Industry Vets, Educators, Mentors Join POP’s Young Inventor Challenge Advisory Board

People of Play (POP), host of toy and game industry events that occur during Chicago Toy & Game Week, has revealed the formation of an advisory board for the Young Inventor Challenge (YIC). The YIC is a toy and game design and pitch competition for kids ages 6 to 18 that is held during the Chicago Toy & Game Fair.

“2023 marks the 17th year of the Young Inventor Challenge, [which] has grown so much recently that we knew it was time to put an advisory board together,” says Mary Couzin, Founder and President of POP. “Recent partnerships with ASTRA (American Specialty Toy Retailing Association) and Happy Camper Live (a company that brings the fun of summer camp to kids 365 days a year) have brought our program to thousands more young inventors! Expansion also means we need more mentors, judges, and sponsors. Please reach out to us if you are interested.”

YIC events have multiplied with the popularity of the competition and now happens all year long in toy stores, at summer camps, and even online. It all culminates at the Young Inventor Challenge International World Championship in Chicago every November. The mission of the YIC is to inspire the next generation to use creativity, critical thinking, and STEAM skills in the invention and innovation process and to connect professional mentors in multiple fields with the young innovators.

Members of the advisory board include:

Anyone interested in serving on the advisory board is encouraged to get in touch with POP.