Entrepreneurs seek out inspiration no matter what they are doing. Whether it’s walking down the street or chatting up a friend, the simplest action is capable of sparking a world of creativity in an entrepreneur’s mind. Television is no different. With how easy it is to watch a variety of shows online, inspiration can come from any angle. But not all shows are created equally, and entrepreneurs are the busy types of people. In this article, you will find a variety of shows tailored for a startup mindset in mind where the characters in the shows are likely experiencing similar situations to what an entrepreneur will go through.

Ballers

A comedic drama series following Spencer Strasmore, a retired NFL player played by Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson. The show follows Strasmore’s story from football pro to his new career as a financial manager of other NFL players. Johnson’s performance is like many of his other roles throughout the years, yet the show offers many life tips for entrepreneurs. Pivoting and transforming oneself from one role to another is no easy feat, and Ballers is a good representation of transition. Ballers ran for a total of five seasons, ending in 2019 with a show count of 47 episodes. Today, you can find Ballers on HBO Max. 

StartUp

With the mainstream emergence of cryptocurrencies in recent years, not many shows showcase one of the latest big pushes in tech. StartUp, a drama series showcases the beginning of GenCoin. Like many crypto’s, GenCoin has controversy surrounding it and the people closest to it. In fact, one of the largest draws to this show is the cast which features Adam Brody, Martin Freeman, Ron Perlman, Edi Gathegi, and more. StartUp went on for 3 seasons, featuring 30 episodes as it aired on Sony Crackle. 

 Silicon Valley 

Perhaps no show encapsulated the entrepreneurial life like HBO’s Silicon Valley. The critically-acclaimed sitcom follows a group of young software engineers as they traverse the sharky waters of Silicon Valley. Richard Hendricks, played by Thomas Middleditch leads his company of Pied Piper from a small startup out of a garage to an Apple-like titan. The show features a satirical approach to the tech and startup industry as they poke and prod that lucrative world. The show is relatable to tech-heads and entrepreneurs alike as the show grounds itself in the reality of startups. Silicon Valley ran for 6 seasons and 53 episodes which can all be found on HBO Max. 

Billions 

A show jam-packed with inspiration on starting your own business, the startup industry is a must-watch by many entrepreneurs of all experiences. Featuring Paul Giamatti and Damian Lewis, Billions follows the high-stakes political world of New York finance. Pitting Giammati and Lewis’s character against each other in various legal battles throughout the series. Unlike others on this list, Billions is still airing as it was renewed for a fifth season on Showtime. 

The stories that follow the lives of entrepreneurs are vast and rich with excitement. For everything that goes right, often something goes wrong at the same time. These vast stories of constant challenges are often better suited for a television narrative. TV allows the plot to unravel and spend larger amounts of time with its characters. Stories are better fleshed out, allowing for great attention to detail than what films would allow. While these shows may be based on the lives of entrepreneurs, none of it is real, and much of it is glamorized. However, that doesn’t mean that these shows can serve as inspiration for the entrepreneurs of tomorrow.

What is your favorite TV show about entrepreneurs? Let us know down in the comments.

This article originally published on GREY Journal.