Bermudians Adam Johnson and Will Hillier took part in their first gold hunt in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.

The gold in question was actually $100,000 hidden somewhere in the city.

Mr Johnson and his friend did not find the prize, but they did come away with a gem of a business idea.

“We had a lot of fun,” Mr Johnson said. “We thought this would be something awesome for Bermuda.”

The pair launched Gold Hunt Bda earlier this year, arranging fun treasure hunts around the island for cash prizes. Their next event, with a prize of $500, is on December 10.

Treasure seekers must use their knowledge of Bermuda’s history and geography to help them find the “gold”. But this is not a scavenger hunt and they do not need to go to multiple locations to uncover further clues.

Participants buy tickets for the hunt, and Gold Hunt Bda sends them clues in the form of riddles and maps. The tickets help to fund the prize.

Mr Johnson admitted that, so far, they have gained more in experience than in profit, but the hope is that as the popularity of the hunts increase, so will their earnings.

They planned their first hunt in June for several months in advance. What they did not anticipate was the approach of the first named storm of the season, Tropical Storm Alex.

“We released the first seven riddles, and then waited 24 hours, and no one found the money,” Mr Johnson said. “We were worried that the storm would come before they found the prize, so we released more clues. Then they found it within three hours.”

Their next event was a customised hunt in August for Somersfield Academy teachers to celebrate the start of the school year.

“Somersfield actually organised the prize, in that case,” Mr Johnson said.

Their last hunt was earlier this month. That one took four days for someone to solve.

“The winner was a man who works in an insurance company,” Mr Johnson said. “He loves doing puzzles and escape rooms with his children. He was getting his children up at 6am to find the prize. The kids loved it, but I think they were a little relieved when they found the prize.”

Mr Johnson said that given that only 13 people took part in the last one, the odds are in the seekers’ favour, at the moment.

Mr Johnson is a lawyer by training. He practised in London, England, for a few years before relocating to Canada to work with start-ups. He moved back to Bermuda just before the pandemic began.

Now he is in the entrepreneurship incubator Ignite’s latest cohort for another business he is starting up called Marooned Media.

“Ignite has been a really good place to meet and share ideas,” he said.

Tickets are $25 each, available at www.ptix.bm/Event/7402/Gold-Hunt-Bda.