Side Hustle School 3302 - TBT: Mystery Trip Biz Doubles Down on Thrills
Jan 15, 2026
Dave Green, the creative mastermind behind Mystery Trip, shares how he transformed a casual friends' gathering into a thriving event planning business. He discusses the shift to virtual experiences during the pandemic, including trivia and scavenger hunts, and previews the innovative hybrid game 'Minute to Win It'. Dave reflects on his remarkable projects, like recreating the 'We Are The World' music video, and emphasizes the importance of embracing change in business. With in-person events returning, he looks forward to a balanced future of hybrid offerings.
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Party Turned Professional
- Dave Green started Mystery Trip from a summer party he hosted for friends and turned it into a business after one email led to his first client.
- The company grew quickly and served teams from Airbnb, Google, Netflix, YouTube and many more nationwide.
Virtual Pivot Became Long-Term Revenue
- When in-person events halted, Mystery Trip pivoted to virtual games like trivia, Family Feud, and scavenger hunts.
- Hybrid offerings now matter: Dave forecasts virtual and hybrid will be ~50% of revenue for years.
Beta Test Hybrid Products
- Test new formats before full launch, as Dave did with a beta of Minute to Win It using shipped mystery boxes.
- Use positive beta feedback to time rollouts for peak demand like holidays.