Episode 1: Minimum Viable Company

About this episode

Evan Ratliff explores entrepreneurship in the AI age by attempting to build a company with AI cofounders.

In Season 2 of Shell Game, journalist Evan Ratliff tells a story of entrepreneurship in the AI age; or, how he tried to build a real company, run by fake people. Meet Kyle Law and Megan Flores, Evan’s AI agent cofounders, as he puts to the test the claims about an emerging future in which AI employees work alongside — or instead of — humans. Over the course of the season, the three cofounders will grind it out in a sprint that would sound familiar to any start-up founder. They’ll churn out software code, hire interns, and even sit down with investors. But first, they need to come up with a name for their company. And make sure that Kyle and Megan can remember it. To sign up for our newsletter and access ad-free episodes, visit  shellgame.co . See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

People in this episode

Host: Evan Ratliff

Topics covered

• entrepreneurship
• AI
• startups
• technology
• innovation

Keywords

• AI
• entrepreneurship
• startups
• software development
• investors

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Shell Game, Kaleidoscope

More episodes of Shell Game

• Bonus Episode: Shell Game x No Such Thing · February 25, 2026 · 50 min
• Bonus Episode: Kyle vs. the World · February 11, 2026 · 37 min
• Episode 8: Launch · January 21, 2026 · 59 min
• Episode 7: Welcome Aboard · January 14, 2026 · 53 min
• Episode 6: Keep 'Em Coming · December 17, 2025 · 37 min
• Episode 5: Winners Win · December 10, 2025 · 41 min