Frequently asked questions
The short version: it's a real curriculum, a realistic simulator, and zero real money. The longer version is below. Parents may also want the dedicated parents' guide.
What is Bullpen?
Bullpen is an iOS app that teaches investing and personal finance to teens the way Duolingo teaches languages: short, interactive lessons that earn XP and coins, paired with a paper-trading portfolio where you invest those coins at realistic market prices. The name comes from baseball: the bullpen is where you warm up before the real game.
Is any real money involved?
No. Bullpen has no brokerage integration, no deposits, and no way to buy real assets. Coins are earned only by completing lessons, and everything in the portfolio is simulated. Real money cannot be gained or lost, period.
Who is Bullpen for?
Teens and young adults, ages 13 and up. The course starts from zero: no prior finance knowledge needed. Adults who never got a money education are very welcome too.
How much does Bullpen cost?
Bullpen is free during early access, so you can download it and start learning at no cost. Pricing details will be announced at launch, and there will never be coin purchases or pay-to-win mechanics.
What platforms is Bullpen on?
Bullpen launches first on iPhone. Join the waitlist to hear the moment it's live, and to tell us where you'd want it next.
What does the curriculum cover?
Eighteen units and 131 lessons, in order: money basics, saving and banking, compound growth, intro to investing, stocks, stock analysis, investing styles, order types, funds and diversification, bonds, portfolio construction, earning income, budgeting, behavioral finance, credit and debt, taxes, retirement, and a capstone. The full breakdown is on the curriculum page.
How long does a lesson take?
A few minutes. Lessons are designed for daily streaks, not marathon sessions: a typical day on Bullpen is 5 to 15 minutes.
What happens if I do badly on a lesson?
Nothing punitive. If your accuracy on a lesson is low, Bullpen inserts a short, targeted review before the next lesson so gaps get filled instead of compounding. You can also replay any completed lesson anytime.
How do Key Terms work?
Every key term you meet in a lesson joins your Key Terms deck. Bullpen schedules them with spaced repetition: terms come back for review right around the time you'd start to forget them.
Does Bullpen use AI?
In a few supporting roles: grading short written answers, deciding when a review lesson would help, powering the optional "Why?" explanations, and writing the daily Markets brief. AI never replaces the curriculum, and if it's ever unavailable the app simply continues without it.
Where do the stock prices come from?
Bullpen uses real market data with realistic delays, so the practice portfolio behaves like the real thing: prices move, charts have real texture, and your positions have genuine ups and downs.
How do I get coins to invest?
By learning. Every completed lesson pays coins, and unit quizzes pay the most. That's the whole loop: the more you learn, the more you have to practice with.
Can I buy fractions of a share?
Yes. Buys are dollar-based, just like modern brokerages. Put 12 simulated dollars into a stock and you own the corresponding fraction of a share.
Are the daily games gambling?
No, and this is deliberate. The Daily and Stack Up award XP only, never coins or portfolio value, so there is nothing to wager and nothing to lose. Calls are graded against real market closes and framed as forecasting practice: the point is learning how often you're actually right.
Does Bullpen tell me what to invest in?
Never. Bullpen teaches concepts and gives you a safe place to practice. It does not recommend real securities, and nothing in the app or on this site is financial advice.
Will this encourage my kid to gamble on stocks?
The opposite is the goal. Bullpen's curriculum leads with compound growth, diversification, index funds, and behavioral finance: the unglamorous fundamentals. The simulator exists so those ideas are felt, not just memorized. There's no leverage, no options, no crypto, and no content that frames investing as a way to get rich quick.
Can my kid lose or spend real money in the app?
No. The portfolio is entirely simulated and funded only by coins earned in lessons. There is no connection to any bank, card, or brokerage.
What data does Bullpen collect about my teen?
Very little. Learning progress and the practice portfolio are stored on the device and synced through Apple's iCloud. Bullpen uses Sign in with Apple, so there's no email or password. Some features send limited, non-identifying data to our servers, for example a written quiz answer sent for automated grading. Full details are in the privacy policy and the parents' guide.
How much screen time does it ask for?
Lessons run a few minutes each, and the streak mechanic rewards showing up daily rather than binging. A typical session is 5 to 15 minutes.
Can I try it myself first?
Please do. Plenty of adults find they learn from it too. Join the waitlist and you'll get the download link the day it launches.
Do I need an account?
A lightweight one. Bullpen uses Sign in with Apple, so your streak, coins, and portfolio are saved and can move with you between devices. There's no email or password to set up.
I found a wrong or confusing question. What do I do?
Report it right from the lesson: every question has a report option. Reports are anonymous and go straight to the team; they're one of the main ways the curriculum gets better.
How do I get help or suggest a feature?
Head to the support page. We read everything.
The best answer is trying it.
Join the waitlist and you'll get one email the day Bullpen hits the App Store.