‘I launched a puzzle business inspired by my young daughter - now she’s helping the company save thousands’
13-year-old Naima has saved her dad thousands of pounds after he launched Very Puzzled
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The Source Exclusive: ‘I launched a puzzle business inspired by my young daughter - now she’s helping the company save thousands’
Patrick Adom launched Very Puzzled to create generational wealth but he’s already reaping the benefits
STORY BY SERENA RICHARDS
AUGUST 19, 2025
A father who created an African and Caribbean themed puzzle business inspired by his young daughter says she’s now helped him save ‘hundreds, if not thousands of pounds’ with her keen eye for detail.
Founder Patrick Adom, 48, set out to launch Very Puzzled after worrying how his daughter Naima, 13, would “perceive herself” as a Black girl in the world.
In 2017, the father from Dartford, Kent, finally developed jigsaw puzzles with the aim of helping Black people develop a sense of pride in themselves through discovering more about African and Caribbean culture.
After creating the successful games along with activity books which are sold in popular stores such as Hamleys and Waterstones, Patrick says his daughter now plays a vital role spotting errors which has saved him “thousands of pounds”.
Speaking to The Source Patrick said: “She's got a really good attention to detail and can spot when there's an error on a puzzle that I forgot. And that's saved me hundreds, if not thousands of pounds.
“Even when I've updated the African map and she's looked at and said stuff like, ‘this looks too busy’ or ‘this is good’
“Naima does it in a very successful, succinct way. I think she's creative, really great and gives her feedback and input. So I'm always really appreciative”.
Patrick says he was moved to start Very Puzzled following concerns about his daughter growing up in a world where Black people are ‘represented in a negative way’.
He said: “One day I was just looking at my daughter and just thinking about how she perceives herself in the world and not seeing herself reflected positively.
“Having grown up in that same kind of environment and experiencing it as well, you can't shelter them from the world, but you can try and let them have pride in who they are and where they're from”.
Patrick believes that part of the problem is that Black history taught in UK schools doesn’t highlight the ‘true’ history that has specifically defined Black British people.
He said: “I think that when we do get Black History Month, or when Black history is considered, it's more from a US perspective.
“But I feel in this country, because so many people are from the Caribbean or Africa, we kind of miss out on that heritage.
“So, I think it's also good to have a UK, and an African and Caribbean lens [so people] learn more about their heritage”.
Patrick’s daughter Naima says that seeing the puzzles in stores has sparked her creativity and given her an appreciation for diversity within the industry.
The 13-year-old said: “When I was younger I didn’t really get it, but now I’m older. It’s good having somewhere where I can see [diversity].
“I remember that I felt very proud seeing them in the kids section next to all the other toys.
“Seeing the puzzles inspires me to think that I can do things and make things. I don't have to be the most creative person, but I can still create something”.
Patrick was born in Ghana and moved to the UK at the age of seven with his mother who worked two jobs to make ends meet.
As a result, he says that the idea of starting a business also stemmed from thoughts of creating legacy and generational wealth.
He said: “I was thinking in terms of just generational wealth, ‘what can I hand down to my daughter and what assets can I provide?’
“It's still work in progress but I want her to see the process so she can experience the ups and downs.
“I want to show her to at least follow your passion, follow your dreams and so if nothing - I can instil that in her”.
Growing up, Naima says she would regularly bond with her father over a game of Battleships but now, with the rise of technology Patrick says it’s harder for parents to be ‘in the moment”.
He said: “It’s hard for parents. I see so many parents struggle with the rise of technology and sometimes it is easier to just put an iPad in front of your child because you know they’ll enjoy it.”
But Naima says that puzzles are a way for the pair to put down their devices and ‘be present’.
She said: “Sometimes you catch yourself thinking ‘oh, I would rather be on my phone,’ or ‘I'd rather be doing something with a screen’ you know, rather than being present in the moment.
“So, I think the puzzles are a great way to just take a break from the devices and do something with your hands”.
The popular activity books and puzzles are also now sold in the founder’s hometown in Ghana but Patrick says he hopes to take them worldwide.
Overall, he says he also hopes to inspire people to become entrepreneurs by simply ‘just starting’.
He said: “Just start, you don't have to start with a big investment of thousands of pounds, but you can start with a little and see where it goes”.
Love this story! What a smart young lady. Dad now needs get the puzzles patented, and scale this business online to reach a global audience. FAST! I absolutely adore good news stories like this, Melissa. We need them to uplift our communities because a lot of what we read about the diaspora is tragic and sad. Keep delivering them for us, won't you?