Startup Roast
Pitch a company that should not exist. Get funded anyway.
Each player draws a startup idea that has no business being funded, then pitches it with a five-slide deck and a completely straight face. Invent the TAM. Never explain the technology. The room rates you on Delusion, Fundability and Cringe.
How it works
- 1.Everyone gets a different terrible startup
- 2.Five slides: pitch, problem, solution, TAM, the ask
- 3.Never explain how it actually works
- 4.Make up every number with total confidence
Your deck is already started
Nobody starts at a blank white slide. Every player gets these 5 slides pre-laid-out in the Seed Round theme, with a prompt on each one telling you what goes there.
Company name + a tagline nobody can argue with
The Problem
Invent a crisis. Make the room feel personally attacked.
The Solution
Strictly worse than the problem. Do not explain the tech.
TAM
A number with too many zeros and a source you invented.
The Ask
How much, and the one thing you'll spend it all on.
How you're scored
After each presentation the room votes on three things specific to this mode — not generic “was it good”.
Delusion
How detached from reality was that?
Grounded → Unreachable
Fundability
Would you actually put money in?
Hard pass → Wiring now
Cringe
How much did it hurt, in a good way?
Painless → Physical damage
Startup Roast prompts
Every player is dealt a different one of these.
- Uber but for jury duty
- An app that ranks your friends by how likely they are to ghost you
- A subscription box for things you already own
- AI that texts your ex so you don't have to
- A dating app that only matches you with people who owe you money
- Airbnb, but the host stays
- A neobank for people who are bad with money, run by people who are bad with money
- A wearable that shocks you when you say 'circle back'
- DoorDash for things already in your fridge
- LinkedIn, but everyone is honest
- A social network you can only post to at 3am
- Soylent, but it's water and confidence
- A smart mirror that negotiates on your behalf
- Venmo for emotional debt
Ready to run Startup Roast?
Free, in the browser, nothing to install. Share a six-character code and your friends are in.
Start a partyOther game modes
Classic Shuffle
The original. One topic, everyone suffers together.
Things I'd Replace My ___ With
One slot. One replacement. Defend it to the room.
Conspiracy Defense
Five slides. Zero evidence. Make us believe.
Corporate Cult
Onboard us. We are not allowed to leave.
Red Flag Runway
Present your worst quality like it's a feature.
Pitch The Room
Sell something nobody here wants. They cannot leave.