BUSINESS SIMULATIONCMU Restaurant Launch

SIMULATION INTAKE / 01

Reconstruct the business before opening day.

A multimodal business review, human operating assessment, and synthetic operating simulation.
01Owner and business profile
Fixed scenario

Owner

NameDaniel Chen
Experience2 years hospitality
Available capital$280,000
Operating roleFull-time owner
Risk toleranceModerate

Business

ConceptModern Asian casual dining
LocationForbes Ave · CMU
Capacity52 seats
Hours11 AM–10 PM
TargetStudents + professionals

Fixed cost / month

Rent$12,800
Insurance$1,150
Equipment$3,400
Utilities$2,300
Software + permits$740

Dynamic cost

Food cost28% of sales
Hourly labor$19.50 avg.
Card fees2.9% + $0.30
Packaging$0.68/order
Delivery commission22%
AIPittsAI initial reviewCONDITIONAL

The cost structure is plausible, but profitability is highly sensitive to weekday lunch traffic, labor utilization after 8 PM, and the average ticket.

02Menu intelligence
AI-reviewed evidence
Menu intelligenceEVIDENCE ACCEPTED
  • Pricing is above the median for nearby student lunch options.
  • Strong visual appeal, but several dishes compete for the same role.
  • High-margin drinks and add-ons are not prominent.
03Interior experience
AI-reviewed evidence
Interior experienceEVIDENCE ACCEPTED
  • Atmosphere is attractive for social dining.
  • Rear seating feels unfinished and under-lit.
  • Queue circulation may conflict with seated customers.
04Street presence
AI-reviewed evidence
Street presenceEVIDENCE ACCEPTED
  • Entrance is clean and visible at close range.
  • Brand recognition is weak from both pedestrian directions.
  • A projecting signboard could improve discovery.
05Location intelligence
Forbes Ave · Pittsburgh
Restaurant location near CMUPITTSIAI TEST LOCATION
Campus walk4 min
Lunch densityHigh
Evening demandMedium
Competition8 nearby
06Human operating tests
Results incorporated
Owner

Daniel

74READINESS SCORE

StrengthCustomer judgement

RiskSlow margin response

Employee 1

Maya

86READINESS SCORE

StrengthEmpathy + recovery

RiskPeak-hour speed

Employee 2

Alex

79READINESS SCORE

StrengthTransaction speed

RiskComplaint handling

SIMULATION SCOPE01 Jan 2027 — 31 Dec 2027CMU calendar, holidays, seasonality, and fixed weather modifiers