TOPSIM Startup! is a strategic start-up-simulation, originally developed as a cooperation project between Hans Lindner Institut (HLI), University of applied sciences Regensburg and UNICON Management Development GmbH (now TATA Interactive Systems). The HLI supports business formations mainly in the region Eastern Bavaria by intensive consultancy in all critical phases before, during and after the formation. To intensify the contact to universities as one of the most important incubators of innovative business formations and to promote formations by former students, GoH-Net, the network for founders of eastern Bavarian universities has been established in 1998. GoH-Net, which consist of the universities of applied sciences Fachhochschule Deggendorf, Landshut and Regensburg as well as the universities Passau and Regensburg, is part of GROW, Gründungsinitiative der Region Ostbayern zur Wachstumsförderung, and has created this business simulation as one of the main tools for entrepreneurial education.

The modular configuration of the simulation regarding to the monitored market situations offers various applications. Following models are therefore currently available in English language: easy (surfboards) and production (High-tech bicycles). Main focus of all individual models is to display the typical phases, which occur during a start-up, whereas each single phase contains specific economical, technical and social challenges. For this purpose five stages are basically mapped during a simulation:

• formulation of the business idea (technological/economical) with information available from a special “Startup! Web”
• creation of a business plan
• establishment of the company
• entry into the market and the business’s first quarters
• and finally the exit (valuation of the company)

In combination with the specific situation of the different branches a strong dynamic is created during the simulation, which recreates a typical start-up, encourages the motivation for business formations and conveys the necessary knowledge as well as sustainable experiences in the field of start-ups in a competitive environment.

TOPSIM Startup! is for participants especially attractive because of the lifelike simulation of the competition between start-up companies, where every decision has an effect on all other companies in the market.