Let’s Restore Meaning
to our Work

We Have a Work Problem

Something’s broken. The bottom 50% of Americans own just 2.6% of the wealth. CEO pay has risen 1,085% since 1978, while the average worker’s pay has grown only 24%. At the same time, Americans are increasingly depressed, isolated, and struggling to find purpose.

This isn’t just an economic or political issue—it’s a moral and spiritual one. It reflects what we believe about work, success, and what makes a life meaningful. When profit is the sole purpose, community breaks down. We lose sight of people, and trade shared prosperity for personal accumulation.

We need a new vision for work—and a new kind of business leader.

To restore meaning to our work by helping entrepreneurs build

excellent, honorable, radically generous

businesses

Our Mission: 

How We Build

Being excellent is the foundation to serving others well. It requires hard work, skillful competence and genuine care—for the work itself and the people it impacts.

Strive for Excellence

Honor Others

To honor others is to build businesses where people matter. That means giving employees ownership, focusing on human connection, and treating suppliers, customers, and teammates with fairness and dignity.

Profit is good—but it finds its purpose when it’s shared. We believe in building excellent, profitable businesses that share their success with the people who help build them.

Be Radically Generous

Chessboard on a stone table in a metropolitan park

What We Do

We help build and grow companies in the Twin Cities that are committed to redeeming the way we work. Here’s how:

  • We partner with entrepreneurs and small businesses to help scale their impact.

  • We make strategic investments in entrepreneurs and businesses who prioritize excellence, honor, and radical generosity.

  • We help retiring or exiting owners transition their business into the hands of leaders who will carry their vision forward—with integrity and care.

Logo of "Gambit Engine" with a stylized chess king.

So What Does it Mean?

Gambit: A calculated move—often an early sacrifice made to gain a long-term advantage.

Engine: An engine is a source of power and momentum—something that drives growth, movement, and transformation.

Gambit Engine: A strategic force for good—taking calculated risks in entrepreneurs and businesses who are on a mission to redeem the way we work.

Meet Our Founder

A bald man with a mustache wearing a gray suit jacket and white dress shirt poses with his hands in his pockets against a beige background.

Joey Olson grew up in Minneapolis and graduated from Hopkins High School. His love for culture and connection led him to Chile, where he spent two years learning Spanish, picking up salsa dancing, and—most importantly—meeting his wife, Javiera. Today, they live in North Minneapolis with their two kids, where life is full of music, scattered toys, and community.

Joey’s entrepreneurial journey began early, with ventures in teaching, music, and events. He’s most energized by launching new initiatives, building systems that serve people, and creating spaces where connection and purpose can thrive.

He holds a bachelor’s degree in Political Science from Taylor University and an MBA from the University of Minnesota. Most recently, he served as Director of Growth Marketing at Copado, a Silicon Valley unicorn. He also serves on the board of the Northside Residents Redevelopment Council (NRRC), a nonprofit committed to community-led development in North Minneapolis.