19 Team Building Activities for Startups in 2025
Are you in search of some team building activities for startups?
Starting a new company is both exciting and challenging. The reason is dealing with employees of different personalities and skills can be a difficult task.
As a startup leader, you should create a positive working environment that brings your teams together.
In this article, let’s see 19 team building exercises specifically designed for your startup company. Conducting these activities in your workplace can help you bring your employees together.
19 Team Building Activities for Startups
Here are some good startup team building activities that you can try.
#1. Company Quiz
For: Breaking the ice, and understanding the company
This is an interactive trivia game that allows startups to learn more about their industry and company history.
Time: 15-20 minutes
Materials Required: A list of trivia questions, paper, and pen
Participants: Any number of people per group
Instructions
- Prepare trivia questions tailored to your startup’s industry and history.
- Have each group write down their answers and explain why they chose them.
- Discuss the answers and award the group that provided more correct answers.
#2. Talent Show
For: Getting to know each other, Developing a team atmosphere, and Recognizing individual talents
This is one of the amazing team building activities for startups. It is perfect for recognizing each member’s unique talents and creating a positive team atmosphere.
Time: 15-30 minutes (or longer depending on the number of participants)
Materials: None
Participants: Any number of members in a group
Instructions
- Have each group member take turns performing their hidden talent. For example, singing, dancing, playing an instrument, etc.
- Encourage everyone to clap and cheer for each performance.
- After everyone has performed, award the best performer with a prize or recognition!
#3. Two Truths and a Lie
For: Breaking the ice, and getting to know each other
This exercise helps your employees get to know each other better and encourages them to use their deductive skills.
Time: 10-15 minutes
Materials: None
Participants: Small groups of less than 10 members
Instructions
- Ask each person to introduce themselves by sharing two true statements and one false statement about themselves.
- Encourage the remaining group members to listen carefully and try to guess which statement is the lie.
- Finally, discuss each individual’s statements and the reasoning behind how they determined which one was a lie.
#4. Appreciation Circle
For: Building trust and empathy
This activity develops an environment of empathy and appreciation within the startup team.
Time: 10-15 minutes
Materials: None
Participants: Any number of people in a group (but small is better)
Instructions
- Have each member of the team share what they appreciate about other members.
- Encourage everyone to give specific examples.
- After everyone is finished, encourage the team to thank each other for their appreciation.
#5. Cooking Competition
For: Creativity and problem-solving
This is one of the creative team building exercises for startups. It encourages employees to work together, be creative, and solve problems.
Time: You decide
Materials: A specific ingredient of your choice
Participants: 2-5 members per group
Instructions
- Assign each group a specific ingredient and ask them to prepare a dish.
- Make necessary arrangements and give the groups some time to prepare their dish.
- After that, allow the groups to present their dishes for judging.
- Declare the winner and provide them with a prize.
#6. Scavenger Hunt
For: Developing problem solving and decision making skills
Scavenger Hunt is one of the classic team building activities for startups. In this activity, teams work together to find a list of items.
Time: You decide
Materials: Clues or items to be collected
Participants: 2-5 members per group
Instructions
- Divide the employees into small groups and assign each group a set of clues or items to collect.
- Allow them time to search for the items on their list.
- The group that finds all the items first wins the competition!
#7. Escape Room
For: Developing problem solving and decision making skills
In this activity, employees should work together to solve puzzles and riddles to escape a room.
Time: 15-30 minutes
Materials: Various puzzles
Participants: Small groups of less than 10 members
Instructions
- Set up an escape room in a designated area with various puzzles, riddles, and clues.
- Assign each team a different room and provide them with a time limit.
- Encourage the teams to work together to solve the puzzles and riddles in order to escape from the room.
- The team that escapes from their assigned room first wins the challenge!
#8. Office Olympics
For: Encouraging collaboration and team spirit
Office Olympics is a fun activity for your startup. It encourages healthy competition between employees while promoting teamwork.
Time: You decide
Materials: Various sporting equipment
Participants: All members of the startup team
Instructions
- Designate a space for the office Olympics.
- Set up different events such as relay races, tug-of-war, and egg-and-spoon races.
- Form different teams and give them time to practice.
- On the day of the event, let the teams compete in their respective events.
- Award prizes or recognition to the winners!
#9. Networking Event
For: Enhancing communication and collaboration
This is one of the outstanding team building activities for startups. It provides an opportunity for your employees to meet new people, share ideas, and learn from others.
Time: You decide
Materials: Refreshments, snacks, and decorations
Participants: All members of your startup team
Instructions
- Designate a space for the networking event.
- Set up refreshments, snacks, and decorations to make it festive.
- Invite other startups in your area to join the event.
- Allot time for mingling and networking.
- Encourage members of your team to meet new people, share ideas, and learn from others.
#10. Volunteer Day
For: Providing value to the community and strengthening team spirit
This activity helps employees gain a sense of purpose. It also encourages teamwork and empathy.
Time: A few hours
Materials: Supplies needed for the organization or charity
Participants: Decide depending on the event you choose
Instructions
- Choose a charity or organization that the team is passionate about.
- Decide the type of activities you want to do (e.g., cleaning, helping out with a fundraising event).
- Set the date and plan for the team’s volunteer day.
- During the event day, spend time volunteering and helping out at the chosen organization.
- After the event, have a discussion about the experience and how it impacted the team.
#11. Book Club
For: Generating meaningful conversations and learning valuable lessons
This activity is a great way to promote learning, critical thinking, and teamwork within your startup team.
Time: You decide
Materials: A chosen book
Participants: All the employees
Instructions
- Choose a book that all members can read together. For instance, biographies of successful entrepreneurs, books about the latest business trends, etc.
- Set a deadline for them to read the book individually.
- After the deadline, schedule a meeting to discuss what everyone has learned from the book.
- Finally, brainstorm how to put those ideas into practice.
#12. Group Workout
For: Enhancing physical as well as mental health, and team bonding
This activity is a great way to encourage employees to maintain their physical health and foster connection with each other.
Time: Ongoing
Materials: Exercise equipment (optional)
Participants: All the employees
Instructions
- Create a workout routine or activity that all members can participate in.
- Set aside time for everyone to complete the workout together every week.
- Make it fun by setting up both physical and mental challenges. For instance, physical challenges such as a certain number of push-ups, and mental challenges such as solving puzzles.
- Celebrate with a group stretch or yoga session at the end.
#13. Charades
For: Improving communication, cooperation, and problem-solving skills
Charades is an ideal team building exercise for your new company. It requires employees to use their nonverbal communication skills and imagination.
Time: 10 minutes or more
Materials: None
Participants: Exactly two groups of any size
Instructions
- Divide participants into two or more even groups.
- Each group will take turns selecting a charade to act out. The other group must guess the answer within a set time limit. The charades can be related to the job, or topics outside of work such as movies, books, and sports.
- Use a scoring system and award the group with the highest points at the end.
#14. Jigsaw Puzzle with Negotiation
For: Enhancing problem-solving skills, communication, and negotiation
Time: You decide
Materials: Jigsaw puzzles of different sizes and complexity levels
Participants: At least two different groups
Instructions
- Divide participants into groups of no more than 4 or 5 people.
- Give each group a jigsaw puzzle and assign them a time limit to complete the puzzle.
- During the game, the groups must negotiate with each other for pieces they are missing in order to complete their puzzles.
- The group that completes their puzzle first in the allotted time wins.
#15. Brainstorming Game
For: Enhancing creative thinking, problem-solving skills, and collaboration
This exercise boosts creativity and helps team members come up with original ideas.
Time: 10-15 minutes
Materials: Whiteboard or flip chart and markers
Participants: Groups of 4 members
Instructions
- Instruct the participants to split into groups of four. Then, give each group a whiteboard or flip chart and some markers.
- Ask them to come up with as many ideas as possible for a given topic. For instance, the topic can be how to increase customer engagement for a new product launch.
- Allow the groups 10 minutes to brainstorm and come up with ideas.
- Finally, celebrate the unique ideas generated by each group and recognize their efforts.
#16. Taste Test
For: Enhancing communication and collaboration
This is one of the simple team building activities for startups. It is great for team bonding and getting everyone talking.
Time: 5-10 minutes
Materials: Each participant’s favorite snack
Participants: Groups of 6 or less
Instructions
- Request that each employee bring a snack of their choice one or two days prior to the event.
- At the start of the event, break the participants into small groups. Then, give enough plates and napkins to them.
- Ask each group member to explain their snack in detail. Then, have everyone taste each others’ snacks and discuss the experience.
- Finally, let the participants take a group photo enjoying the snacks.
#17. Photo Storytelling
For: Building trust and empathy
This activity helps employees gain insights into each other’s experiences by sharing something meaningful.
Time: 10-20 minutes
Materials: Photos from each person
Participants: 3-6 members per group
Instructions
- Request everyone to bring a photo that inspires them. It can be a photo of something meaningful in their life, such as a family vacation or an important event.
- During the exercise, ask each person to share the story behind their picture with the rest of the group.
- Encourage the group members to listen actively and show respect for all stories.
- Invite everyone to ask questions and provide feedback.
#18. Group Drawing
For: Encouraging collaboration, building trust, and creative thinking
This activity helps spark creative thinking and encourages employees to work together to create something meaningful.
Time: 15-30 minutes
Materials: Paper and markers
Participants: 3-6 members per group
Instructions
- Ask each group to come up with a topic or theme and draw it on the paper.
- The group members can take turns contributing to the drawing. Each person can draw whatever they like, but it should be related to the topic or theme.
- Encourage everyone to collaborate and build on each other’s ideas. Once the drawing is finished, let them celebrate the final product with a group photo!
#19. Stand and Deliver
For: Getting to know each other, and Building public speaking and presentation skills.
This is an excellent game to get employees comfortable with sharing ideas and opinions in front of others, which is an important skill for any organization.
Time: 10-15 minutes
Materials: Random objects or topics for each participant
Participants: Less than 6 members per group
Instructions
- Give each group member an object or topic. Then, ask them to do a one-minute presentation on that.
- Let them stand up and deliver their presentations one after another.
- At the end of each presentation, make sure everyone takes a moment to applaud and recognize the speakers’ efforts.
- Finally, let the group members decide on the best presentation and honor that person with applause.
Want Some Unique Team Building Activities?
If you want some unique team building exercises for your startup, you can get my new e-book:
Or Want Some Unique Leadership Development Activities?
If you want some unique activities to equip your employees with leadership skills, qualities, and mindset, you can get my new e-book:
Final Words
Experiential learning activities can be a game-changer for the productivity and morale of startup teams. By incorporating these interactive exercises, you inspire collaboration, creativity, and a sense of unity within your organization. Remember, an engaged and cohesive team is the backbone of any successful startup journey.