Interest is not an order
You are launching a fictional repair kit at Northstar. People like the idea, but nobody has bought it yet. Your first production slot is available this week.
Your mission: Learn whether there is demand before committing the whole budget.
What this Founder game helps you practise
Test willingness to buy before turning cash into inventory.
Play five decisions, keep a completed run and replay another path. Compare your choices, explain the evidence and download your reflection. Allow 10 to 15 minutes per run.
All numbers are fictional. Cash changes are net receipts and payments. Other meters are illustrative game points, not measured business forecasts. A negative cash balance is an unfunded gap.
The first batch
A supplier offers a large batch now. Will you buy inventory or test a small batch with customers first?
Inspect the evidence before deciding
The large batch costs $13,000 now. A small batch and customer trials cost $3,000. Neither option includes any sales receipts yet.
Consequences are visible so you can compare tradeoffs. Choices take effect immediately. You can undo a move.
Play together
For students, families and curious adults. Try guided play first, with an adult explaining unfamiliar terms. Pause before each choice and write a prediction. Assign finance, marketing and operations perspectives, then swap roles on a replay. Allow about 10 to 15 minutes plus discussion.
Terms: Cash is money available now. Capacity is room to deliver work. A deposit brings cash and an obligation. A customer invoice is money owed, which may not yet be available to spend.
Scenario edition: September 8, 2026. This is an authored educational model with fixed consequences and no randomness. It simplifies taxes, timing, contracts and human behavior. It is not personalized financial or professional advice. Nothing is saved automatically. A kept comparison stays only in this tab; refresh or close it to clear both runs. Download or print before leaving to keep your review. Downloads include your reflection, so use fictional details. A downloaded text review is a readable record, not a file you can reopen as a game.