August 18, 2014
Team Munzee has been hard at work getting the Munzee Marketplace up and running so for this Meet Munzee Munday, check out our progress. It’s all starting to come together and we hope to open very soon. So get to Downtown McKinney and visit the Marketplace!
August 11, 2014
Here at Munzee we’re constantly encouraging our players to meet and greet and build the personal relationships that make this game so great. Over the next few weeks we’ll be showcasing members of Team Munzee so our players can get to know us a bit better. So each Munday (see what we did there?) check in to see a new member of Team Munzee and you decide if you trust the game in our hands. It may have taken him all day to finish his questionnaire, but he’s a pretty busy guy. It’s Munzee President Rob Vardeman!
Name and Title:
Rob Vardeman, President of Munzee Inc.
Where are you from?
Born in West Texas (Odessa) but jumped around the state several times, and a 4-year stay in California, before finally landing in Allen Texas. I’ve lived in Allen for 22 years, about 5 miles from our amazing location for Munzee HeadQuarters.
How did you find Munzee?
August 13th 2011, just over a month after Munzee launched I was out playing two other location games. I was headed for a long trail, but stopped at a windmill to find a container. As I approached GZ I noticed a tag zip tied to the structure flapping in the breeze. Odd but unimportant in my current search. I found the container a few feet away, took care of business, and turned to leave. Then I noticed the tag had a QR code on it and said “Scan for points”. Being a gamer, and having just installed a QR code reader on my phone a few weeks earlier I scanned it and was taken to the Munzee website. I found out I needed to create an account to play this game, so I did. It was love at first cap. I spent the next 5 hours, and over 100 miles driving to all the nearby Munzees collecting my 5 points. Over the next few weeks I started to interact with “snicker” via email because I was unable to find some of his daughter’s deployments. He 
basically made fun of me (sarcastically) and said I needed to improve my “geo-senses” if I couldn’t find something hidden by his little daughter. LOL. It kicked my Munzee hunting into high gear when I figured out I was interacting with a co-founder and the president. Eventually capping Munzees in his neighborhood lead to meeting him so I took my shot and told him I would work for Munzee one day. I had a vision for what it could be used for and where it could go! I became addicted to chasing special icons and points. I was a fanatical player and made it all the way to #7 on the global leaderboard before I finally got added to the team. The rest of the story is history. 🙂
How long have you worked for Munzee?
After 9 months of bugging Aaron and Scott to let me help, I began volunteering for Munzee in June of 2012 as my summer started for my teaching job. My title was Business Development, Community Support, and Player Interaction (or something like that). Over the next 6 months I worked hard to prove my worth and earn my spot, while working full time as a 5th grade Math teacher. In December 2012 I presented a plan to Aaron that would move me to full time contractor status with Munzee due to increasing needs for work to be done during “normal business hours”. While the plan was risky, I had faith and knew it was the right move for M
unzee, and Aaron agreed. In January 2013, things really started to take off, after finally finding a supplier for vinyl stickers. It was 9 months later when Aaron and I talked through the future path for Munzee and he handed off the reins of Munzee Inc to me. October 4th 2013 was a life changing day for me and a game changer for Munzee. Since that time we’ve grown by leaps and bounds, increasing to 8 full time employees, 3 part time, and a fast growing worldwide community of players! Every day I’m amazed at our growth as a company and a game. I’m proud to lead our team as we venture out into new arenas and press on as THE 21st century scavenger hunt.
What do you enjoy most about Munzee?
Munzee is family. I truly see it that way. From hanging out with players at events, to interacting via email or Facebook groups I have always enjoyed spending time with my Munzee family. Hearing stories of need and how Munzee has made a difference, like in the case of my buddy David Reed, I believe in giving back to the players and their communities. It’s part of the reason I love to travel to events so much. Without the players, and their love for Munzee, we would be nothing. That’s something at the forefront of every choice we make at MHQ. The theme of 2014 is “Expect the Unexpected” and I think we’ve lived up to it at this point. The addition of new Munzee types, special contests, new badges, special events, and the marketplace show we aren’t afraid to keep things fresh. Munzee is home of the “Play it your way” special, and we will absolutely continue to innovate and give players new experiences in the years to come.
Famous last words?
When we moved into our first MHQ in January the three of us had quotes on the board. Mine is “I’ll be excited with one”. Sometimes we get carried away with bigger, faster, better, and the things that could be. But I’m excited with one. One person at an event, one deploy in a small town, one event in a new location, one shipment to a new country, one new player. It takes one to get the ball rolling. We’re seeing amazing growth in so many new places all around the world and it all started from one person in that area. Thanks also to the One who protects and guides me daily through this life I’m blessed to live and to my supportive family for allowing me to chase this dream. #MunzeeOn
August 4, 2014
Here at Munzee we’re constantly encouraging our players to meet and greet and build the personal relationships that make this game so great. Over the next few weeks we’ll be showcasing members of Team Munzee so our players can get to know us a bit better. So each Munday (see what we did there?) check in to see a new member of Team Munzee and you decide if you trust the game in our hands. This week we take a peak behind the veil at co-founder Scott Foster!
Name and Title:
Scott Foster, Co-Founder/VP of Technology
Where are you from?
I am from San Rafael, California, USA which is on the North side of the Golden Gate Bridge, south being the beautiful city of San Francisco. I lived there until I was 15 and then moved to Texas with my mom and step-dad. We moved in the middle of July and I would call my friends back in California and say “You wouldn’t believe this place. It’s 2am and it’s still 102F outside.” I still hate the heat. HATE IT.
Tell us about yourself:
About me? Let’s step back a bit …
I have always been interested in programming. I remember being fascinated with computers as a child. I feel like this is very cliché, but I loved being able to type something into the keyboard and things would appear. My dad bought me a C++ book when I was 7 and I didn’t understand a single word of it, but I felt much smarter that I had that book. “Look at me, I’m a REAL programmer!” I remember my house had two phone lines and two computers. So one day I played Warcraft 2 with my friend in the other room via dialup (56k baud modem) and was so amazed how that worked. I lost the game, but it was amazing how it was possible that I could play a game with somebody in the other room. It almost felt like Bell talking into the phone to Watson for the first time, “Mr. Watson – Come here – I want to see you.” … ah, something that is so taken for granted nowadays.
In middle school, I learned Hypercard and would make the teachers impressed that I could make a button on the screen that when you click it, a sound would play on the computer. The girls in my class were not as impressed as my teachers (surprising, I know). My school also had a website that they had no idea what to do with, so I asked if I could play with it – and I thought it was so cool that I could make changes to a file called index.html and people all over the world would see it. Things like that were always a delight.
Once I moved to Texas at 15, it was time to grow up. I just wanted to learn programming and make my 7 year old self proud. Once I graduated from high school and tried a few attempts at college, I decided to join the United States Air Force because they were willing to teach me programming, or so I thought. Basic training was “fun” as was technical training school. I kept asking when I was going to go learn real programming. I got stationed at RAF Lakenheath, England and was excited to learn … which I never did. I bought a PHP book which, like when I was young, I thought that it made me a real programmer. I learned the basics, created a website, and just had fun. As the great historian band Bone Thugs-n-Harmony once said, “You know nothing come easy, you gotta try real, real hard, I tried hard…but I guess I gotta try harder.”
I got out of the USAF after 2.5 years because the military was done relying on people to do programming and switched to using companies. I then moved back to Texas where I married my high school sweetheart, got my college degree at University of Texas at Dallas in Management Information Systems, and my wife and I moved to Philadelphia, PA to start our lives. I worked for a few companies, learned a lot about real programming, and then one day got a Facebook message from Aaron talking about this game he thought about called Munzee which has all lead to this.
Now, my life is not completely boring. I love all kinds of things. I have a Barry Bonds jersey in my closet. I will fight to the death at the notion that he ever did steroids. I also still love playing video games – Final Fantasy and Counterstrike: Global Offensive are the two that I play the most. I also enjoy nature, bike riding, 90’s west coast rap music, and hanging out with my family. A wife and 3 kids keep me very busy outside of work, but I love it.
How long have you worked for Munzee?
I have been around since the almost beginning of Munzee, but have only been working on it full time for about 1.5 years. Most people don’t know, but the first year when we created Munzee… nobody got paid. Everybody thought the idea was stupid, but we wanted to prove them wrong. All the money we earned, which wasn’t much, went back towards the servers or things to grow the game. Myself, along with the three other founders, would sit on Skype from about 8pm – midnight every night coming up with what Munzee was. We all had families and full time jobs so it was all done on the side because players, like you, kept playing. There were many debates on things like what it’s called when you scan a munzee. Everybody now knows it’s called capturing, but back then we had to come up with the terminology.
How did you come up with Munzee?
I actually did not come up with Munzee. Aaron approached me with some ideas he had along with mockups of the website. When I moved back to Texas, the 4 founders met on a cold February 2011 evening at a Mexican restaurant where we all agreed to start Munzee. The rest is history.
What do you enjoy most about Munzee?
The two things I love most are the abilities to prove to myself that I am a real programmer, that my 7 year old self would be proud of, and talking to people all over the world. Most people just go to work, do their job, think the work that they do doesn’t matter to anyone, and go home. Not me. My job is to make sure there is enough coal in the Munzee engine so that people can use it and Rob can steer where the boat needs to go. I have met a lot of interesting people via Munzee and realize that people from all over the world have the same hopes, fears, doubts, inspirations, and goals.
Famous last words?
I got 3 quotes. Dylan is mad that I couldn’t just pick one.
“I want to put a ding in the universe.” – Steve Jobs
“Everyone has a plan ’till they get punched in the mouth. ” – Mike Tyson
“When my time on earth is gone, and my activities here are passed, I want them to bury me upside down, and my critics can kiss my…” – Bobby Knight
July 21, 2014
Here at Munzee we’re constantly encouraging our players to meet and greet and build the personal relationships that make this game so great. Over the next few weeks we’ll be showcasing members of Team Munzee so our players can get to know us a bit better. So each Munday (see what we did there?) check in to see a new member of Team Munzee and you decide if you trust the game in our hands. Team Munzee is a bit busy this week moving into the new office, continuing birthday celebrations and just staying cool in this Texas summer heat. So instead of showcasing an actual Munzee employer this week, we’re showing off the latest addition to the team, The Munzee Marketplace!
Name and Title:
I’m the Munzee Marketplace!
Where are you from?
Right in the heart of Munzee Headquarters in McKinney, TX. I live at 111 E. Virginia which McKinney residents will know as the former Garrett Art Gallery. Unfortunately after 29 years in downtown McKinney the Art Gallery had to close it’s doors in April 2014. Although we were sad to see it go, we’re excited to continue to honor the downtown McKinney spirit and make the space thrive.
Tell us about yourself!
What started as a front for our QR based scavenger hunt app, the Munzee Marketplace has evolved into so much more. Featuring Breadwinners sandwiches and many more notable DFW area goods, the Marketplace brings local fare to a new level. Munzee is eager to become a staple in the McKinney community. Munzee has something for everyone, even more so now. Whether you are a Munzee player or you work in downtown McKinney, the Marketplace is here to serve your needs. Looking for a quick grab and go snack on your lunch break? Interested in a compelling, competitive smartphone app with an international fan base? Stop by the Munzee Marketplace and we’d be happy to help.
How long have you worked for Munzee?
I’m a bit new… Technically I haven’t even started yet, but we’re hoping to change that very soon! The doors to the Munzee Marketplace will open soon and just today Team Munzee started moving into the new office space! Although the tech guys are huffing a bit about the manual labor, we’re all very excited to move into the much larger (and more appealing) space!
How did you discover Munzee?
Really, Munzee discovered me. What started as simply a need for more space at MHQ turned into the something so much bigger. Team Munzee saw a need for downtown McKinney to have a grab and go convenience store. Although there are a number of great places to dine downtown, it can get pricey for the business owners and employees downtown to eat out every day. The Munzee Marketplace is dedicated to offering a quick, affordable bite to eat.
What do you enjoy most about Munzee?
Munzee, much like Downtown McKinney, is unique by nature. While it may not seem like a logical step for a QR based scavenger hunt app to open a Marketplace, Munzee isn’t interested in doing whats logical. We’re constantly looking at interesting new ways to shake things up and my creation is only the next in a long line of ideas coming to fruition!
What are some of your other hobbies?
Famous last words?
“In a crowded marketplace, fitting in is a failure. In a busy marketplace, not standing out is the same as being invisible.”
– Seth Godin
July 14, 2014
Here at Munzee we’re constantly encouraging our players to meet and greet and build the personal relationships that make this game so great. Over the next few weeks we’ll be showcasing members of Team Munzee so our players can get to know us a bit better. So each Munday (see what we did there?) check in to see a new member of Team Munzee and you decide if you trust the game in our hands. Munzee is an worldwide game so it’s important that we focus on our international team members as well! Get to know our German developer Daniel Fischer!
Name and Title:
Daniel Fischer, Backend Developer
Where are you from?
I was born and raised in a small village in Thuringia, Germany. I left there in 2007 and moved to Chemnitz, Saxony where I went to university studying computer science until last year. It’s a lovely countryside around here at the edge of the Ore Mountains and even the Czech boarder is nearby, so I decided to stay for a few more years.
Tell us about yourself:
As I said, I finished university last year and so I had to sort things while getting from studying over to real work a.k.a. getting things done. I spend most of the day in front of two computer monitors. Yes, maybe that comes with my job but it’s also fun and hobby and feels like I’m doing the right thing. Beside that I try to be outside enjoying the sun and nature every minute I can get. I really need to move around after sitting at the desk for hours. Enjoying outdoors alone is great, but sure it’s much more fun to do it with friends and people you like. This is where Munzee comes in 😉
How long have you worked for Munzee?
I’ve been on the Munzee ship since fall 2013, but I did some minor tasks for them before officially coming on.
How did you find Munzee?
Hah, I really didn’t find Munzee as a company in the first place, I found it as a game. Coming from that other geo-location game, I read about Munzee in a blog post and I decided to get an account (that was 1,051 days ago) and have a look at the map. There was only one Munzee deployed in the whole state! I got some friends hooked and the game started to grow (very slowly) in our area. In order to 
share thoughts and information about the game with other players from Germany, I set up the German Munzee forums and started coding up some tools that helped me and others playing the game. For that I got into contact with Scott and this is maybe how Munzee find me and gave me the ability to find Munzee as a company. I’m so glad to be here and work in such an awesome team!
What do you enjoy most about Munzee?
That’s easy! What I like most about it is being outside and being on the move. Also the game gets me in contact with people from around the world and on weekend Munzee trips it shows me great new places. There is an active development going on and every week is exciting, from the game and from the job point of view.
What are some of your other hobbies?
Other hobbies? Are you kidding? Hah, there are. Two years ago I bought a new bike and so I cycling for about an hour a day if the weather is good. Okay, maybe I have to admit that most of the times Munzee is included even if I’m going by bike. The other hobby is electronics. So soldering is no problem for me, in terms of hobby projects like doing fun things with the Arduino platform or other micro controllers. And well, there is even reading. Unfortunately I don’t read as much as I want, but I bought a kindle in March and things are getting better, hah.
Famous last words?
No time for being famous. I have to get out and score some points!
Check back next week to get to know another member of Team Munzee!
July 7, 2014
Here at Munzee we’re constantly encouraging our players to meet and greet and build the personal relationships that make this game so great. Over the next few weeks we’ll be showcasing members of Team Munzee so our players can get to know us a bit better. So each Munday (see what we did there?) check in to see a new member of Team Munzee and you decide if you trust the game in our hands. We may still call him The Intern, but this week’s Munzee Team member does far more than fetch coffee. Meet marketer Matt McCann!
Name and Title:
Matthew McCann, Business Development/Marketing
Where are you from?
I was born in Lake Havasu, Arizona and moved 4 times (California, New Mexico, and Kansas) before my family finally settled in Port Isabel, Texas when I was 6. I spent most of my life there before moving up to Dallas for college. I’ve been here for four years now.
Tell us about yourself:
Sports, craft beer, and technology are the things my life revolves around when I’m not in school (yes, I’m still attending UT Dallas) or at work. I love to travel, especially for sports, and I’m on a mission to visit all MLB ballparks. I also spend quite a bit of time binge watching movies and TV shows.
How long have you worked for Munzee?
About two months.
How did you find Munzee?
I actually knew Rob (President of Munzee) and TJ (VP of Operations and Marketing) from Allen Americans (our local CHL hockey team) games. We met before either started working for Munzee, and when they joined the Munzee team, I learned more and more about it. When I was looking for work earlier this year, I inquired with TJ, interviewed for the job and started work a week later.
What do you enjoy most about Munzee?
For anyone that’s been to MHQ or met members of the Munzee team, one thing is apparent: this isn’t just a job. The members of the Munzee team are invested in the game and players. We may have laid back attitudes, but our work is top priority. We do everything we can to make the game better and grow our player base.
What are some of your other hobbies?
Tying back into what I said earlier, sports and technology consume my life. I can usually be found watching a sport (baseball, soccer, and hockey are my favorites) in my free time. I also play on an indoor soccer team. I’m also a huge SciFi nerd. I love Doctor Who, Torchwood, and Superman. While I’m watching any of these things, I’m usually tinkering on my computer, phone, or tablet. I started learning coding (PHP, Java, and HTML/CSS) for fun. Music is my other passion whether it be listening, making, or editing. I treat myself to concerts when I can, and I’ve edited music for teams and individuals competing in dance competitions.
Famous last words?
“This is who I am, right here, right now, all right? All that counts is here and now, and this is me!” – The Doctor
Check back next week to get to know another member of Team Munzee!
June 30, 2014
Get ready to blow out the candles because it is officially Munzee’s 3rd birthday celebration, or #FiestaThree as we’ve come to call it around the office. As we celebrate our three years of outstanding achievements, we want to give back to the players that continue to give it their all year after year! This July we have a long list of events and announcements planned throughout the month, so be sure to stay tuned as we reveal more in the coming weeks. Remember, “three is a magic number”, so you may want to keep an eye out every three days this month!
We’ll have sales on special items throughout the month, so to start off we’d like to announce sales on the following items for beginning July 1 at 9 AM (MHQT, GMT-5) for 24 hours.
Take advantage of those discounted Rovers and get them out of their kennels. You’re going to need them if you want to get your hands on the exclusive Birthday Barker badge this July. You can get the badge in one of three ways:
What’s a birthday without presents? We’ll have prize days throughout the month featuring physical, virtual and totally random prizes. Our first prize day is Thursday July 3rd (mid morning MHQ time) where players have a chance to get Blast Caps, Mystery Virtuals and… a SPECIAL NEW MUNZEE type to celebrate our July Birthday. Those who saw the July Clan Requirements may have heard a bit about this new sparkle in coachv’s eye, but check in Thursday morning to learn exactly what the new munzee is.
Of course we’ll have many, many more announcements throughout the month as well. It helps to follow us on Facebook, Twitter and the blog. Stay tuned to hear about a new special following the end of the Copa Do Munzo challenge, triple point days and an all-out worldwide birthday party.
Big stuff is happening, so happy hunting and happy birthday to Munzee!
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How long have you worked for Munzee? 
Munzee helps so many people stay active. That makes me super proud of Munzee. Even if I didn’t run almost every evening, I get my daily walk and Fitbit steps in by playing Munzee almost every night. It’s the same for many of our players out there.
We’re sure players will see a portion of that discount passed on by the resellers during the next month on some items as a continued celebration of the 3rd birthday. We appreciate what the resellers do to grow the game of Munzee and provide quick regional and worldwide shipping options. Check them out at 