges in achieving financial literacy, but traditional education methods have failed to engage them effectively. Chase the Bag offers a timely, innovative solution that merges gaming, AI-driven personalization, and interactive learning to make finance accessible, engaging, and actionable. With a scalable business model, a growing market demand, and a clear differentiation from competitors, the app has the potential to transform financial education for the digital-native generation.
By empowering young users to develop practical financial skills in an enjoyable and interactive way, Chase the Bag represents a breakthrough in how financial literacy is taught and experienced.
