Today we’d like to introduce you to Connor Lewellin.
Connor, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
We’re SDNerfWarsUNLMTD, a San Diego-based company started by two friends who grew up spending our childhoods in friendly NERF battles. Like many kids, we were obsessed with
blasters, epic showdowns, and backyard fun. Years later, that same love for play sparked something we never expected. It all began with Josh’s son’s 6th birthday party. We wanted to make it special—something more than just cake and decorations. The idea was to host a NERF-themed party at a local park for close friends and family. But as the RSVPs started rolling in, we quickly realized it was going to be bigger than expected—around 20 to 30 guests.
We didn’t want to let anyone down. So, we went all in. We stocked up on blasters, gathered safety gear, prepped games, and planned an experience we hoped would wow everyone—especially the kids. And it did. As the event got underway, it turned into more than just a party. It became a magnet. Kids from all over the park were wandering over, curious about the setup, and eager to join. Parents were coming up to us, asking if we had business cards, thanking us for putting on something so fun and different. They weren’t just watching from the sidelines—they were jumping in too, blasters in hand and grins on their faces.
After the party, we looked around at all the equipment—most of it used for the first time—and had a thought: Why not keep this going? We searched around San Diego and realized there weren’t many people offering this kind of interactive, family-friendly NERF experience. But we knew one thing—anyone who had tried it had a blast. That gave us the spark. That’s when SDNerfWarsUNLMTD was officially born. We went back to the park, this time with a purpose: to set everything up again and film footage for our first Instagram post. The energy was just as high, the games were just as fun, and the response was just as exciting. That first post launched our journey—and since then, we’ve been growing.
Today, SDNerfWarsUNLMTD provides full-service, action-packed NERF events across San Diego. Whether it’s a birthday party, community event, or family get-together, our goal is to bring
people together, get them moving, and let them tap into that pure joy we all remember from being kids. It started with a single birthday party—but it’s become something so much more.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
As a fairly new company, we’re still working hard to get our name out there. Everyone who’s experienced one of our events has had an amazing time—and often, people at the park will stop
to ask questions or say, “I didn’t even know this kind of thing existed!” But that’s been one of our biggest challenges: visibility. Getting people to actually find us and give it a shot is the hardest
part. Once they do, they’re hooked—it’s just getting them there that takes the most effort. Beyond that, a big part of the journey has been a lot of trial and error—figuring things out as we go, learning from each event. For example, selecting the right NERF blasters was more complicated than we expected. We went through about 10 different models before narrowing it down. We needed something that was jam-resistant, durable, easy to use for both kids and adults, and affordable enough to scale. Today’s blasters are a lot more advanced—many are battery-powered and a bit more complex—so we focused on simple, user-friendly options to keep the games flowing smoothly. We also made a conscious decision to only offer a few types of blasters. That way, every player has the same gear and the games stay fair. It prevents any competition over which blaster is “better” and keeps things fun and inclusive for all ages. Logistically, there’s been a lot to work through too. We needed boxes to hold and transport all the equipment. Then came the inflatable bunkers—those take time to set up, and we went through three different pumps before finding one that inflated them quickly and efficiently. At outdoor events, wind quickly became a serious factor. At first, we tried using a camo tarp to hold the bunkers together, but with gusts coming every 10 minutes, they were floating off like balloons. We eventually switched to using sandbags to anchor them—effective, but they made the boxes significantly heavier. That meant we had to add a dolly just to manage transport. So no—it definitely hasn’t been smooth or easy. But every challenge has taught us something valuable. The behind-the-scenes work can be tough, but once the event starts and the energy kicks in, it’s all worth it. I stay as organized as possible, and I’m always looking for ways to improve our setup and enhance the experience for our guests. Because at the end of the day, the goal of SDNerfWarsUNLMTD is simple: bring people together for a unique, high-energy experience they’ll remember long after the blasters are packed away.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
We provide NERF blaster entertainment for any type of event (i.e., family gatherings, birthday parties, company events). We bring all the fun to you and will cater to your needs accordingly. Our company is different from others as we aim to provide the upmost family-friendly service to ensure an amazing experience for all regardless of your age! We aim to provide the uptmost service and know that hardwork comes from going home knowing we made a difference in someone’s day,
We all have a different way of looking at and defining success. How do you define success?
For me, success isn’t really about one big moment—it’s an ongoing process. Once you hit one goal, there’s always something new to work toward. I’ve always seen success as just trying to
be better every day—more efficient, more creative, more present for the people we serve. It’s about progress, not perfection.
With SDNerfWarsUNLMTD, success shows up in a lot of different ways. It could be a kid who doesn’t want the party to end, a group of adults saying they haven’t had that much fun in years, or even just seeing how smoothly an event runs compared to the last one. Every time we level up—whether it’s improving our gear, making setup faster, or creating a better experience—itfeels like a win. At the same time, we know we’ve still got a lot of growing to do. We’re always looking at how we can reach more people, make things better, and take the whole experience to the next level. That drive to keep pushing forward, while still loving what we do—that’s what success means to me..
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @sdnerfwarsunlmtd
- Other: sdnerfwarsunlmtd@gmail.com
