BUILDER
CLASS: WIZARD
LV 1
Turns ideas into working product before the money runs out. Speaks fluent prompt.
SKILLS
- SHIP ITIdea to live demo, fast.
- VIBE CODESummons software from prompts.
- HOTFIXRevives a dead demo mid-pitch.
OLD FOUNDER
So. You think you have what it takes to be a founder?
Every founder starts the same way: $100,000 in the bank, a laptop, and a clock that never stops.
Your cash is your health bar. It burns every minute. Hit zero and it's game over.
Nobody wins alone. You'll need a party of three: one who builds, one who sells, one who raises.
Close customers. Survive the curveballs. Charm the investors. The strongest parties reach the finals.
The gate opens Friday, October 9. Will you answer the call?
STEP 1
Every party is three founders. A balanced party survives. Three wizards and no tank? Wiped in the first dungeon.
CLASS: WIZARD
LV 1
Turns ideas into working product before the money runs out. Speaks fluent prompt.
SKILLS
CLASS: KNIGHT
LV 1
Charges into customer conversations and comes back holding signed LOIs.
SKILLS
CLASS: HEALER
LV 1
Keeps the party alive the only way founders can: with fresh cash.
SKILLS
Pick a class to see who you'll need. Coming solo? Good. Parties form on site in quick rotating rounds, co-founder-matching style.
BUILDER joined the party! Now find a Seller and a Fundraiser at the kickoff.
SELLER joined the party! Now find a Builder and a Fundraiser at the kickoff.
FUNDRAISER joined the party! Now find a Builder and a Seller at the kickoff.
STEP 2
Part AI simulation, part real room. The rules are simple. Surviving them is not.
HP = RUNWAY
It drains every minute you're in the game. Hit zero and your company dies. Revenue and fundraising are the only potions.
STARTING GOLD
The same size as Inception's real first check, handed over on paper. It won't be enough. That's the point.
QUESTS = CUSTOMERS
Pick a market and win over AI customers with real problems, real budgets and real objections. Close them for LOIs and revenue.
BOSSES = INVESTORS
Investor personas inspired by legendary VCs (lightly spoofed) will hear your pitch. Real investors in the room carry checkbooks too.
RANDOM ENCOUNTERS
A new model drops. A regulation lands. The choices you make at the start come back to find you.
EQUITY
Every raise costs equity. Give away too much of your company and investors stop taking your calls.
LEADERBOARD + NEWSFEED
Standings update live, and the newsfeed tells the whole room when you close a deal, land a check, or run out of cash.
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 9
Check in and meet the other adventurers. Solo players welcome.
The rules of the realm, the stakes, and how not to die.
Rotating rounds to meet builders, sellers and fundraisers. Lock in a party of three, then name it before the 90-second timer runs out.
Cash your $100K check and start the clock. About 90 minutes to build, sell and raise.
The top parties pitch. Everyone else becomes an angel investor. Spectators welcome.
Prizes, the final leaderboard, and bragging rights.
Times are approximate. It's the first run, so the referee may add stoppage time.
BOSS BATTLE / 2:30 PM
The top parties earn a shot at the boss: a 60-second pitch. No deck, just story. The investors vote with their checkbooks.
Didn't make the cut? You're not out. Every other player becomes an angel with $50K in Inception Bucks to back the team they believe in.
Spectators welcome. Come for the finals and watch who survives.
FAQ
No. Come solo. Parties of three form on site through quick rotating rounds, co-founder-matching style. Bringing friends is fine, but the strongest parties mix skills.
No. Every party needs a Builder, a Seller and a Fundraiser. If you don't code, you're the class a team of engineers is missing.
No, it's play money. The $100K seed check does match Inception's real first check size, though. Just saying.
An alternate reality game: the game spills into the real world. Real teammates, real paper checks, real investors in the room, and a clock that doesn't care about your feelings.
Apply on Partiful with your name, email, LinkedIn, company and title (GitHub optional). Approved players get the exact location.
Please don't. Your party is counting on you from kickoff to the finals, 11am to 3pm.
Come for the finals around 2:30pm. RSVP on Partiful so we can get you in the door.
Inception Studio, a non-profit that helps exceptional founders turn AI ideas into companies. The Founder Game is part of #SFTechWeek.