Business Spotlight with Ben Kvalo from Midwest Games

In this Business Spotlight episode, Ben Kvalo, the founder of Midwest Games, shared his long family roots in Wisconsin, his professional skeeball championship, and his career in the video game industry, including notable roles at 2K, Blizzard, and Netflix. He discussed his decision to establish Midwest Games in Green Bay to support underserved game developers in the Midwest, emphasizing the importance of creating a sustainable company that prioritizes transparency, empowerment, and a supportive ecosystem. Kvalo also highlighted the challenges of starting a business, the significance of calculated risks, and the need for industry change.

Kvalo further elaborated on his leadership style, which focuses on empowering employees and fostering open communication. He credited Netflix’s culture of empowerment as an influence on his approach to leadership. Kvalo also shared his personal experiences balancing work and life, stressing the importance of taking time away from work to avoid burnout. Looking ahead, he outlined plans for Midwest Games to scale and create impactful marketing strategies, while maintaining a strong connection to the Midwest region.

Podcast Transcript:

Mike McKay: Alright, welcome back, everyone. My name is Coach Mike, and today I’m here with Ben Kvalo from Midwest Games. One thing that amazes me about the Midwest is that it’s becoming a hot spot for video games, and Midwest Games is helping showcase some of that Midwest talent. Ben has worked on everything from Netflix to Blizzard to 2K, participating in over 100 game titles. That’s incredible. But what’s even more interesting is that you’re a professional skeeball player. How does that happen?

Ben Kvalo: Well, it all started when I lived in San Francisco. The cheapest beer in town was at a place with a social skeeball league. I got really into it, got competitive, and eventually found myself at the World Championships competing against some of the best skeeballers in the world.

Mike: That’s awesome. Thanks for joining us today, Ben, and congrats on making it to the professional skeeball championships. That’s such a unique achievement!

Ben: Yeah, it’s a fun sport. My nickname is Wisconskee, and my wife goes by Skeerex. We played against teams like the Backskeep Boys and Cardi Skee. It’s a lot of fun, and there are plenty of puns.

Mike: Sounds like a blast! Alright, tell us a bit about your personal story. Where did you grow up? Where do you live now? And aside from skeeball, what are your hobbies?

Ben: I grew up in Wisconsin, in a small town called Portage, just north of Madison. I went to college at UW-Green Bay. My family has deep roots in Wisconsin—five generations went to UW-Madison. My great-great-grandmother was one of the first women to attend college there. My great-grandfather was a Hall of Fame football, basketball, and track star at UW-Madison. He was also the first American inducted into the Canadian Football League Hall of Fame, back when the CFL was a better way to make money in sports than the NFL. So, Wisconsin is in my blood.

I originally planned to go into sports management, but it didn’t work out. I got into radio, founded a radio station in college, and did that professionally for a while. Eventually, I realized it wasn’t for me, and I wanted to go into video games. I got an opportunity in San Francisco because there was nothing in the Midwest at the time. Midway, based in Chicago, had just died, and with it went a lot of video game industry presence in the region. I have a business background, so I wasn’t going to make games, but I knew there were many opportunities in the larger business side of games. I was fortunate to work at 2K during its early days, working on titles like NBA 2K, Borderlands, BioShock, and more. That experience set me on my path in the video game industry, leading me through Blizzard, Netflix Film, and then helping to build Netflix Games from the ground up. Eventually, I decided to return to Wisconsin and create Midwest Games, aiming to support underserved developers in the Midwest and change where games come from.

Mike: How did you come to that conclusion? I’ve heard there are 16 or 17 game companies in Wisconsin now, so you were definitely ahead of the curve.

Ben: I noticed it because I’m from here and had a lot of connections. I saw what was happening in game development and realized that the Midwest needed more infrastructure, especially a publisher. That’s where Midwest Games comes in. We aim to support developers who want to create their own games but lack the resources to bring them to market. By filling that gap, we’re helping to build a stronger ecosystem for game development in the Midwest.

Mike: We’ve worked with Raven and Respawn, and some of the guys we worked with were responsible for part of a map. It was stressful for them. Now you get all this talent, but sometimes they just clean up other people’s work, which can be frustrating for creative types. So, what’s your leadership style?

Ben: My leadership style is about empowering and encouraging people to take ownership and responsibility. I believe in transparency so that everyone in the company has access to the information they need to make decisions. I want to avoid slowing down the pace by removing unnecessary hoops. At the same time, I remind everyone that with that freedom comes responsibility. It’s important to seek out dissenting opinions and be open to criticism.

Mike: You have to be open to hearing the flaws in your ideas. In big companies, it’s easy to gloss over that.

Ben: Exactly. You also have to be vulnerable and willing to admit when you’re wrong or don’t know everything. I learned a lot about this at Netflix, where they empowered employees to do their best work, but also demanded that they prioritize the company’s best interests.

Mike: When did you realize you could go out on your own and start your own company?

Ben: I still don’t know if I can do it on my own, but you just have to keep moving forward. I look at it as climbing a mountain—taking it step by step. You might not end up where you expected, but if you keep going, you’ll get somewhere.

Mike: Business isn’t a straight path, much like climbing Mount Everest. You have to acclimate, deal with setbacks, and sometimes face insurmountable challenges. What’s a common myth about being a founder or CEO that you’d like to dispel?

Ben: The myth that it’s easy and you just make a lot of money while making decisions all day. In reality, it’s nonstop stress. You have to be thoughtful about everything, and sometimes things slip through the cracks. You’re also responsible for the lives of the people who work for you, and that’s a burden you have to take seriously.

Mike: Sometimes we take on too much of that burden because we care about our people, but top performers can still decide to leave. What’s something new you want to learn outside of work?

Ben: I’m currently learning how to be the best husband possible. I just got married a month ago, and balancing that with building a business and living between two places is challenging.

Mike: Congratulations! What’s the next big thing for you and your business?

Ben: We’re moving into phase two, scaling what we’ve proven in phase one. We’re focusing on getting more content out, supporting it with smart marketing, and creating talkable moments for our titles. We also want to better serve the Midwest and create a community around that.

Mike: Here’s a question I never prep anyone: what question do you wish I’d asked you but I didn’t?

Ben: Maybe what’s the most interesting thing I’ve done in my career?

Mike: Consider it asked. What’s the most interesting thing you’ve done in your career so far?

Ben: During my time at 2K, I took on a unique role in creating executive presentations. I became a project manager and got the chance to pitch a game property that we were trying to license. It was a growth moment and a lot of fun, even though we didn’t get the license. It was a key moment in my career and set me on the path I’m on now.

Mike: As we wrap up today, what’s one piece of advice you would give to business owners or those thinking about starting their own ventures?

Ben: Surround yourself with incredible people. Make connections with as many individuals as you can, and always give them your time and energy. Don’t overlook anyone—you never know who might help you in unexpected ways. Treat everyone with respect because it will come back to you eventually. Networking is crucial for getting your business off the ground, and it’s also key to bringing in the right people. If you stay positive and wear your purpose on your sleeve, you’ll naturally attract the kind of people you want by your side.

Mike: Alright, Ben Kvalo from Midwest Games, thanks for your time this afternoon. It’s been great talking with you.

Ben: Thanks for having me, Mike.