Most kids change their minds a lot while growing up about what they want to do when they become an adult. However, for 21-year-old Canaan Kimball, that was not the case. Kimball had one goal in mind ever since he was very young.
“Ever since I was a kid, I was obsessed with the idea of inventing something. I always knew I wanted to be an entrepreneur,” he said.
As a child, Kimball carried around a notebook that he would write ideas in for possible future inventions. He was also focused on starting a business from a young age. Kimball had more than a few business ventures when he was younger including selling Halloween candy, selling bracelets he made and a lemonade stand.
Kimball graduated from Nease High School in 2022 and is currently a senior at Lehigh University. He will graduate in May 2026 with a degree in business and a degree in mechanical engineering.
Earlier this year, Kimball noticed that pickleball, a paddle sport that blends tennis and badminton, was becoming a very popular pastime.
“I got the idea for a card game because I noticed how much the pickleball market was exploding,” he said.
Kimball’s card game, which he cleverly titled Deal and Dink, is made up of challenge cards that players draw before the start of play and then incorporate what is on the card into the rally.
Once he noticed how much fun his family and friends had playing the game, he decided to try it out on a larger audience. He made some adjustments to the card game and placed a mass order with an oversees manufacturer. To date, Kimball has sold more than 2,000 units of his game worldwide and has made more than $35,000 in revenue.
Kimball’s game found immediate success, and he has no plans of slowing down anytime soon. He has always been obsessed with the show “Shark Tank,” and his dream is to one day be a participant on the show.
Currently, the game is available to purchase on Kimball’s website and on Amazon. To purchase the Deal and Dink card game, go to www.dealanddink.com.
