Business Simulations
Business Simulations is a UK-based experiential learning company that delivers a portfolio of twelve web-based multi-user business simulation games for leadership and management development, serving Fortune 500 enterprises, business schools, and government clients through facilitated delivery, train-the-trainer certification, and bespoke custom builds.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2008
- HeadquartersBelfast, United Kingdom
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingSoftware
What Business Simulations does
Business Simulations Ltd is a privately-held UK company founded in 2008 and headquartered in Belfast, Northern Ireland, that develops and delivers a portfolio of twelve signature business simulation games for experiential leadership and management development. The company's core technology is a web-based multi-user simulation platform accessible via any internet-connected device (phone, tablet, or laptop) without software installation, featuring real-time data dashboards and facilitator feedback loops. Simulations are structured around a five-stage 'Discovery Learning Journey' methodology (Introduction, Formation, Play, Outcomes & Insights, Lasting Learning) and cover topics including strategic thinking, financial acumen, change management, crisis leadership, high-performing teams, negotiation, innovation, and project management.
The company operates three revenue streams: (1) facilitated simulation delivery directly to enterprise clients either in-person or virtually, which is the primary revenue stream; (2) train-the-trainer certification that licences organisations and individuals to deliver simulations independently at scale; and (3) fully bespoke custom simulations built around client-specific business models with three-to-six-month lead times. Free browser-based micro simulations function as top-of-funnel acquisition. Customers include Fortune 500 enterprises across pharmaceuticals (Johnson & Johnson, GSK), technology (Oracle, Salesforce), automotive (Volkswagen), telecommunications (BT), professional services (PwC, EY Lane4, Expleo), food and beverage (General Mills, Kerry Group), retail, travel, real estate, and government, plus business school partnerships with Hult, Vlerick, HKUST, and Ashridge Hult EF.
The go-to-market combines enterprise field sales (consultative quote-based pricing via the website contact form), event-driven thought leadership (LinkedIn newsletter, articles, white papers), and channel partnerships (train-the-trainer certified facilitators, business school integrations, and professional services resellers). The company is ISO/IEC 27001 certified as of 2025, founder-led by Managing Director Scott Thompson, operates with a 1–10 person team, and has over twenty years of operating history in the leadership development market.
Business Simulations firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Business Simulations
- Legal name
- Business Simulations Ltd
- Website
- https://businesssimulations.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2008
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Business Simulations is a UK-based experiential learning company that delivers a portfolio of twelve web-based multi-user business simulation games for leadership and management development, serving Fortune 500 enterprises, business schools, and government clients through facilitated delivery, train-the-trainer certification, and bespoke custom builds.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Business Simulations industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Experiential Learning Simulation Software
- NAICS
- Professional and Management Development Training (611430), Software Publishers (51321)
- SIC
- Services-Prepackaged Software (7372), Services-Management Services (8741)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Simulation, Scenario & Serious Games Design (EDAGAKAH)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- VR-Based Skills Training Simulations (Soft Skills, Customer Service, Leadership) (EDAFAJAA), Simulation-Based Learning & Virtual Labs (EDAGAEAG)
Keywords
Where Business Simulations is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Belfast
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
Business Simulations business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Software
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Simulation delivery (facilitated): Business Simulations delivers its suite of 12 signature simulations directly to enterprise clients, ranging from brief 2-hour interventions to intensive full-week programmes. Sessions are delivered in-person or virtually. This is the primary revenue stream.
- Train-the-trainer certification: Organisations can certify individuals to facilitate and deploy simulations independently, enabling internal deployment at scale. Certified trainers can run simulations for their own organisation or clients, generating a licensing-type recurring revenue relationship.
- Tailor-made / custom simulations: Fully customised simulation experiences built around a client's unique business model, strategic challenges, or industry context. Custom solutions are priced at a premium with longer lead times of three to six months.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Multi-year contract | Standard simulations — out-of-the-box delivery |
| Other | Multi-year contract | Custom / tailor-made simulations |
| Other | Multi-year contract | Train-the-trainer certification |
| Freemium | Pay-as-you-go | Free micro simulations |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels7 records
Business Simulations product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Business Simulations designs, develops, and delivers web-based multi-user business simulation games for leadership development and experiential learning. The company offers a portfolio of 12 signature simulations covering strategic thinking, financial acumen, change management, high-performing teams, crisis leadership, innovation, and project management, delivered either in-person or virtually with expert facilitation. It also provides a train-the-trainer certification programme and fully bespoke tailor-made simulations for organisations.
Product overview
Business Simulations offers a comprehensive suite of experiential learning solutions centered around its family of 12 signature business simulations, supplemented by free micro simulations, workshops, and fully customized tailor-made solutions. The core portfolio includes simulations like Acumen (business acumen), Acuity (strategic thinking for B2B), Crew (team leadership), Cohesion (high-performing teams), Breach (crisis management), Compete (commercial competition), Consortium (collaboration and competition), Cruise (operational excellence), Dilemma (strategic dilemmas), Influence (change management), Innovate (innovation strategy), and Spread (project management). The company also offers free micro simulations for workplace skills training covering conflict resolution, AI governance, coaching, and pricing. All simulations are designed for collaborative, team-based engagement delivered either virtually or on-site, with options for organizations to certify internal facilitators through a train-the-trainer programme.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Acuity: Lead a global B2B business over four years, making strategic decisions in finance, operations, and innovation to drive growth and long-term success.
- Acumen
- Breach
- Cohesion
- Compete
- Consortium
- Crew
- Cruise
- Dilemma
- Influence
- Innovate
- Spread
Products and services
- Acuity Participants lead a global B2B business over four years, making strategic decisions in finance, operations, and innovation to drive growth and long-term success. Designed for senior leaders and teams.
- Acumen A high-stakes, immersive simulation that puts participants in charge of a global B2C company. Sharpens strategic thinking, financial acumen, and negotiation skills over four simulated quarters.
- Breach A crisis leadership simulation in which participants guide their team through a cyber incident and make critical decisions under pressure.
- Cohesion A team dynamics simulation that strengthens collaboration, trust, and leadership. Participants lead a high-performing teams project and must earn the support of team members for a new way of working.
- Compete A fast-paced business simulation in which participants go head-to-head, craft strategy, set prices, and compete for market dominance.
- Consortium A simulation in which participants join forces with rival businesses to deliver a high-value pilot, balancing competition with collaboration to achieve shared success.
- Crew A hands-on simulation that challenges leaders to deliver a fast-paced project, focusing on project delivery, relationship management, and people development grounded in John Adair's Action Centred Leadership model.
- Cruise
Quantifiable outcome
- 75% better retention than traditional lecture-based training
- +6 more outcomes
Companies that use Business Simulations
Customer profileNamed customers21 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Business Simulations technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature5 records
Business Simulations partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Five partnerships are on record, tiered core.
- Hult Business SchoolcoreHult Business School integrates Business Simulations across its leadership programmes. Business Simulations content is delivered as part of executive education curricula. Jean Vanhoegaerden, Professor of Leadership Practice at Hult Business School, is quoted as a thought leader endorsing the simulation methodology, noting that simulations are among the most effective tools for leadership learning, enabling participants to explore new knowledge in a safe environment and apply learning in the real world.
- Vlerick Business SchoolcoreVlerick Business School integrates Business Simulations into its leadership programmes, delivering simulation-based experiential learning to executives and senior managers as part of the school's executive education offering.
- Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST)coreHKUST integrates Business Simulations across its leadership programmes. Executives consistently rate simulations as the 'most valuable component' of the programmes.
- EY Lane4coreEY Lane4, a professional services firm, uses Business Simulations to develop new services for clients in business acumen, strategic thinking, team and leadership development. Austin Swain, Client Services Director at EY Lane4, noted the simulations enabled the firm to expand its client service offering.
- Ashridge Hult EF (Ashridge Education Group)coreAshridge Hult EF integrates Business Simulations across leadership and change management programmes. Rachel Sceats, Experiential Learning at Ashridge Hult EF, noted the change simulation was immensely useful for developing practical change management and influencing skills across groups of all seniorities in an engaging and satisfying environment.
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Business Simulations competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Forio: Platform for building and deploying browser-based simulations and serious games; comparable as a technology and methodology peer in the simulation-based learning space.
- BTS: Swedish-founded global consulting firm that designs and delivers business simulations and experiential learning programmes for Fortune 500 leadership development — the closest direct comparable to Business Simulations in customer base, methodology, and product format.
- Capsim: Long-standing provider of business simulations (Capstone, etc.) used widely in business schools and corporate training; directly comparable as a competitor selling team-based strategy and business acumen simulations.
- Smartsims: Specialist business simulation provider focused on strategy and marketing simulations for executive education and corporate training, competing in the same experiential learning niche.
- Marketplace Simulations: Develops business simulations for business schools and corporate training programmes; overlaps with Business Simulations in target customers (business school partnerships and enterprise leadership development).
- Stratx Simulations: Provider of strategy and marketing business simulations for executive education and corporate training, competing head-to-head in the experiential leadership learning category.
Broad incumbents
- Harvard Business Publishing Education: Publishes Harvard Business School simulations for executive education and corporate L&D; broader portfolio and significantly larger brand but directly overlapping product category.
- Cegos: Global training and leadership development group offering a broad L&D portfolio that includes experiential and simulation-based learning; comparable buyer overlap rather than product specialisation.
- DDI (Development Dimensions International): Large leadership development firm that includes simulation, assessment, and experiential methods in its enterprise programmes; comparable target buyer (Fortune 500 L&D leaders) but operates at much larger scale.
- Wilson Learning: Global leadership and sales training provider offering experiential learning programmes; comparable in methodology and enterprise customer base, though with a wider training portfolio.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Business Simulations social profiles
Digital presenceBusiness Simulations compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance1 record
Business Simulations financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Business Simulations leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles5 records
Business Simulations funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Business Simulations M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Business Simulations
What does Business Simulations do?
Business Simulations designs, develops, and delivers web-based multi-user business simulation games for leadership development and experiential learning. The company offers a portfolio of 12 signature simulations covering strategic thinking, financial acumen, change management, high-performing teams, crisis leadership, innovation, and project management, delivered either in-person or virtually with expert facilitation. It also provides a train-the-trainer certification programme and fully bespoke tailor-made simulations for organisations.
Is Business Simulations a public or private company?
Business Simulations is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Business Simulations founded?
Business Simulations was founded in 2008. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Business Simulations based?
Business Simulations is headquartered in Belfast, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does Business Simulations make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Simulation delivery (facilitated) is the primary driver. The others are train-the-trainer certification and tailor-made / custom simulations.
Who are Business Simulations's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Forio, BTS, Capsim, Smartsims, Marketplace Simulations and Stratx Simulations. Broad incumbents are Harvard Business Publishing Education, Cegos, DDI (Development Dimensions International) and Wilson Learning.
Does Business Simulations have an API?
No public API is recorded for Business Simulations.
What industry is Business Simulations in?
Business Simulations's product category is Experiential Learning Simulation Software. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAGAKAH, Simulation, Scenario & Serious Games Design, with a secondary code of EDAFAJAA, VR-Based Skills Training Simulations (Soft Skills, Customer Service, Leadership). Its NAICS code is 611430 and its SIC code is 7372.