Dexter Carr Jr. is changing the playing field for online gaming.
By combining social impact and virtual sports, his company G-Haven eSports is trying to create a safe environment for Baltimore youth to gather and play together while raising money for charitable organizations.
His company’s upcoming subscription-based service, called Game4Good, will donate a certain amount of money based on the number of hours users play to participating social change organizations. Players and corporate sponsors can also contribute additional individual donations. The beta platform is expected to launch early next year.
He said he hopes that Game4Good demonstrates that there’s more to video gaming than just entertainment. “I personally believe that people want to ‘do good,’ but don't always know how,” Carr said.
But Carr’s vision doesn’t stop there.
By transforming the virtual gaming field, he hopes to create jobs in “an industry that nearly mirrors” the industry of any other business or sport, and “lower the barrier to entry” for job opportunities and wealth access in Baltimore.
“There's so much talent and so much determination [in Baltimore] and I know there can be so much success from this city alone,” Carr said.
The company plans to bring in revenue through Game4Good’s monthly subscription costs, licensing fees, sponsors and advertising. They are in ongoing discussions with several potential local and regional social enterprise partners, he added.
G-Haven eSports currently has a community of over 2,000 players across third-party platforms like Discord and Twitch, Carr said.
Carr and a friend started the company in 2017, and they were inspired by the feeling of going to a friend’s house to play video games. Originally, it was just a side project for him, but he quit his full-time job at the Maryland Department of Health in April to focus on launching Game 4Good.
In the fall of 2019, the company participated in the Attman Competitive Business Prize competition at the University of Baltimore, which the university calls their own version of “Shark Tank.” Their company’s pitch won second place, and they soon caught the attention of Jeff Cherry and other leadership from Conscious Venture lab. G-Haven eSports participated in their 16-week business accelerator program last fall, which provided mentorship, workshops and networking opportunities.
The company also received startup funding from Baltimore Community Lending, a local community development financial institution dedicated to serving underserved communities
Carr is planning a fundraising campaign in late August to boost investments prior to the launch of their beta platform.
