Exploring Life & Business with Sequoia Clay of NET WORTH UP™ A Financial Literacy Card Game

Today we’d like to introduce you to Sequoia Clay

Hi Sequoia, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
Hey future millionaires, I’m Sequoia, founder of NET WORTH UP™—a financial literacy card game! Imagine it as the UNO version of Monopoly. I created this fast-paced game to introduce players to wealth-building concepts in a quick, easy, and fun way.

My journey with personal finance started during my freshman year at Spelman College. I was scammed at an unauthorized booth that promised $2,000. As a broke 18-year-old, I gave them my social security number, and realized they did my taxes. I ended up taking away a $2,000 tax credit that my mother, who intended to claimed me, needed. The vendor took a hefty fee, so I only received about $400 of that refund. My mom was furious, and I was left feeling humiliated. But instead of letting that experience define me, I decided to educate myself.

At Spelman, I connected with a community leader and started the first financial literacy club on campus, teaching budgeting, credit, and investment strategies to my peers and local high school students. That was my first step towards empowering others with financial knowledge. Five years ago, I tried to build on that foundation by launching a podcast and a curriculum, but it didn’t ignite the excitement I wanted. I shelved the idea and shifted focus to my career.

I began my career in commercial banking and then transitioned into online merchandising—eventually landing a role as an e-commerce sales manager at a top CPG company. This year unfortunately, I was laid off. Fortunately, my investments in real estate, 401k, and stocks gave me the financial freedom to pivot back to my business idea. It felt like a calling, a redirection toward my purpose of making financial literacy fun and accessible.

After researching market trends, I noticed the resurgence of game nights, which immediately clicked with me. My family is from the Midwest, and we grew up playing poker and classic card games like spades and tonk. I took those roots and my passion for financial literacy and turned them into what is now NET WORTH UP™. I developed and tested the game with friends and family, and after ordering samples, I entered Grind Pretty Festival’s Pitch Competition—and won! That win reaffirmed for me that God was guiding me in the right direction.

NET WORTH UP™ can be played in under two minutes. It’s simple yet strategic: Players try to accumulate the highest ‘net worth’ using asset and liability cards. If a player thinks they have the highest points, they can end the game and reveal their hand. There are twists with cards like skip, reverse, and a draw-one option that keeps the excitement high, but the core idea is about building wealth and avoiding liabilities—just like in real life.

It hasn’t been easy. There have been sleepless nights figuring out how to market and fundraise effectively, but playing this game, especially with strangers, is exhilarating. Kids pick up on it quickly, and the positive feedback fuels me. I believe this game can spark a financial revolution, making literacy engaging and accessible.

Right now, I’m fundraising through a Kickstarter campaign running until the first week of November. My goal is to use the funds to continue to have pop-ups/trade-show booths across the US to land retailer partnerships like Walmart and Target. We’ve had donations of all sizes—and every contribution is a step towards making NET WORTH UP™ the next big game.

I’m beyond excited about what’s to come, and I truly believe that we’re at the start of something transformative in financial education. Thank you so much for having me on your platform, and I look forward to what the future holds for this journey.

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Building NET WORTH UP™ has been an incredible journey, but it certainly hasn’t been without its struggles. I have to give grace sometimes and remind myself that this game has only been launched for less than five months. One of the biggest challenges faced has been raising the necessary capital to scale. I won and entered into several pitch competitions to raise funds. We’re also currently raising $50,000 on Kickstarter to help amplify marketing efforts.

With limited funds for marketing pop up events and trade-shows, it’s been a challenge to expand our reach in order to break into larger retail channels like Walmart and Target. It’s an overwhelming process trying to scale a product-based business when you’re managing everything from product development to marketing by yourself. I’m deeply passionate about financial literacy, and I know that this game has the potential to make a real difference. But between managing sales, inventory, and customer feedback, it’s easy to get bogged down by the immediate needs. Staying focused on the bigger picture has been a challenge, but it’s also what drives me forward.

Despite these challenges, I remain committed to growing NET WORTH UP™ and making a lasting impact as the greatest financial literacy game of all times. Every obstacle faced has taught me something new, and I know we’re on the right game-changing path!

We’ve been impressed with NET WORTH UP™ A Financial Literacy Card Game, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
Here are three facts about financial literacy today in America.

1. 65% of Americans live paycheck to paycheck.
2. Two-thirds of Americans can’t pass a basic financial literacy test.
3. Early Financial education improves wealth accumulation by 82%.

I have a solution to help solve this wealth gap!

I am the founder of the first of its kind financial literacy card game, NET WORTH UP™! This unique card game is a blend of UNO and tonk, exposing players of all ages to wealth building concepts that encourage financial well being. Think monopoly but faster. A player can win a game in less than a couple of minutes!

The goal is to have more asset cards (what you own) and less liability cards (what you owe) to win the game with the highest net worth. The player that thinks they have the highest points (AKA net worth) reveals their hand for a chance to win, ending the game. All players have to count their points, and the player with the highest points wins.

Do you want to have FUN and get RICH—if your answer is yes play NET WORTH UP™ with your family and friends during your next game night. Social engagement, quick playing time, and financial literacy are our biggest differentiators to any other party games on the market. Pre-order yours today at www.networthup.com!

If we knew you growing up, how would we have described you?
Growing up, I was the oldest child and grandkid, so I spent a lot of time around adults—which made me an ‘old soul’ early on. In elementary school, I was taller than most of my peers and was convinced I’d be the next Shaquille O’Neal. But when my growth spurt leveled off in seventh grade, my basketball dreams didn’t exactly pan out. Even though I didn’t make varsity in high school, I stayed active through volleyball and track. I went on to Spelman College, where I had the time of my life—Atlanta’s hip-hop scene was really booming back then and I prided myself in wearing business casual to the club! Growing up (and still to this day) I love to dance, travel, play games, participate in fitness activities, and have fun bringing laughter to the family and friends closest to me!

Pricing:

• Retail $25.00

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.networthup.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/networthup?igsh=bHo2dmdyNmEyZG1s&utm_source=qr
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/RjFzvt68L688RkeF/?mibextid=kFxxJD
• Twitter: https://www.x.com/networthup
• Youtube: https://youtube.com/@networthup?si=kDKxEG-T1c81RJA7
• Other: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/networthup/net-worth-uptm-a-financial-literacy-card-game