Republika: Turning Political Arguments into a Board Game

When I first met Adam and Karol from “Republika,” they were just a team trying to develop a board or card game about politics and state management. They were pivoting and conducting research among student associations and board game geeks. Now, they are through their first round of crowdfunding, which allowed them to collect 117% of their goal for the first batch. They have set their sights on conquering not only Poland, but Germany, the UK, and even the USA. Below, they are going to reveal some insights about their business and the truth about the harsh market.

“Silicon Valley” Vibes in Kraków

Every venture scout looks for “Founder-Market Fit.” I am almost sure that the “Republika” team has it. Let me introduce them:

• Karol (Computer Science, AGH University of Kraków & Management, Jagiellonian University) – The face, lead pitcher, lead game mechanic, and social media manager of “Republika.” Previously worked at Radio 1.7, where he first teamed up with Jakub.
• Jakub (Mechanical Engineering, AGH University of Kraków) – Responsible for the project’s graphic design and visual identity,
• Adam (Editorial Studies, Jagiellonian University) – Project coordinator, technical, and copywriter. Karol’s friend and his roommate.

Karol’s house turned into a headquarters like in Silicon Valley, where young innovators work, sleep, and eat together in a penthouse.

Note: Team consistency and the ability to pivot are crucial at this stage, especially when the product is still evolving. Their shared living & working arrangement suggests high commitment.

“A piece of shit” Moment

The idea to develop a board game about politics was conceived in 2019, but work moved forward in 2024 during an Acceleration Programme organized by the Foundation Kraków Miastem Startupów and the Student Entrepreneurship Incubator of Jagiellonian University. The programme culminated in a final pitch event, where participants presented their ideas. Karol’s speech was non-standard and used the phrase: “A piece of shit” (Elderly people say to the younger: “You know only a piece of shit about politics”). Wow! This act of courage helped them win.

The next step was the ASOS Camp programme, where they got their first funds to start. They conducted research carefully, and the conclusions were clear – Poles struggle to have a concrete discussion about politics, and it usually ends with a great argument, almost a family war. They want to clarify this and create a change by talking about political matters while playing a game. The dream target customer is open-minded and interested in politics or board games.

Note: Karol won the final pitch competition with a bold, non-standard speech. In a crowded market, the ability to grab attention is a key competitive advantage.

Publishing Houses or Crowdfunding?

They selected the second one. The market is harsh, especially when talking about publishing houses that kill projects at the beginning of the journey. Young teams must be decisive and have a scalable project because printing houses produce only the biggest orders, like 500+. The key was to choose a small and fair one. First funds came from ASOS Camp and from “family, friends, and fools.” Moreover, they started crowdfunding and collected money that allowed them to order 200 game sets. They are also considering taking grants.

Note: The team chose crowdfunding, successfully reaching 117% of their goal for the first batch. By starting with a fair, small-scale printing partner and utilizing “Family, Friends, and Fools” (FFF) alongside grants (ASOS Camp), they avoided the trap of predatory contracts.

Scalable Business or Hobby?

Karol, Adam, and Jakub are aware of the market, which seems to be really hard, especially for young projects. Projects like this often take up to 13 years to break even. That kind of business requires you to be crazy and consistent. But as Karol said: “If a product is good, it will earn. The clue is to give added value to your customers.” Sales are based on direct sales using social media and fairs. They exclude partnerships with big shops like the popular Polish chain Empik.

Note: They are focusing on social media and fairs, intentionally skipping large retail chains like Empik in the early phase to preserve margins. This isn’t just one game. They have a pipeline of 14 future titles, suggesting a plan to build a long-term project.

Huge Ambitions

The strategy involves expanding into the European and United States markets, which are the biggest markets for board game geeks. It will help them scale their idea and gain their first foreign mass customers. They also have ideas for the next fourteen games. But now, the tough task is to test their game on a real audience. I hope they do well. Fingers crossed!

Note: Currently, they have just completed the “Test & Sell” phase. They are going to launch a second crowdfunding campaign, specifically to scale production and expand their distribution network.

The Scout’s Verdict

Republika is currently a long-term high-potential “Indie” project. Their strength lies in their lean operations and community-led growth. The only risk is high competition in the board game sector. To evolve, they have to take advantage of their community and think about the potential for international versions. Keep an eye on their first batch delivery, which will be their “Make or Break” moment.

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