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August 3, 2004

American Start-Up: Only Part of the Picture?

Posted by at 3:30 PM

Remember when you first realized what you wanted to do with your life? You had that great idea to start a business of your own. You laid out a plan and saved money, sold everything you had, quit your job to pursue your dream, didn't sleep a wink, lost your hair and almost went broke a million times. Well, apparently that would have made for great television.

Spike TV, a division of MTV Networks, has announced that it will launch "American Start-Up" next year. The 10-episode reality series, produced by actors and writers Matt Damon and Ben Affleck, pits eight young businesses against each other. Each business will be given $50,000 in seed money and will be guided � and scrutinized � by a panel of entrepreneurs, business tycoons and venture capitalists. The grand prize according to the press release announcing the series is a "major investment that will enable them to take their business dream to the next level."

The panel of entrepreneurial experts will evaluate the businesses on their performances in areas like product quality, staff talent and decision-making ability. Those that don't make the grade, get the boot. Sounds fair.

Rumor has it that the producers were inspired to create the show by their own experiences setting up their production company, LivePlanet, which will produce the show. I'm guessing they had more than 50 grand, but I digress.

The show may very well prove entertaining and possibly inspiring. However, it clearly will only show part of the process of starting a business and maybe not the best part. The show will depict getting the "major investment" as the great reward for the start-up. But isn't the best part getting that business up-and-running, the customers through the door, the dollar in the cash register and watching the baby grow? I guess that glory will have to play out in the real world, not reality television.

11 Comments

Posted by: Larry at August 4, 2004 11:35 AM

Actually, the majority of the businesses will be up and running and in growth phase - it wont be a "business plan competition".

Posted by: Matt Quinn at August 4, 2004 11:52 AM

Thanks for the comment, Larry. For other readers, Larry Tanz is one of the executive producers of the show.

What I meant about "the best part" was really just what happens next. Running a business is an ongoing process that's never in the clear. My point was that it would be exciting to see what the winners can do with a major investment if they've already been successful with $50,000. I didn't mean to suggest that it was strictly a business plan contest.

Thanks again for posting and clarifying. Best of luck with the show.

Matt

Posted by: rick zimmerman at August 6, 2004 4:11 PM

this is perhaps the best idea i've heard for a "reality" style television show. trump's entry shows us how you can do a little with quite a lot, which always reminded me of the joke regarding making a small fortune by starting with a large one. can anyone still play this start-up game or has the start-up factory closed already?

Posted by: Greg Sirochinsky at August 8, 2004 1:02 PM

Larry,

My name is Greg Sirochinsky I am a 23 year old CEO of http://www.YLUNCH.COM I just read an article about American Start up and believe that our company would be perfect for the show. We just began looking for funding. We are an internet company that sells "Local Internet Advertising" to restaurant owners. We started the company with a $400.00 dollar investment and are already Grossing over $4000.00 per month. My team is composed of

Vadim Lisserman (22)

Nathan Chalick (21)

Michael Gnesin (21)

Art Lissemran (23)

Eugene Bendik (23)

We all graduated college but don't believe that the corporate life is for us. Below are links to articles that were published about us. I would really appreciate if I was told how one can try out for the show. Thank you

http://ewonton.com/news.php

http://www.ylunch.com/working/high5-newspaper-article.jpg

Posted by: Richard Fein at August 9, 2004 9:35 AM

I am writing my ninth trade book, Alive & Kicking: The Must Have Guide for Those Working Past the Age of 55. (Taylor Trade, 2005). It is intended for those between the ages of 55 and 85 who have continued working.

One of the chapters will be about people who started their own business after the age of 55. In that connection, I am asking community readers over the age of 55 if they would like to be interviewed for the book.

Your assistance and response would be appreciated.Nothing will be submitted to my editor citing the interviewee that the interviewee has not read, commented upon and approved.

Richard Fein

Posted by: Joe Reality at August 9, 2004 10:31 PM

We've started a message board at www.realitytvmagazine.com in order for people to post updates and info about American Start-up.

Posted by: JayCee James at August 19, 2004 7:19 PM

Office Rent: $18,000 annually
Phone Bill: $2,400 annually
Computers: $3,200
Secretary: $24,000 annually
Missc: $2,400
Salaries: $0.00
Total: $50,000

Now what?

Hopefully each team has their product ready to hit the market; but with no capital to spare they are forced into a hard corner. Any entrepreneur knows $50,000 will be Burned up almost immediately.

If these business groups are smart they would spend approximately $2,500 to register a private placement stock offering to raise $500,000 and get the capital needed to properly finance their growth.

Posted by: Larry Tanz at August 23, 2004 7:10 PM

Thanks for the interest in the show.
If you would like to correspond with the show please email americanstartup@liveplanet.com

We have not started casting yet - so we are not quite ready to handle inquiries by businesses interested in being in the show. If you contact the show at the above email, the casting people will start to review the emails once they get started in a few weeks.
Regarding the comment above, I do agree that watching the winning business try to succeed after winning the big investment would be a great show. Trust me, if the initial series goes well, we will be pushing harder than anyone to keep following the winning business!
We are hopeful that the show will actually help all of the businesses succeed since they will have the benefit of national exposure and guidance by the Board (not yet announced.)

Thanks for your interest in the show - we are really committed to making it entertaining but also realistic!

Larry

Posted by: Rod Linder at September 1, 2004 10:18 AM

Will the contestants be judged on how they handle the day-to-day real life challenges that come with running a business, or will the show incorporate organized 'Apprentice Type' challenges for the contestants to compete in?

Real businesses with real money, dealing with real issues, experiencing real emotions would seem to be a very compelling project...

Posted by: Rod Linder at September 1, 2004 10:18 AM

Real businesses with real money, dealing with real issues, experiencing real emotions would seem to be a very compelling project...

Posted by: John at September 3, 2004 12:56 PM

Is there a website for the show??

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