1. Silicon Valley
Created by Mike Judge, Silicon ValleyΒ is a critically-acclaimed sitcom that follows the struggle of a group of young software programmers and developers trying to succeed in Silicon Valley.
Featuring a great ensemble cast comprising of Thomas Middleditch, TJ Miller, Kumail Nanjiani, and Martin Starr,Β Silicon ValleyΒ is a hilarious take on the startup ecosystem. It shows how challenging it can be for new entrepreneurs to make an impact in the competitive environment of Silicon Valley, despite having a game-changing product.
Silicon ValleyΒ has 6 seasons with a total of 53 episodes. The sixth season, which was the showβs last season, aired in October 2019 and the last episode aired on December 8, 2019.
This show was on my watchlist for the longest time. I finally managed to binge-watch all five seasons of the show in a weekβs time, and then waited patiently for the final season to premiere. If youβre an entrepreneur, youβre going to find the plot super-relatable and you may end up binge-watching all the episodes as I did. Just make sure you start on a weekend.
2. Shark Tank
Shark TankΒ is a business-related reality TV show where investment-seeking entrepreneurs make business presentations to a panel of five investors aka βsharksβ who then choose whether to invest in their company as business partners. The show first premiered on August 9, 2009 as the American franchise of the international formatΒ Dragonsβ DenΒ (see #3).
Longstanding panel members of the show include business tycoons such as Mark Cuban, Barbara Corcoran, Kevin OβLeary, Daymond John, and Lori Greiner; while Richard Branson, Ashton Kutcher, and Chris Sacca have all appeared as guest sharks.
Iβve been a long-time watcher of this show and Iβve seen some of the best and the worst product pitches. But I watch it mainly to take notes on the product pitches that resonate with the sharks and trigger multiple offers.
3. Dragonsβ Den (UK)
Dragonsβ DenΒ originated in Japan in 2001, where the series was calledΒ The Tigers of Money.Β Local versions of the show have been produced in over 30 countries,Β but itβs the British version of the show calledΒ Dragonsβ DenΒ thatβs considered the most popular and the series that inspired Mark Burnett to produceΒ Shark Tank.
The premise of the show is similar to that ofΒ Shark TankΒ β budding entrepreneurs pitch their ideas to five investors aka βdragonsβ who then decide whether to invest in the product/service that they have just been pitched. The panel of investors typically includes successful entrepreneurs like Deborah Meaden, Peter Jones, Duncan Bannatyne, and Theo Paphitis.
4. Better Call Saul
You may already be familiar with Saul Goodman if youβve watchedΒ Breaking Bad.Β Better Call SaulΒ is a prequel toΒ Breaking BadΒ and is centered on the character of Jimmy McGill aka Saul Goodman.
The show takes place six years before the events ofΒ Breaking BadΒ and shows the transformation of Jimmy McGill, a former scam artist, and small-time lawyer, into Saul Goodman, a lawyer who frequently represents criminals while himself becoming involved in the cityβs criminal world.
Bob Odenkirk is absolutely brilliant as the lead and the supporting cast, comprising of Rhea Seehorn, Jonathan Banks, and Giancarlo Esposito, give stellar performances to make this a worthy spin-off toΒ Breaking Bad.
Each season comprises of 10 episodes. The show is currently in its fifth season which premiered on February 23, 2020.
5. Planet of the Apps
Planet of the AppsΒ is just likeΒ Shark Tank, but for mobile apps. Software developers have 60 seconds to pitch the idea of their app in front of four judges (Jessica Alba, Gwyneth Paltrow, William Adams (aka will.i.am), and Gary Vaynerchuk) in hope to partner with one of them for six weeks.
This series was Appleβs first original TV series, but unfortunately, it was canceled after just one season. Though the series has been criticized for being self-indulgent, itβs still a fun watch with a lot of takeaways for app developers and tech entrepreneurs.
6. StartUp
StartUpΒ is a web drama series that follows the emergence of GenCoin, a brilliant yet controversial cryptocurrency startup. The series has a great ensemble cast featuring Adam Brody, Edi Gathegi, Otmara Marrero, Martin Freeman, Ron Perlman, Addison Timlin, and Mira Sorvino. While the first season of the show received a mixed response from critics (33% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes), it has slowly gained loyal fans over the years.
There are currently 3 seasons of this series β with a total of 30 episodes. The fate of the show hangs in balance; it has not been renewed for a fourth season yet nor has it been canceled.
7. Billions
Starring Paul Giamatti and Damian Lewis,Β BillionsΒ is a drama series about power politics in the world of New York high finance. The central plot revolves around the legal battles between two powerful New York figures β U.S. Attorney Chuck Rhoades (Giamatti) and hedge fund king Bobby βAxeβ Axelrod (Lewis).
Aside from being wildly entertaining and binge-able, the show is filled withΒ insightful quotesΒ on business, startups, and leadership. Definitely a must-watch TV show for entrepreneurs.
8. Ballers
BallersΒ is a comedy-drama series starring Dwayne βThe Rockβ Johnson who plays Spencer Strasmore, a retired NFL player who must navigate his new career of choice as the financial manager of other NFL players. The show is critically acclaimed and has been called the NFL version of the showΒ Entourage.Β Dwayne Johnsonβs performance, in particular, has been praised by critics and fans alike.
BallersΒ has five seasons with a total of 47 episodes. The fifth and final season of the show premiered on August 25, 2019.
9. Empire
Created by Lee Daniels and Danny Strong,Β EmpireΒ is a drama series that tells the story of Empire Entertainment, a fictional hip hop music and entertainment company, and the drama that unfolds among the members of the foundersβ family as they fight for control of it.
The series has six seasons. The sixth and final season premiered on September 24, 2019.
10. Dirty Money
A Netflix original TV series,Β Dirty MoneyΒ documents stories of corporate fraud and corruption. The series features six hour-long episodes, each episode focussing on one example of corporate corruption.
Although I liked all episodes, my personal favorite was Payday (Season 1, Ep. #2) which revolves around amateur racing driver Scott Tucker and his fraudulent online business, AMG Services, which made payday loans with extremely high-interest rates.
Each season has 6 episodes and the most recent season, the showβs second season, premiered on March 11, 2020.