In this presentation, Luciano Meira reports on his experience as a teacher, researcher and entrepreneur in educational innovation in Brazil. More specifically, Luciano will talk about the game-based learning environments he has been helping to develop at Joy Street (www.joystreet.com.br), a company Luciano co-founded and currently works at as chief of science and innovation. The presentation will include a review of the literature on the effectiveness of digital games on students' engagement and performance in schools, a discussion of the design and pedagogical principles that have guided his work, and an assessment of how those game-based environments have transformed traditional social arrangements within school networks in Brazil.