Part survival, part startup, part social experiment — START ME UP drops real people into real challenges, in real time.
It’s a deep dive into the chaos, charm, and contradictions of starting from zero — abroad.
Challenge
Pairs of contestants are parachuted into different European countries — with no language skills, no contacts, and one goal: build a business from scratch (same type for all, like a bakery).
We watch them juggle culture shocks, clash over choices, and chase their dream against a ticking clock.
Obstacles
No guidebooks. No lifelines.
Just grit, wit, and a mountain of bureaucracy to climb.
Contestants must win over skeptical local banks for funding.
Find, rent, and reinvent the perfect storefront.
Learn a new business on the fly — and make it fly.
Navigate foreign suppliers and shady deals.
Build a brand, spread the word, and bring in the crowds.
Go green — because a future-proof business wins extra points.
And finally, close the biggest sale of their lives.
Obstacles
No guidebooks. No lifelines.
Just grit, wit, and a mountain of bureaucracy to climb.
Contestants must win over skeptical local banks for funding.
Find, rent, and reinvent the perfect storefront.
Learn a new business on the fly — and make it fly.
Navigate foreign suppliers and shady deals.
Build a brand, spread the word, and bring in the crowds.
Go green — because a future-proof business wins extra points.
And finally, close the biggest sale of their lives.
