ABC Family continues to expand its reality slate with three new unscripted series, “Startup U,” “Next Step Realty: NYC” and “Monica the Medium,” announced today by Tom Ascheim, President, ABC Family and Karey Burke, Executive Vice President, Programming and Development, ABC Family. These unscripted series join recently greenlit series “Becoming Us” (formerly “My Transparent Life”) and “Job or No Job,” which will all premiere this summer.
“ABC Family will become a brand known as much for character-driven docu-dramas as we are for our character-driven scripted dramas and comedies,” said Tom Ascheim, President ABC Family. “This summer will be chock-full of unscripted fare on the network as we build momentum with these three new series.”
Karey Burke, Executive Vice President, Programming and Development, ABC Family added, “From Silicon Valley where a diverse group of savvy entrepreneurial students are chasing their dream to be their own boss and launch a successful start-up to New York City where drama knocks daily at a realty firm specializing in finding starter digs for young people to a college co-ed who can communicate with the dead, we’ve got addictive reality covered.”
“Startup U” is an unscripted, one-hour series from the producers of “House of Food” that follows a group of entrepreneurial millennials as they embark on a semester at Draper University in Silicon Valley. Led by billionaire founder and venture capitalist Tim Draper, the 7-week program teaches the fundamentals of launching a startup company under the mentorship of America’s business leaders. In the end, students pitch their ideas to a panel of hungry venture capitalists with the hope that they’ll receive a life-changing investment to launch their business. To date, more than 150 Draper graduates have received funding totaling more than $15 million from mogul investors and Tim Draper himself. Brimming with innovation and determination, “Startup U” pulls back the curtain on what it takes to achieve success in the most innovative and competitive marketplace in the world. Viewers join a group of savvy millennials as they suffer through hard lessons and grab opportunities with both hands, all in the pursuit of their dreams. “Startup U” is produced by Ugly Brother Studios, a Sky Vision partner. Mike Duffy, Tim Duffy and Tim Draper serve as executive producers. “Startup U” starts production this month in San Mateo, CA.
From Lincoln Square Productions, comes “Next Step Realty: NYC,” a business-based docu-series following the passionate and ambitious employees of Next Step Realty. The Manhattan-based real estate firm specializes in helping recent college graduates find their apartments in New York City while navigating interpersonal and professional conflicts in the workplace. Danielle Rossen (“What Would You Do?”) serves as the executive producer. “Next Step Realty: NYC” is currently in production in New York, NY.
“Monica the Medium,” is a fascinating look at Monica, a junior at Penn State navigating friends, family, relationships…and the fact that she’s a medium and can talk to dead people. Her uncommon vocation provides an endless supply of emotional and engaging stories, with a unique millennial perspective. The show is produced by Dave Caplan’s Trooper Entertainment in association with Lionsgate TV. Caplan will serve as executive producer alongside Malachi McGlone. “Monica the Medium” is currently in production in State College, PA.