Each player runs their own company. One decision per round.
🤝 Deal-making — propose a transfer; the counterparty must accept (bilateral, no spot market)
paystofor
💰 Financing — fund the buildout (FCF from serving demand is automatic; these are extra cash)
Financing is external capital — it does NOT come from another seat. For company-to-company funding (e.g. Microsoft → OpenAI), use the Deal panel above. Balance = cash − debt − VC owed.
CHOKEPOINT — how to play
Goal: most net worth (cash − debt − VC owed) after 6 quarters (1.5 years). Each turn is a fiscal quarter. You each run a real company in the AI supply chain — your numbers come straight from their financials.
The model — supply chokepoints
An AI accelerator needs a node (GPU, from TSMC) AND memory (HBM, from Micron) — neither alone. So:
AI compute delivered = min( Node, Memory, AI demand )
The smaller gate binds and pockets a ×1.5 scarcity premium; relieve it (build) and the bottleneck rotates. Demand has two pulls: AI (usage expectations, swings with cards) and PC (a stable mature floor).
Each quarter — one decision per player
1. Estimate — AI/PC demand + both gates (Node, Memory) are posted.
2. Deal & finance — log cash transfers (prepay capacity, fund the Lab) and raise money (bond / 100-yr bond / VC).
3. Action — pick one: Build (gate owners only: pay → +50 gate cap in 2 qtrs), Hold, or Power.