Without The Risk

A business simulation is an interactive learning tool that lets students make real-world business decisions in a risk-free environment.
It mimics business operations, like budgeting, marketing, HR, and strategy, so learners can apply concepts, solve problems, and see the outcomes of their choices in real time.

Startup Wars is a business simulation software that aims to teach players the principles of entrepreneurship and company management through fun and engaging gameplay.

The team at OpenForge! OpenForge is a Philadelphia-based B-corp that is specialized in mobile app development. They have been Ionic Platform’s trusted partner since 2015. Jedidiah Weller; OpenForge’s CEO - a serial entrepreneur himself - believes that the best way to learn entrepreneurship is by experiencing it firsthand, and had a vision to help aspiring entrepreneurs learn business concepts in a safe and engaging environment. The OpenForge team released a Proof of Concept in 2019, and have been working to bring the concept to life ever since!

Business simulations like Startup Wars offer experiential learning where students apply real-world decisions in finance, marketing, HR, and strategy. This active learning format improves engagement, retention, and critical thinking.

Business simulations are typically used as weekly modules, standalone projects, or capstones in the classromm. Students make decisions inside a virtual business, see the consequences, and adjust their strategy.

How it works in class:

• Students access the simulation via browser or LMS

• They take on roles (CEO, marketer, ops manager, etc.)

• Each week/session, they make business decisions

• Instructors track progress and assess learning outcomes via dashboards and reports

• Reflections and team discussions reinforce the learning

Startup Wars simulations are plug-and-play, designed to fit any syllabus with minimal setup.

The short answer is no; Startup Wars is designed as a companion resource to existing entrepreneurship curriculums.

The goal is to create a safe environment for aspiring entrepreneurs to fail, without real-world consequences; where they will learn the power of research and importance of decision-making. Students will go bankrupt in the game so they won’t go bankrupt in real life. 

Startup Wars will teach players about finding a market fit, financial planning and more!

There are recurring themes across all our campaigns in Startup Wars; all campaigns will include a customer discovery phase, Minimum Viable Product (MVP) creation principles, and a "Ready - Set - Go" structure.

Yes. Startup Wars is fully browser-based and built for remote, hybrid, and asynchronous delivery. It integrates with major LMS platforms and requires no installations, making it ideal for online or blended classrooms.

The Startup Wars campaigns are modeled after real life founders’ stories; and we’re constantly adding more! A professor is able to set up the environment and customize it by setting deadlines and financial restraints.

Absolutely. Startup Wars offers flexible difficulty levels and business scenarios that work well in both high school and college settings. It’s ideal for teaching entrepreneurship and management fundamentals at any level.

The purposes of a business simulation software is to provide students with experiential learning, skill development, Realistic Scenarios, risk free practice

You can plug simulations into your existing course by aligning them with your current learning outcomes. Use them as weekly activities, projects, or capstones without changing the entire syllabus. Platforms like Startup Wars are modular and easy to integrate.

Instructors can launch a simulation in under 30 minutes using Startup Wars. The platform includes pre-configured templates, lesson plans, and grading rubrics to streamline setup.

Grade students on their strategic thinking, collaboration, progress, and reflections, not just on the final score. Use a clear rubric with components like decision-making, teamwork, and analysis.

Use a balanced scorecard approach: profitability, customer growth, strategic alignment, and ethical choices. This ensures fairness and deeper learning beyond just financial outcomes.

They measure applied business skills: strategic planning, financial literacy, teamwork, leadership, communication, and adaptability. These outcomes align with real-world business challenges.

Not at all. The platform is designed for ease of use. Instructors can manage simulations through a user-friendly dashboard, and students access everything through a web browser.

Focus on usability, decision-making depth, instructor tools, learning alignment, and LMS compatibility. In 15–20 minutes, assess if the simulation supports your course needs.

Yes. They scale easily, support multiple cohorts, and integrate with LMS platforms like Canvas, Blackboard, and Moodle. Instructors can manage large groups with dashboards and automated grading tools.

Simulations teach decision-making, budgeting, marketing, operations, HR, leadership, and teamwork. They help students apply theory to real-world scenarios and improve critical thinking.

Start with your learning goals and build backwards. Use weekly modules with simulation checkpoints, decision reviews, and reflection activities. Startup Wars includes ready-to-use lesson plan templates.

Start with simulations that cover full business operations and decision-making. Startup Class is a great entry point, flexible for all levels and aligned with real business challenges.

The best business simulations are the ones that help students apply real-world decision-making across finance, marketing, HR, and operations. Startup Wars offers industry-themed simulations that make entrepreneurship hands-on and relevant for all levels.

🔝 Top 5 Simulations from Startup Wars:

1. T-Shirt Business – Ideal for teaching branding, pricing strategy, and basic operations. Great for beginners.

2. Food Truck Business – Focuses on inventory, budgeting, location strategy, and marketing. Highly engaging for students.

3. Vertical Farming Business – Teaches innovation, sustainability, and long-term growth strategy.

4. Mobile App Business – Covers tech entrepreneurship, product launches, and agile planning.

5. Makers Market Business – Encourages creativity and product-market fit through local business concepts.

Yes. Startup Wars offers a free demo version of its business simulation software designed specifically for instructors and educators.

This demo lets you:

• Explore the student experience

• Test core simulation mechanics (budgeting, marketing, HR, planning)

• Evaluate alignment with your course objectives

• Determine if it fits your curriculum before purchasing a license

It’s the perfect way for educators to experience the platform hands-on before introducing it to their students.

Case studies help students analyze past events, while business simulations let them actively make decisions and see real-time outcomes. Simulations are better for experiential learning and skill-building, while case studies are ideal for discussion and theory. Many educators use both together for deeper engagement.

student just need a device with internet access to run a business simulation round. Startup Wars works on laptops, Chromebooks, or tablets, no software downloads required.

Online business simulation platforms like Startup Wars are ideal for MBA programs. They offer advanced decision-making, cross-functional business challenges, and real-time feedback, perfect for strategy, finance, operations, and entrepreneurship courses. Startup Wars is browser-based and scalable for graduate-level cohorts.

Business simulations help learners practice real-world decisions in a risk-free environment. They teach trade-offs, strategic planning, financial analysis, and critical thinking. Platforms like Startup Wars offer iterative decision rounds, allowing students to analyze outcomes and improve their reasoning with each step.

AI in the classroom refers to the use of artificial intelligence tools to support teaching and learning. Today, AI it’s used for tasks like grading assignments, generating quizzes, providing personalized study recommendations, and even guiding classroom discussions through AI-powered assistants like Milton in Startup Wars.

Key concerns of AI in education include student data privacy, algorithmic bias, and over-reliance on automation. It’s important that schools implement clear AI policies to ensure transparency, responsible use, and equitable outcomes for all learners.

AI tools in education can save instructors time, personalize student learning, and improve feedback quality. From automating grading to supporting differentiated instruction, AI helps educators focus more on teaching strategy and less on repetitive tasks.

Startup Wars integrates Milton AI, a built-in assistant designed to help students think critically, reflect on business decisions, and improve their learning outcomes inside the simulation. It acts as a real-time thinking partner, not just a chatbot, guiding users through complex choices and encouraging deeper understanding of startup scenarios.

Milton AI prompts students to reflect, analyze trade-offs, and explore the “why” behind their decisions. It’s embedded in the simulation experience and helps students practice key entrepreneurial thinking skills without giving them the “right answers.”

AI-powered simulations like Startup Wars adapt to student choices in real time, prompting deeper reflection, promoting self-paced learning, and offering personalized feedback. This interactive model boosts engagement, learning outcomes, and retention, especially in entrepreneurship education.

Yes. Milton AI was designed with student safety in mind. It respects privacy, collects no personal data, and can be disabled or enabled at the instructor’s discretion. The tool supports ethical, FERPA-aligned classroom use.