The original presentation for The Startup Trail, a game that lets you learn about startups by playing a fun business simulation. Think The Oregon Trail meets Sim City, but about Startups.

1. The Startup Trail
Heather Matt Ryan
Mark David Product Peep Design
Marketing
Finance Web Dev iOS Dev
@startuptrail

2. Meet Mike

3. By day he is
a manager at
ABC Widgets

4. But by night
he dreams of
launching his
big startup
idea...

5. He reads all the
startup books
and blogs...

6. But he’s still confused
on how to run a startup
Should I bootstrap the business?
What happens if I get VC?
What should I build?
Who should I hire?
How will I acquire customers?
How much $ do I need to start?

7. What if Mike could learn
how to run a startup by
playing a game?
“Play is our brain’s favorite way of learning.”
Diane Ackerman,
American Author

9. The Startup Trail
Learn the skills of
running a startup
in a fun game.

13. Manage your startup’s
cash flow - or go out of
business!

14. Manage your startup’s
cash flow - or go out of
business!
Take actions that help
you find and keep
customers

15. Manage your startup’s
cash flow - or go out of
business!
Take actions that help
Manage, hire and fire
you find and keep
employees
customers

16. Manage your startup’s Your goal is to be
cash flow - or go out of be acquired or
business! go public
Take actions that help
Manage, hire and fire
you find and keep
employees
customers

18. Have your friends join your
startup as co-founders
via Facebook

19. Have your friends join your
startup as co-founders
via Facebook
Compete against other
startups around the
world

20. Have your friends join your
startup as co-founders
via Facebook
Compete against other Buy in-game opportunities
startups around the for your business using
world real world money

21. Have your friends join your Get “likes” for your startup
startup as co-founders on Facebook to earn in-
via Facebook game rewards
Compete against other Buy in-game opportunities
startups around the for your business using
world real world money

22. The Trail to Profits
Free game with
in-app purchases
+
In-game sponsorships
from companies that
sell to startups

23. Target Players
1.7 Million 740,000 45,000

24. Target Player Interest
Would you be interested in
playing Startup Trail?
4%
18%
“I would actually
play this, even
though I don’t
18% 61%
play games!”
Kennedy,
Very Interested Somewhat Interested A Very Kind SW Mentor
Neutral Not Interested
n = 28

25. Target In-Game Sponsors

26. Target In-Game Sponsors

27. Target Sponsor Interest
“Companies like ours sponsor events like Startup Weekend
to get in front of startups and developers...
The Startup Trail would be a great,
massive way to do that.”
Ilya - CloudMine

28. Roll Out Strategy

29. Roll Out Strategy
Online
Communities

30. Roll Out Strategy
Online
Communities
Organizations &
Institutions

31. Roll Out Strategy
Online
Communities
Organizations &
Institutions
Social
Platforms

32. Roll Out Strategy
Online
Communities
Organizations &
Institutions
Social
Platforms
Media
Outreach

33. The Trail to Launch

34. The Trail to Launch
Design game and game mechanics
Define business model & customer
Validate opportunity with sponsors
Validate opportunity with players
Build team with right mix of skills
Begin early social marketing
Functional demo for iOS

35. The Trail to Launch
Design game and game mechanics
Define business model & customer
Validate opportunity with sponsors
Validate opportunity with players
Build team with right mix of skills
Begin early social marketing
Functional demo for iOS
Quit pesky day jobs

36. Functional iOS Demo

37. Thanks! Any questions?
@startuptrail facebook.com/startuptrail
www.thestartuptrail.com