From COM to Career: Q&A With Ben Oppenheimer, MS Media Ventures

COM: Could you tell me about Monster League?

Ben Oppenheimer: In Monster League, athletes are powered by different elemental types. Instead of drafting players, you battle and capture them. If you defeat them in a lineup battle, you can add them to your team. It’s a fun game sitting at the intersection of fantasy sports  and RPG  video games. It’s for people who like sports but also enjoy dorking out over games like Magic: The Gathering and Pokémon. If you get the elements and elite trainers references, you’re probably going to enjoy Monster League. If not, that’s okay too.

COM: How did you decide to pursue an advanced degree in this field – and why media ventures?

Ben Oppenheimer: I was actually studying for an MBA when I discovered the Media Ventures program at COM. My background was in media and production. I’d worked as a set PA for film and did freelance video animation and design. I had some digital skills and wanted a program that connected those interests toward the business side. The media ventures program fit that perfectly.

COM: What attracted you to Boston University?

Ben Oppenheimer: I had a fondness for Boston. I’d done a summer program at Berklee (College of Music)  and some art school stuff at MassArt. Boston is a great college town: walkable, full of students, energetic. I liked the setting.

COM: What was the most memorable part of your time at COM?

Ben Oppenheimer: I was 26 or 27 when I joined COM, several years after undergrad. What stood out was the opportunity to present and pitch ideas in a low-risk classroom environment. Pitching business ideas or even films and animations to classmates and other universities, it was a lot of fun. I loved getting up and speaking, trying out ideas.

COM: What specific skills did you gain that helped you professionally?

Ben Oppenheimer: Media Ventures really taught me market research and product validation. It didn’t teach product building directly—that’s something you have to do on your own or learn elsewhere—but it helped me learn how to talk about products for business. Instead of getting lost in technical details, the program trained me to explain why people need a product, how it can make money, and how to build it in simple terms that business folks understand.

COM: Were there professors or instructors who had a big impact on you?

Ben Oppenheimer: Jodi Luber was crucial. She recommended me, believed in me from the start, and was like a second or third mother. Entrepreneurial confidence is a commodity, and she was always a source of unwavering support. I’d also give a shout-out to Peter Marton, a BU guest lecturer. He balanced being to the point with politeness, and was great at managing young, inexperienced entrepreneurial minds.

COM: Did you have a moment when you felt you chose the right path?

Ben Oppenheimer: I’m quite indecisive, but my attitude was that once you pick a path, give it your all. Media Ventures felt like the perfect fit for me, but ultimately, it’s how you make the program work for you.

COM: How about your cohort during your time studying media ventures?

Ben Oppenheimer: Cohorts are a luck of the draw. I was on the older end at 27; the youngest was 21. The program is team-oriented. We had a diverse group which brought international perspectives.

COM: Was the idea for Monster League developed during the program?

Ben Oppenheimer: No, I started it after. In 2019, the year I entered BU, I pitched a sports betting idea but quickly realized the market is heavily regulated and monopolized—too much money and regulation for a startup. I pursued it for three years overlapping with media ventures studies but couldn’t get it off the ground. Then, using my industry network, I pivoted to product and game design for casinos and others, which gave me the connections to build Monster League.

COM: What is your top career advice for students considering media ventures?

Ben Oppenheimer: Two things: One, seeing is believing. Always add visuals to whatever you do. A great visual makes you that much more successful when pitching ideas. Two, email. Keep emails short, direct, and to the point. No one wants a long life story in the first outreach. Say something like, “Hi, I’m an ex-student interested in an internship. Can we set up a call?” Save those stories for interviews.