OTT Series Every Aspiring Entrepreneur Should Watch

Charu Mehrotra
6 min readJun 28, 2024

--

Top 10 Must-Watch OTT Series for Entrepreneurs

Discover 10 OTT series that provide invaluable insights and inspiration for aspiring entrepreneurs, covering innovation, strategy, and perseverance. The world of entrepreneurship is dynamic and ever-evolving, requiring constant learning and adaptation. As an aspiring entrepreneur, I found inspiration and valuable lessons from various sources, including OTT (over-the-top) series. These shows not only entertain but also offer deep insights into business strategies, innovation, leadership, and perseverance. Here’s a detailed exploration of ten OTT series that significantly boosted my entrepreneurial spirit and can do the same for you.

1. Shark Tank

Platform: Hulu, Amazon Prime

“Shark Tank” has been a game-changer for me. Watching entrepreneurs pitch their ideas to seasoned investors provides real-world insights into the pitching process, business valuation, and negotiation tactics. The series highlights the importance of preparation, understanding your market, and having a solid business plan. Each episode offers practical lessons on what investors look for in a viable business idea and how to present it compellingly.

With successful entrepreneurs like Mark Cuban and Lori Greiner on the panel, the show brings authoritative voices in business to the forefront, making the advice and feedback highly credible. The transparency of the negotiations and the follow-up segments showing the progress of the businesses invested in build trust in the show’s authenticity and the practical applicability of its lessons.

2. Silicon Valley

“Silicon Valley” provides a humorous yet insightful look into the tech startup ecosystem. The series follows a group of software developers navigating the challenges of launching a startup in the highly competitive Silicon Valley. It emphasizes the importance of innovation, adaptability, and teamwork. The show accurately depicts the highs and lows of startup life, including funding rounds, product development, and market competition. Created by Mike Judge, with input from tech industry insiders, the series offers a realistic portrayal of the startup environment, lending credibility to its narrative. The show’s detailed representation of the tech industry, from coding to investor pitches, ensures that viewers get a trustworthy depiction of startup challenges and successes.

3. The Profit

Watching “The Profit” has been enlightening. Businessman Marcus Lemonis invests in struggling businesses and offers his expertise to turn them around, providing practical business advice along the way. The series underscores the importance of the “Three P’s” — People, Process, and Product. It offers valuable insights into operational efficiency, financial management, and customer engagement. Marcus Lemonis’s track record as a successful entrepreneur and investor lends significant authority to the advice and strategies presented in the show. The real-life transformations of businesses featured on the show attest to the reliability and practicality of the lessons imparted, making it a trustworthy source of entrepreneurial knowledge.

Platform: Showtime, Amazon Prime

“Billions” dives into the world of hedge funds and high finance, offering a captivating look at ambition, strategy, and power dynamics in business. The series provides deep insights into financial strategies, risk management, and competitive positioning. It also explores ethical dilemmas and the impact of personal motivations on business decisions. With input from financial experts and industry insiders, “Billions” presents a realistic and authoritative portrayal of the financial industry. The complex characters and intricate plotlines, grounded in real-world financial practices, ensure that viewers can trust the series to deliver genuine insights into high-stakes business strategies.

Platform: Crackle, Amazon Prime

“StartUp” tells the story of a new cryptocurrency venture, capturing the excitement and challenges of launching a tech startup. The series highlights the importance of innovation, technical expertise, and strategic partnerships. It also delves into the ethical and legal challenges faced by startups. Featuring credible portrayals of tech entrepreneurs and investors, the show draws on real-world startup experiences, adding to its authority. The realistic depiction of the startup lifecycle, from ideation to execution, ensures that the series provides trustworthy insights into the entrepreneurial journey.

6. Dirty Money

This documentary series investigates cases of corporate greed and corruption, offering lessons on business ethics and the consequences of unethical practices. “Dirty Money” emphasizes the importance of integrity, transparency, and ethical decision-making in business. It also highlights the impact of regulatory environments on corporate behavior. The series features investigative journalism and interviews with industry experts, providing authoritative insights into corporate malfeasance. The thorough research and factual reporting ensure that the series presents reliable and accurate information, making it a credible source for learning about business ethics.

7. Dragon’s Den

Platform: Netflix, BBC iPlayer

Similar to “Shark Tank,” “Dragon’s Den” features entrepreneurs pitching their ideas to a panel of wealthy investors, offering valuable lessons in business pitching and investment. The series demonstrates the importance of a solid business plan, understanding your numbers, and effective communication skills. It also provides insights into what investors seek in a business opportunity. With successful business moguls like Peter Jones and Deborah Meaden on the panel, the show’s advice and critiques are authoritative and grounded in real-world experience. The follow-up segments on businesses that received investment build trust in the authenticity and practical value of the lessons presented, ensuring viewers get reliable entrepreneurial insights.

Based on the true story of Sophia Amoruso, founder of Nasty Gal, “Girlboss” follows her journey from selling vintage clothes on eBay to building a fashion empire. The series highlights the importance of passion, creativity, and resilience. It also explores the challenges of scaling a business and the role of personal branding in entrepreneurial success. Sophia Amoruso’s real-life achievements and her status as a successful entrepreneur lend significant authority to the series. The show’s basis in a true story, coupled with its honest depiction of the ups and downs of entrepreneurship, ensures that viewers can trust the authenticity and relevance of the entrepreneurial lessons it imparts.

9. House of Lies

Platform: Showtime, Amazon Prime

This series offers a glimpse into the world of management consulting, highlighting the strategies used to help businesses grow and navigate complex challenges. “House of Lies” showcases the importance of strategic thinking, problem-solving, and effective communication in consulting and business development. The show’s creators consulted with real-life consultants to ensure an accurate portrayal, lending authority to its depiction of the consulting industry. The realistic scenarios and detailed exploration of business challenges ensure that the series provides trustworthy insights into consulting and business strategy.

Set in the 1960s advertising world, “Mad Men” offers insights into marketing, branding, and business strategy, showcasing the importance of creativity and innovation. The series highlights the role of effective marketing and branding in business success. It also explores leadership styles, workplace dynamics, and the evolution of advertising techniques. With its accurate historical depiction and input from advertising industry veterans, “Mad Men” offers authoritative insights into the advertising world. The show’s meticulous attention to detail and realistic portrayal of the advertising industry ensure that viewers can trust the authenticity of the business strategies and lessons presented.

Conclusion

These ten OTT series have significantly influenced my entrepreneurial journey, providing inspiration, practical lessons, and valuable insights. Whether you’re looking to improve your pitching skills, understand the dynamics of the tech startup world, or learn about ethical business practices, these series offer a wealth of knowledge and motivation.

By watching these shows, you can ignite your entrepreneurial spirit and gain a deeper understanding of the qualities needed to succeed in the business world. From resilience and innovation to strategic thinking and ethical decision-making, the lessons from these series are invaluable for any aspiring entrepreneur.

Also Read, Declutter Your Desk for Improved Work Efficiency Visit, Women Entrepreneurs: Embody Values, Inspire Excellence

Follow Womenlines on Social Media

Originally published at https://www.womenlines.com on June 28, 2024.

--

--

Charu Mehrotra

Founder e-Magazine Womenlines, Entrepreneur,Unshakable Optimist. Subscribe www.womenlines.com