Austin Panic Room foundersYou are stuck in a room with seven other people and no way out. Your group must work together to move around the room, solving puzzles and finding clues that lead to your escape exit.

This video game-like experience is Austin Panic Room, Austin’s first live escape room. Founded by Leo Chen (MPA ’16), Sean Shen (MPA ’16), Robert Ma (BBA ’15), Shannon Wey (BBA ’15) and Henry Shi (MPA ’13), Austin Panic Room is the result of a similar experience they had after competing in the EY Beam Abroad Case Competition. The team won first place and a trip to London, where they gained the inspiration for their new business venture.

“The idea came from my experience at the escape game in London,” admits Ms. Wey. “I came out of it thinking it was one of the most unique and exciting experiences I’ve had. The mix of crazy adrenaline rush and the extensive team collaboration made me think: ‘I have got to share this experience with others.’”

The four looked to Henry Shi, co-founder of the Indy Coffee Co., a coffee trailer in San Antonio, for help in making their idea reality. Henry enjoys mentoring students, so helping them grow their idea into a full-fledged business was a “rewarding ride.”

Once a group shows up at the mysterious house in East Austin, they are locked in the room with only an hour to escape. While it may sound strange to pay to get locked in a room with other people, it’s a great opportunity to team build and practice working together towards a common goal. Austin Panic Room also gives puzzle-solvers an opportunity to shine. Leo Chen stresses that in order to succeed, panic room patrons must think outside of the box. “There’s no formulaic way to escape the room.”

Henry’s suggestion was a bit vague, hinting at what could make escaping even more challenging: “Watch out for red herrings.”

Austin Panic Room opened on Friday, September 5th and has more exciting rooms on the way.