Master the startup & venture capital game

This documentary highlights the complexities of global capitalism as a Chinese billionaire takes over a failed American factory. It explores themes of cross-border investments, cultural clashes, and economic development, making it relevant to VCs involved in international and impact investing.

A hedge fund magnate, in his effort to sell off his company, makes a costly mistake. This film delves into the pressures of high-stakes financial deals and the impact of personal decisions on professional careers, making it relevant for VCs interested in exit strategies and financial risk management.

In the run-up to the 9/11 attacks, two brothers struggle to keep their tech startup alive. This film portrays the challenges of running a startup amidst uncertainty, with lessons on crisis management and resilience that are highly relevant for VCs working with early-stage startups.

This documentary explores the rise of Bitcoin and its impact on the financial world. It delves into cryptocurrency’s potential to disrupt traditional financial systems, making it essential viewing for VCs interested in crypto startups and the future of digital currencies.

This film covers the bidding war surrounding the leveraged buyout of a major tobacco company, shedding light on the intricacies of corporate takeovers and buyouts. For VCs, it’s an informative look at exits and the dynamics of mergers and acquisitions.

A deep dive into the life of legendary investor Warren Buffet, this documentary is a must-watch for VCs. It showcases Buffet's long-term thinking, investment philosophies, and how patience and discipline are key for successful investing.

This film tracks the rise and fall of Blackberry, one of the world’s first smartphone companies. It highlights the rapid pace of tech innovation, the importance of scaling, and the dangers of losing market relevance, making it relevant to VCs invested in tech startups.

A college dropout lands a job at a shady brokerage firm, quickly realizing that success can come at a moral cost. This film provides insight into unethical practices within finance, serving as a cautionary tale for VCs about the importance of due diligence when selecting investment opportunities.

A quirky Estonian startup entrepreneur embarks on a chaotic journey from small-town Europe to Silicon Valley. This film captures the challenges of scaling a startup, securing VC funding, and navigating the high expectations of investors.

A young banker investigates fraud and corruption in his hometown, revealing the darker side of financial systems. For VCs, this film serves as a reminder of the importance of regulatory compliance and risk management, especially when investing in fintech startups.

This dramatization of the IMF negotiations during the 1997 Asian financial crisis highlights the complexities of international monetary policies. For VCs working in emerging markets, this film provides insight into the financial struggles and opportunities that arise from global economic instability.

A Netflix documentary series exposing global corruption and financial crimes. Its relevance for VCs lies in its depiction of unethical business practices and how these scandals affect markets, offering cautionary tales for investors, and the importance of KYC on your LPs!

This documentary follows Vivino founder Heini Zachariassen’s entrepreneurial journey. It’s relevant for VCs as it offers insights into scaling a startup in a niche industry and the global expansion of tech-driven business models.

This documentary covers Boeing's corporate crisis following its 737 Max crashes. It highlights corporate governance failures and the challenges of managing large, impact-driven enterprises, making it relevant for VCs and PE firms involved in scaling large companies and managing reputational risks.

Entrepreneurs pitch their ideas to investors for funding. While primarily featuring small businesses, the pitching, valuation, and investor-entrepreneur dynamics provide useful insights for VCs, angel investors, and startup founders.

This short film follows an entrepreneur’s 30-year journey of building ventures and lessons learned. Its relevance lies in understanding the entrepreneurial mindset and perseverance, which are important aspects for VCs to assess in founders.

A female senior investment banker must navigate a web of corruption while managing a financial scandal. For VCs, this film highlights the complexities of ethics in financial markets and the need for transparency in investments.

Robert Kearns battles automakers in a legal fight over his patented invention. For VCs, this film emphasizes the importance of intellectual property and legal protections in technology-driven ventures.

The story of American car designer Carroll Shelby and driver Ken Miles building a revolutionary race car for Ford. The film provides insights into innovation, competition, and overcoming corporate hurdles, which are relevant themes for VCs invested in tech innovation.

A collection of documentaries exploring hidden economic behaviors. While not directly VC-focused, the insights into human behavior and market dynamics offer valuable lessons for VCs and impact investors assessing market opportunities.

This documentary tells the story of a Silicon Valley startup that aimed to create the first smartphone. It’s highly relevant to VCs, showing how visionary ideas can be ahead of their time and the risks involved in investing in disruptive technologies.

This series examines cases of fraud in business, including the story of WeWork and internet scams. It offers valuable lessons for VCs and investors on how to spot potential fraud, refine due diligence, and invest in legitimate startups and scale-ups.

This series follows Sophia Amoruso's journey as the founder of Nasty Gal, showing how a passion for fashion turns into a thriving business. It’s relevant for VCs interested in consumer goods startups and female-led businesses.

A series focusing on young bankers and traders navigating the financial world post-2008 collapse. It's relevant for VCs as it delves into the evolving finance industry and the dynamics between startups and established financial institutions.

This film documents the rise of the tech ecosystem in Nigeria over the last 15 years. It’s a valuable resource for VCs focused on African tech startups, showcasing the challenges and successes of the region’s founders and investors.

This documentary looks at the life and mind of Bill Gates, with insights into his entrepreneurial journey and impact-driven work. It offers lessons for impact investors on how vision, philanthropy, and business can converge to solve global problems.

This documentary follows revered sushi chef Jiro Ono’s pursuit of perfection in his craft, while his eldest son struggles to live up to the family legacy. It's relevant for VCs interested in founder resilience, attention to detail, and long-term business planning.

Werner Herzog’s documentary explores the impact of the internet on modern life, addressing both technological advancements and societal consequences. This is valuable for VCs investing in tech-driven companies and internet infrastructure startups.

Set during the early stages of the 2008 financial crisis, this film follows key players at an investment bank over 24 hours as they grapple with the unfolding crisis. While not immediately relevant to the VC asset class, the film's focus on the real estate crisis is very relevant and the film is highly useful for VCs and PE investors focusing on risk management and crisis response to see how systemic issues can very quickly affect an entire economy.

This documentary series breaks down complex financial topics like credit, gambling, and retirement savings. It’s highly relevant for VCs and investors looking to understand financial systems, consumer behavior, and how these factors impact startups and investment strategies.

This series follows an investment banker in early 2000s Moscow who gets embroiled in a dangerous world of politics, oligarchs, and private armies. It’s relevant for investors interested in emerging markets and the risks of cross-border investments.

This documentary follows the race to bring 3D printing technology to market, exploring the ambition and determination behind this technological revolution. It's relevant for VCs focused on disruptive technologies and startups bringing revolutionary products to consumers.

This documentary explores how the tech boom has caused economic division and social upheaval in San Francisco. It’s relevant for VCs interested in the broader impact of tech hubs, urban development, and the socioeconomic effects of disruptive innovation, esp in San Francisco.

This series chronicles the rise and fall of stockbroker Harshad Mehta, who manipulated the Indian stock market in the early 1990s. It’s highly relevant for investors looking to understand financial fraud and market dynamics in emerging economies.

Based on the true story of Madam C.J. Walker, this series follows her rise to becoming one of America's first self-made female millionaires. It provides lessons in perseverance, entrepreneurship, and building an empire from scratch, relevant to VCs focused on minority-led and female-founded startups.

Entrepreneurs pitch their ideas to a panel of investors in search of funding. This series is directly relevant for VCs and angel investors, showcasing real-world pitch dynamics, valuations, and decision-making.

This documentary tells the story of Compaq's rise in the tech industry as it competes with IBM. It’s relevant for VCs interested in tech disruption and the competitive landscape of the hardware industry.

A satirical series about a group of developers trying to build their own company in Silicon Valley. It’s a fun but insightful look at the pressures of startup life, making it highly relevant for VCs and startup founders alike.

This South Korean series follows young entrepreneurs as they navigate the world of tech startups and pitch for funding. It’s a great watch for VCs and startup founders alike, highlighting the challenges of building a business from the ground up.

Follows five startup CEOs in a tech accelerator as they build their companies and pitch to investors. This documentary offers practical insights into the startup process, making it highly relevant for VCs and entrepreneurs alike.

A group of investors bets against the US mortgage market in the lead-up to the 2008 financial crisis, uncovering corruption in the system. This film provides insights into contrarian investing and risk assessment, which are critical for VCs and PE investors.

A dramatized account of two entrepreneurs who created a revolutionary software in the 1990s and later sued Google for patent infringement. It’s relevant for VCs focused on intellectual property, tech innovation, and legal challenges.

This documentary highlights the risks of innovation in the medical device industry, showing the dangers of rushing products to market without proper testing. It’s important for VCs and PE investors focused on med-tech startups, highlighting the need for due diligence and regulatory compliance.

This documentary reveals the fraud behind many Chinese companies that manipulated the US stock market, making it highly relevant for VCs and PE investors concerned with cross-border risks and due diligence.

A dramatization of the battle between Edison and Westinghouse to control the electric grid. The film offers insights into competition, innovation, and market control, making it relevant for VCs focused on tech innovation.

This film follows an ambitious marketing professional who joins a research team to develop a $99 PC for the developing world. It showcases the challenges of innovation, fundraising, and the dot-com bubble, relevant for VCs focused on early-stage tech startups.

This documentary delves into the Cambridge Analytica scandal and the manipulation of data for political purposes. It’s relevant for VCs and investors in tech and data-driven businesses, showing the potential risks and ethical considerations in the tech space.

This film follows two high-frequency traders trying to build a fiber-optic cable network to beat competitors by milliseconds. It’s relevant for VCs interested in the competitive, high-stakes world of fintech and infrastructure-driven innovation.

This documentary tells the story of the Theranos scandal, exploring how Elizabeth Holmes built a multi-billion dollar company on fraudulent claims. It’s essential for VCs and investors as a cautionary tale on the importance of due diligence in healthcare and tech startups.

This documentary series follows the lives of some of America’s most iconic industrialists, including Rockefeller, Carnegie, and Ford. It’s relevant for VCs and PE investors interested in legacy-building, innovation, and long-term impact across industries.

This documentary goes behind the scenes of Pixar’s creation, detailing how the company revolutionized animation. It’s highly relevant for VCs focused on creative industries, tech innovation, and the power of visionary leadership in building successful companies.

This series follows the rise of Spotify, showing how Swedish entrepreneur Daniel Ek revolutionized the music industry with free, legal streaming. It’s highly relevant for VCs interested in media tech, disruption, and scaling in the tech world.

This documentary highlights the dark side of social media platforms and the ethical concerns around user manipulation and data privacy. It’s relevant for VCs investing in tech, social media, or AI startups, offering lessons on the potential social impacts of these innovations.

This documentary traces the rise of the personal computer industry, exploring how entrepreneurs like Bill Gates and Steve Jobs built tech empires. It’s relevant for VCs interested in the origins of the tech industry and the early stages of innovation.

This documentary explores the environmental and human impact of the fast fashion industry. It’s relevant for VCs and impact investors interested in sustainable fashion startups and ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) issues in global supply chains and highlights a dark side to mass market consumerism.

This documentary tells the story of TikTok’s rise as the world’s most downloaded app, examining its cultural and economic impact. It’s relevant for VCs interested in consumer tech, social media startups, and scaling global digital platforms.

This film examines the 2008 financial meltdown from the perspective of Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson. It’s relevant for VCs and PE investors looking at macroeconomic trends, risk management, and the interconnectedness of global financial markets.

This documentary follows investors as they try to unravel the mysterious death of cryptocurrency millionaire Gerry Cotten and the disappearance of $250 million. It’s highly relevant for VCs involved in crypto startups, highlighting risks, security concerns, and due diligence in the blockchain industry.

The story of Preston Tucker, a maverick car designer who challenged the auto industry with a revolutionary new car design. This film offers insights into innovation, disruption, and the challenges faced by startups taking on industry giants, making it relevant for VCs.

This documentary explores the meteoric rise and spectacular fall of WeWork, examining the hubris and mismanagement that brought the company to its knees. It’s a must-watch for VCs interested in understanding startup culture, IPOs, and leadership challenges.

This documentary explores how Abercrombie & Fitch dominated the retail scene in the 1990s and early 2000s before its exclusionary practices led to its downfall. It’s relevant for VCs and investors interested in brand management, retail, and the impact of corporate culture on a company's long-term success.

Could be good for detecting potential Ponzi schemes among ideas that look "too good"

Could be good for detecting potential Ponzi schemes among ideas that look "too good"

Generation Startup follows six recent college graduates as they take on the challenge of building new businesses in Detroit. It highlights their struggles, perseverance, and the highs and lows of starting a company, providing an honest look at the entrepreneurial journey, the resilience required, and the potential for growth and impact in emerging markets like Detroit. This perspective helps VCs understand the founder mindset and the types of support needed to nurture early-stage startups.

This documentary chronicles the rise of venture capital in America, featuring pioneers like Tom Perkins and Don Valentine, who invested in now-iconic companies such as Intel, Apple, and Atari. It explores the early days of Silicon Valley and the challenges these VCs faced as they backed transformative yet risky innovations. It also highlights the critical role of venture capital in scaling revolutionary companies, the impact of early investment decisions, and the perseverance needed to build successful ventures.

A documentary that chronicles the story of GovWorks, an ambitious startup launched during the late 1990s dot-com boom. It captures the journey of the company from its rapid growth, driven by venture capital funding, to its eventual collapse amidst internal conflicts and market pressures. The film offers a candid view into the challenges of entrepreneurship, highlighting the highs and lows founders experience while building a company, the volatility of the startup world and the critical role of leadership and decision-making in a venture's success or failure.

This is a docu-drama series that chronicles the rise and fall of the dot-com bubble in the 1990s, focusing on companies like Netscape and TheGlobe.com. It explores the role of venture capital in funding these early tech pioneers and the high-stakes risks involved. The series provides insights into the challenges faced by founders and investors in navigating a rapidly evolving tech landscape, making it relevant for understanding the volatile nature of startups and VC investments. It’s a cautionary tale of ambition, innovation, and financial speculation.

A documentary series that delves into the evolution of Silicon Valley, highlighting the key figures and events that turned it into the epicentre of global innovation. It features interviews with influential VCs and entrepreneurs, detailing how venture capital played a critical role in the growth of tech giants like Apple, Google, and Intel. It provides insights into the foundational elements of a successful tech ecosystem, emphasising the importance of visionary leadership, risk-taking, and investment in groundbreaking ideas.

This series features entrepreneurs pitching their business ideas to a panel of wealthy investors, or "Dragons," in hopes of securing investment. The show highlights the intricacies of pitch delivery, negotiation tactics, and the scrutiny VCs apply when evaluating business models and potential returns. It provides a practical view of investor expectations, effective pitching strategies, and the importance of clear value propositions and financial acumen in securing funding.

This is a four-part documentary series that follows the careers of Dr. Dre and Jimmy Iovine, from their humble beginnings to co-founding Beats Electronics and its $3 billion sale to Apple. It showcases their journey through the music and tech industries, illustrating the importance of resilience, strategic partnerships, and innovation. This series highlights the impact of combining creative vision with business acumen to create and scale successful ventures.

This movie portrays the turbulent journey of Facebook's creation by Mark Zuckerberg, showcasing the challenges of entrepreneurship and the impact of early-stage venture capital. The film delves into the dynamics of co-founder disputes and legal battles, emphasising the importance of protecting intellectual property and navigating investor relationships. It illustrates the potential complexities and rewards of tech startups, highlighting the critical role of strategic investment in scaling innovative businesses.

This series follows the dramatic rise and fall of WeWork, highlighting how co-founder Adam Neumann's charismatic leadership led to the company's rapid valuation growth to $47 billion and its subsequent collapse due to mismanagement and ego-driven decisions. It illustrates the pitfalls of unchecked founder ambition, the importance of governance, and the risks VCs face when investing in visionary yet unstable leadership. SoftBank’s involvement showcases the impact of large-scale funding on startup dynamics.

This series follows the tumultuous journey of Uber under CEO Travis Kalanick. The series highlights the aggressive expansion, conflicts, and ethical dilemmas faced as the company scaled rapidly with venture capital funding. It underscores the high-stakes environment of startups, where relentless growth often clashes with corporate governance and ethical considerations. It delves into the dynamics of power, the consequences of unchecked ambition, and the influence of investors on startup culture.

A documentary featuring interviews with young technology entrepreneurs from the US and Europe, including founders of companies like Vimeo, Dropbox, and Soundcloud. It explores their journeys, the challenges they faced, and the crucial role that venture capital played in their success.

This movie demonstrates the resilience and perseverance needed to overcome extreme adversity, qualities crucial for startup founders. VCs value such tenacity in entrepreneurs as it shows commitment and the ability to navigate challenges, which are vital for startup success. The film is a powerful reminder that success often requires enduring hardship and maintaining focus on the end goal.

This is a documentary highlighting the lack of women and minorities in tech and the challenges they face in the field. It showcases cultural and educational barriers and profiles successful women in tech, promoting diversity.

Joy follows the story of Joy Mangano, a struggling single mother who overcomes numerous personal and professional challenges to invent and successfully market the Miracle Mop, ultimately building a business empire. Despite facing betrayal, financial struggles, and patent issues, her perseverance and innovative spirit turn her into a self-made millionaire. It illustrates the grit and resilience required in entrepreneurship, the importance of protecting intellectual property, and navigating complex investor relationships. It underscores the unpredictable nature of startups and the potential for growth from innovative ideas

The Banker is a 2020 film based on the true story of two African-American entrepreneurs, Bernard Garrett and Joe Morris, who hired a white man to pose as the head of their business while they pretended to be his chauffeur and janitor. This was a strategic move to bypass the racial barriers of the 1960s and succeed in real estate and banking. The film highlights overcoming systemic obstacles, innovative thinking, and the importance of strategic partnerships in business growth.

Loaded follows four friends who become overnight millionaires after selling their startup. The series delves into the complications of sudden wealth, the pressures from venture capitalists, and the impact on personal relationships. It portrays the post-exit challenges of managing investor expectations and maintaining company culture amidst newfound success. The show provides a humorous yet insightful look into the complexities of startup life post-acquisition.

This movie follows Ray Kroc's journey from a struggling salesman to transforming McDonald's into a global empire through ruthless business tactics and strategic pivots. The film offers insights into scaling a business, navigating founder-investor dynamics, and the power of vision and persistence, as well as the understanding the complexities of growth, control, and ethical decisions in business expansion.

A Norwegian series that explores the lives of four wealthy investors in Oslo who, despite their financial success, are trapped in a cycle of self-destructive behaviour. The show delves into their hedonistic escapades involving drugs, violence, and deceit, exposing the dark underbelly of high-stakes investment and venture capital.

This movie chronicles Jack Ma’s journey in founding Alibaba, showcasing the challenges of entrepreneurship in China and the crucial role of venture capital in scaling his business. It’s a valuable case study for VCs and founders on navigating complex business environments and leveraging investment for growth

Guru follows a small-town entrepreneur who rises to power in India, reflecting on the challenges and ambition required to build a business empire in emerging markets. It provides insights into founder mentality and the complexities of scaling a company in difficult environments

This movie tells the inspiring story of William Kamkwamba, who builds a wind turbine in Malawi despite significant odds. It embodies innovation and resourcefulness, relevant for founders and VCs interested in impactful entrepreneurship in Africa​

This documentary explores the growing trend of crowdfunding, highlighting the stories of three entrepreneurs who use platforms like Kickstarter to fund their projects. It delves into the democratization of fundraising and the opportunities it presents outside traditional venture capital. It showcases alternative funding avenues that bypass traditional investment, influencing how startups raise capital.

This series follows two young entrepreneurs in New York City as they navigate the challenges of launching a fashion business. It explores themes of hustle, resilience, and the struggle to secure financing and partnerships. It illustrates the real-world difficulties founders face in establishing and scaling a business, offering valuable insights into entrepreneurial perseverance and the importance of networking.

This documentary chronicles the meteoric rise and sudden fall of Kozmo.com, a delivery service during the dot-com bubble. It provides a cautionary tale of the risks associated with rapid expansion and the volatility of venture capital. It serves as a critical study for VCs and founders on the pitfalls of unsustainable growth and the challenges of managing investor expectations during economic booms.

This series highlights success stories of entrepreneurs across Europe who have benefited from venture capital and private equity investment. It showcases the transformative impact of such investments on innovation and business growth. It demonstrates the value of strategic investment and the role of VCs in enabling startups to scale, innovate, and achieve success.

This series follows an ex-convict who, after a series of personal setbacks, opens a bar in Seoul's Itaewon district and aspires to turn it into a global franchise. The series depicts his journey of overcoming adversity and disrupting the food and beverage industry. Relevance: It’s a compelling narrative on resilience and entrepreneurship, showcasing the challenges of building a business from the ground up and the importance of a strong vision.

This documentary series follows female entrepreneurs as they pitch their business ideas to secure venture capital funding. It highlights the unique challenges women face in the startup ecosystem and the importance of representation. It sheds light on gender disparities in VC funding and serves as an inspirational guide for women founders navigating the venture capital landscape.

This documentary covers the legal battle surrounding The Pirate Bay, a file-sharing site that challenged conventional media distribution models. It highlights the founders' legal struggles and the disruptive potential of technology startups. It offers insights into the risks and rewards of disruptive innovation, a valuable lesson for founders aiming to challenge traditional industries.

This documentary follows Elon Musk’s journey through major ventures like Tesla, SpaceX, and PayPal. It showcases how venture capital played a crucial role in helping Musk take on giants in various industries, making it a must-watch for founders seeking inspiration on leveraging VC support to scale visionary projects​

Set during the 1980s tech boom, this series portrays a group of engineers trying to revolutionise the personal computing industry. It highlights the grit needed to build and grow startups, especially in disruptive industries. Its depiction of risk-taking and market competition is valuable for founders

This series follows the creation of a digital currency startup, navigating the challenges of securing funding and building a tech business in a volatile environment. It's particularly relevant to founders dealing with fintech and blockchain, showing how early-stage ventures can manage risk and investment.

This film explores the entrepreneurial rivalry between the Dassler brothers, who founded Adidas and Puma. It highlights the dynamics of competition and branding in building a global business, making it insightful for founders focusing on brand strategy

This mini-series chronicles the rise of Harley-Davidson, emphasising the entrepreneurial drive and innovation required to create an iconic brand. It showcases the relentless pursuit of a vision, valuable for founders seeking to build legacy brands​

This reality TV series features Marcus Lemonis investing in struggling small businesses, providing capital, expertise, and mentorship. The show focuses on the three P's: People, Process, and Product, which Lemonis believes are crucial to business success. It illustrates the impact of effective business management and the importance of strategic investments and partnerships in transforming struggling ventures into profitable ones

This Amazon series follows a group of young entrepreneurs in Silicon Valley as they navigate the highs and lows of launching a social networking app. It explores the startup hustle, team dynamics, and the quest for venture capital, providing a comedic yet insightful look into the competitive tech world. It captures the realities of startup life, including funding challenges, product development, and the emotional rollercoaster of building a tech company

This documentary examines how tech companies and governments collect and use personal data through seemingly innocuous user agreements. It highlights the ethical implications and loss of privacy associated with digital services. The film's relevance to VCs and founders lies in its critical view of data practices, encouraging startups to consider the ethical and legal consequences of data usage in their business models, which can impact brand trust and regulatory compliance

This documentary follows the journey of five young female entrepreneurs as they tackle the challenges of launching tech startups in a male-dominated industry. It highlights their struggle to secure venture capital and the obstacles women face in the investment world. The film underscores the importance of diversity in funding and the unique challenges female founders encounter, offering valuable insights into creating a more inclusive entrepreneurial ecosystem.