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Start-Up

TV·2020–2020·1 season, 16 episodes·tvN·Drama, Comedy·1h 12m·8.2·Created by Park Hye-ryun

Streaming on (US) NetflixSee all

Young entrepreneurs aspiring to launch virtual dreams into reality compete for success and love in the cutthroat world of Korea's high-tech industry.

Highest-rated episodes all ranked

  1. 01Start-Up S01E09RiskS01E09 · 10.0Do-san and Ji-pyeong struggle to bear the weight of their untold truths. Doubts and a mix-up lead Dal-mi to the place where it all started.
  2. 02Start-Up S01E08BackupS01E08 · 9.3Devastating news gives Dal-mi another reason to make the app a success. Won Du-jeong's plan to teach Do-san and Dal-mi a lesson backfires.
  3. 03Start-Up S01E04SandboxS01E04 · 8.5Despite differing pasts, Dal-mi and In-jae fight for their dreams at the same starting line. Ji-pyeong sets out to protect Dal-mi and help Do-san.

Castfull cast & details

SuzySuzySeo Dal-miNam Joo-hyukNam Joo-hyukNam Do-sanKim Seon-hoKim Seon-hoHan Ji-pyeongKang Han-naKang Han-naWon In-jaeKim Hae-sookKim Hae-sookChoi Won-deokKim Do-wanKim Do-wanKim Yong-sanKim Won-haeKim Won-haeNam Seong-hwanSong Sun-miSong Sun-miCha Ah-hyun

Episodes by season

Season01Episode ratings across the season — the gold bar is its best episode16Episodes2020Aired 7.8Season avg
  1. S01E01Start-Up S01E01START-UPOctober 17, 2020 8.2The spring Seo Dal-mi lost everything, Nam Do-san's letters kept her company. Fifteen years later, she needs him by her side to prove Won In
  2. S01E02Start-Up S01E02FFF (FAMILY, FRIENDS, FOOLS)October 18, 2020 8.4To preserve Dal-mi's past and to support her future, Choi Won-deok asks Han Ji-pyeong to pull off an impossible task.
  3. S01E03Start-Up S01E03AngelOctober 24, 2020 7.8Ji-pyeong scrambles to transform Do-san into the man of Dal-mi's dreams. A rude awakening prompts In-jae to close one door and open another.
  4. S01E04Start-Up S01E04SandboxOctober 25, 2020 8.5Despite differing pasts, Dal-mi and In-jae fight for their dreams at the same starting line. Ji-pyeong sets out to protect Dal-mi and help D
  5. S01E05Start-Up S01E05HackathonOctober 31, 2020 8.5Dal-mi and In-jae present their teams' ideas on the hackathon stage. A story about Dal-mi's upbringing moves Ji-pyeong to fight for her succ
  6. S01E06Start-Up S01E06Key ManNovember 1, 2020 8.3In-jae uses lessons from her father and stepfather to her advantage. A clash over company shares tests Dal-mi, who turns to Ji-pyeong for ad
  7. S01E07Start-Up S01E07Burn RateNovember 7, 2020 8.2Grappling with his feelings for Dal-mi, Ji-pyeong avoids her. Do-san's knowledge of Won-deok's condition inspires a business idea for Samsan
  8. S01E08Start-Up S01E08BackupNovember 8, 2020 9.3Devastating news gives Dal-mi another reason to make the app a success. Won Du-jeong's plan to teach Do-san and Dal-mi a lesson backfires.
  9. S01E09Start-Up S01E09Season's bestRiskNovember 14, 2020 10.0Do-san and Ji-pyeong struggle to bear the weight of their untold truths. Doubts and a mix-up lead Dal-mi to the place where it all started.
  10. S01E10Start-Up S01E10Demo DayNovember 15, 2020 8.0Ji-pyeong gives Dal-mi long-awaited answers and a confession. Seeking success on his own terms, Do-san considers a golden opportunity.
  11. S01E11Start-Up S01E11ExitNovember 21, 2020 6.0Kim Yong-san forces Ji-pyeong to reflect on his past remarks. In-jae and Dal-mi's companies showcase rivaling programs using the same techno
  12. S01E12Start-Up S01E12AcqhireNovember 22, 2020 7.0Alex Kwon shows his true colors, proving Ji-pyeong right and fulfilling Samsan Tech's worst fears. Do-san tells Ji-pyeong about Won-deok's h
  13. S01E13Start-Up S01E13Comfort ZoneNovember 28, 2020—Dal-mi and In-jae's self-driving car is hit by a ransomware attack. Samsan Tech founders return after a successful three-year stint in San F
  14. S01E14Start-Up S01E14Elevator SpeechNovember 29, 2020 8.0Tasked with recruiting top developers into her company, Dal-mi pitches her idea at Samsan Tech. Do-san gets away to clear his head.
  15. S01E15Start-Up S01E15MVP (Minimum Viable Product)December 5, 2020 6.0Jung Sa-ha and Lee Chul-san begin dating in secret. A boozy, heartfelt conversation with Do-san helps Ji-pyeong make a decision about Dal-mi
  16. S01E16Start-Up S01E16Scale UpDecember 6, 2020 5.5Do-san and Dal-mi envision new goals for their future. Ji-pyeong finds a way to pay forward his gratitude for Won-deok. In-jae returns to he

Season 1 ranked & reviewed

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