# AI Startup CEO — Tycoon Sim: Build an AI Lab > Text-based business simulation game about building and managing an AI startup. (iPhone/iPad app by IndieCraft LLC.) - Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ai-startup-ceo/id6761347044 (this page in markdown: same URL + `.md`) - Developer: [IndieCraft LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1751436183) - Category: Games, Entertainment, Simulation, Strategy - Price: Free with in-app purchases - Rating: 5.00/5 from 2 App Store ratings - Age rating: 12+ - Requires: iOS 17.0 · 9 MB - Languages: American English - Released: 2026-04-15 - Data updated: 2026-08-01 - Monetization: free with in-app purchases - User reviews in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ai-startup-ceo/id6761347044/reviews.md ## What is AI Startup CEO? You are the founder and CEO of an AI startup. Starting from a cramped WeWork desk with a laptop and a dream, navigate the chaotic, hype-driven, venture-funded world of artificial intelligence and try to build AGI, get obscenely rich, or both. Move fast and train things. AI Startup CEO is a fast-paced, text-based business simulation and tycoon game that puts you in the driver's seat of a Silicon Valley AI company. Every quarter you juggle cash, compute, talent, data, hype, and reputation while making decisions that could turn your scrappy garage startup into the next trillion-dollar AI lab, or leave you begging your VCs for a bridge round. PICK YOUR STACK Choose your primary focus at the start: Compute and Hardware, Foundation Models, Infrastructure and Tooling, AI Applications, Data and Pipelines, or Safety and Governance. Each layer has its own tech tree, starting capital, and competitive landscape. CHOOSE YOUR ORIGIN Ex-Google researcher, Stanford dropout, serial entrepreneur, open source legend, Wall Street quant, or government researcher. Your founder identity shapes your starting bonuses, your investor pitch, and the random events that hit your inbox. RUN THE QUARTER LOOP Review metrics and news, allocate R and D, ship products, hire and fire, set culture, raise capital, sign enterprise deals, and react to a steady stream of random events: viral launches, regulatory probes, rival acquisitions, data breaches, and the occasional AGI scare. BUILD A REAL TEAM Recruit engineers, researchers, salespeople, product leaders, and executives. Each hire has stats, salary expectations, and morale. Crunch mode ships features faster but burns out your best people. Offsites, bonuses, and a strong culture keep them around. RAISE THE ROUND Pitch seed, Series A, Series B, and mega rounds to a cast of VCs with very different personalities. Close deals, sign contracts, and watch your valuation climb or collapse based on revenue, hype, and team quality. WIN THE ENDGAME IPO, get acquired, achieve AGI, or go bankrupt trying. Every run is different, driven by your stack choice, origin story, and the decisions you make under pressure. BUILD YOUR LEGACY Every completed run shapes your founder profile. Sell your company, IPO, or achieve AGI, and carry forward permanent bonuses into your next startup. Unlock new starting scenarios as your legacy grows. Turn on Ghost Rivals to race against replays of your own past companies and see if your new strategy can beat your personal best. FEATURES - Deep tycoon and business simulation in the world of AI startups - Six stack layers with full tech trees and progression - Six founder origin stories with unique bonuses and callbacks - Quarterly planning, fundraising, hiring, and product shipping loops - Rival leaderboard and nemesis system that reacts to your moves - Cinematic quarter reports, runway crisis mode, and event cards - Founder Legacy: cross-run progression with tiered bonuses and unlockable scenarios - Ghost Rivals: race against replays of your own past companies - Multiple save slots to run different strategies side by side - Goal tracker, tutorial system, and continue-game support - iPhone and iPad support, portrait and landscape on iPad - Play free through your first 5 in-game years, then unlock the full game with a single purchase, no subscriptions - Watch ads to extend your free trial or recruit bonus engineers PERFECT FOR - Fans of tycoon games, business sims, and incremental strategy - Tech workers, founders, and anyone who lives near the AI hype cycle - Players who enjoy Game Dev Story, Hipster CEO, and classic management sims - Anyone who has ever wanted to run their own AI lab without actually burning a billion dollars Download AI Startup CEO today, pick your stack, and see how far you can push before the board, the regulators, or your own burn rate stop you. Privacy Policy: https://indiecraft.net/privacy-policy-mobile-apps/ Terms of Use: https://indiecraft.net/tos ## Key features - AI startup tycoon simulation - Six tech stack layers - Six founder origin stories - Quarterly planning and fundraising - Team building and management - Founder legacy progression - Rival leaderboard and nemesis system ## Pricing and in-app purchases Base price: Free. **One-time purchases** | Purchase | Price | Type | | --- | --- | --- | | Full Game Unlock | $4.99 | one-time | | Save Slots Expansion | $1.99 | one-time | ## Frequently asked questions about AI Startup CEO ### What is AI Startup CEO? AI Startup CEO is a fast-paced, text-based business simulation and tycoon game where you manage an artificial intelligence company. You'll juggle cash, compute, talent, and hype to build a successful AI lab. ### What are the gameplay mechanics in AI Startup CEO? Gameplay involves quarterly planning, R&D allocation, product shipping, hiring, fundraising, and reacting to random events. You can choose your company's tech stack and your founder's origin story. ### Can I play AI Startup CEO offline? The provided data does not specify if AI Startup CEO supports offline play. However, as a simulation game with potential leaderboards, an internet connection might be required for full functionality. ### Does AI Startup CEO have multiplayer? AI Startup CEO features a rival leaderboard and nemesis system, suggesting competitive elements. However, direct real-time multiplayer gameplay is not explicitly mentioned in the description. ### What are the different win conditions in AI Startup CEO? You can win AI Startup CEO by achieving AGI, going public with an IPO, getting acquired, or simply going bankrupt trying. Each run offers a unique path to success or failure. ### How does the Founder Legacy system work in AI Startup CEO? Each completed run shapes your founder profile, carrying forward permanent bonuses and unlocking new starting scenarios for subsequent games. This allows for persistent progression across multiple playthroughs. ### Does AI Startup CEO have ads? Yes, AI Startup CEO contains advertisements. This is indicated by the 'hasAds' flag in the application data. ### What is the age rating for AI Startup CEO? AI Startup CEO has an age rating of 12+. This suggests it is suitable for players aged 12 and older. ## Version history (last 1 release) ### 1.0 — 2026-04-15 No release notes. ## More apps by IndieCraft LLC - [Flappy Red Bird](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/flappy-red-bird/id843423832) - [U.S. History Trivia](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/us-history-trivia/id843552078) - [100 Colorful Balls (and Fun)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/100-colorful-balls-and-fun/id886715752) - [Calligraphy: A Line-Drawing Creativity Brain-Teaser](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/calligraphy-a-line-drawing-creativity-brain-teaser/id887150925) - [100-Coins](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/100-coins/id887171593) - [Personality-Quiz: Celebrities, Animals, and More!](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/personality-quiz-celebrities-animals-and-more/id887571442) All apps by IndieCraft LLC: https://appshunter.io/developer/1751436183 --- *Data collected daily from the US App Store and indexed by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/). User reviews are verbatim App Store reviews. Ratings, prices and chart positions refresh continuously; this snapshot is from 2026-08-01.*