Fantasy Startup

A real-to-life simulation teaching the skill and arithmetic of startup investing

Fantasy Startup® is an MBA-level, real-to-life simulation that teaches the skill, art, and arithmetic of startup investing.

This course is designed for persons of all ages, regardless of net worth, as an introduction to the emerging entrepreneurial investing economy.

Those that complete the course and meet the success requirements are eligible to get certified as Level 1 Startup Investors. Certification is the first step towards qualifying to invest in startups, with minimums as low as $1.00. Studies demonstrate that anyone seeking to create long-term wealth should have some exposure to the asset class, not to exceed 10% of net worth.

You’ll begin with $10,000 in your wallet. Throughout the game, you’ll be presented with up to 50 startup investment opportunities. Each opportunity is broken down into 5 major categories: Market Size, Team, Signals, Valuation, and Risks. Once presented with an investment opportunity, you’ll have 5 minutes to invest or pass. If you pass, you won’t receive another opportunity to invest in that startup. If you invest, there will be opportunities to continue to invest as the startup grows and raises more capital.

The startups you choose to invest in will be added to your portfolio where the progress of your investments is tracked. Each day of the course represents 1 year for the startup. For example, if a startup exited three years after the first investment in the real world, the startup story will play out within three days following your first investment.

Other points/features:

- All startup stories featured in the 2021-22 version are real and have completed their life cycles, culminating in an exit or a failure;

- Startups will end either as a failure or successful exit (i.e. IPO, Acquisition). It’s up to you to determine which startups have the greatest potential;

- 150 micro-lessons on the startup investing economy. Players will be required to complete 50 quiz questions to earn all 50 startup investment opportunities; and

- Players are able to invite friends to take the course and compare scores.

Players qualify for Certification if they invest in 25 or more startups and achieve a 3X return multiple on their investments. For example, a player investing a total of $10,000 must return $30,000 by the end of the course.