MUMBAI, India — December 12, 2023 — Prime Video, India’s most loved entertainment destination, today unveiled the captivating trailer of its upcoming Original competitive reality series – Mission Start Ab. The series has been conceptualized as part of Prime Video’s partnership with the Office of the Principal Scientific Adviser to the Government of India. Mission Start Ab is a first-of-its-kind series that celebrates innovative, grassroots ideas. The show meticulously evaluates 10 early-stage founders and entrepreneurs under the mentorship of three distinguished investors – investors Kunal Bahl (co-founder Snapdeal and Titan Capital), Anisha Singh (founder She Capital, founder and ex-CEO, MyDala), and Manish Chowdhary (co-founder WOW Skin Science). During the course of this competition, the competing founders also face challenges featuring prominent faces from the business and entertainment world such as Ritesh Agarwal (OYO), Rohit Shetty (Filmmaker), Riyaaz Amlani (Impresario Entertainment Hospitality), Zeenah Vilcassim (Zomato Live Entertainment), Nilesh Kothari (Trifecta Capital) and Saikiran Krishnamurthy (xto10x Technologies). Executive Produced by Indrajit Ray, directed by Srimanta Senguptta, this Endemol India production is written by Bhavesh Mehta, and hosted by Masaba Gupta and Cyrus Sahukar. The series is set to premiere exclusively on Prime Video in India and across more than 240 countries and territories worldwide on December 19. Mission Start Ab is the latest addition to the Prime membership. Prime members in India enjoy savings, convenience, and entertainment, all in a single membership for just ₹1499/ year.
Enthralling, engaging and inspiring, the trailer of Mission Start Ab, introduces audiences to the three top investors along with ten extraordinary early-stage founders. Each founder confronts formidable challenges that test their entrepreneurial mettle. Promising a ‘deal of a lifetime’ for the winner, the trailer heighten anticipation for the series launch on December 19 enticing viewers to discover the last-standing founders and potentially witness the birth of India’s next Unicorn.
“India is a land of billion-plus dreams, and these dreams encapsulate infinite possibilities. Mission Start Ab is a series that aims to fuel the dreams of an increasingly entrepreneurial India,” shared Aparna Purohit, head of Originals, India & Southeast Asia, Prime Video. “At Prime Video, we are committed to telling stories that are rooted, relatable, and designed to entertain, inspire and provoke. Mission Start Ab goes beyond storytelling; it embodies the very essence of dreams, aspirations, and brilliance scattered across the length and breadth of India. As storytellers, we believe there is nothing more compelling or inspiring than the stories of resilient individuals using their unwavering grit, determination, and tenacity to achieve success. The core philosophy of Mission Start Ab aligns with Prime Video’s overarching vision of serving as a catalyst, actively contributing to the economic growth and development of the nation. We are confident that audiences, not only within India, but across 240 countries and territories will be inspired and entertained by it.”
Elaborating on the role that series like Mission Start Ab can play in furthering the growth of India’s startup ecosystem, Shri Ajay Kumar Sood, Principal Scientific Adviser, Government of India said, “I am extremely happy to see Prime Video has developed episodes on the storyline shared by Office of PSA for future startups to learn through OTT on skill sets required to lead as founders of startups. Scalable capacity building can be achieved through such breakthrough interventions.”
“Entrepreneurship is an intense, transformative journey, and I’ve witnessed this through the lens of being a founder, mentor, and investor,” said Kunal Bahl, co-founder of Snapdeal and Titan Capital. “The startup sector in India buzzes with brilliant minds and innovative ideas that have immense potential to accelerate our nation’s economic growth. To catalyze their success, we need a robust ecosystem that provides them with the necessary resources, support, and guidance. This is where Mission Start Ab steps in, marking a significant leap towards building a stronger foundation of knowledge and support for our aspiring entrepreneurs and startups. Each of the 10 founding teams on the show represent the youthful energy and diverse talent of our nation, embodying not just skills but an insatiable hunger to succeed against all odds. I am elated to be a part of this journey, sharing my experiences and insights, and acting as a guide and mentor to these passionate individuals who are scripting their own stories of struggle and triumph across India.”
“When people look at a founder’s life, especially a successful founder’s life, people assume it is an easy ride. But founder life is hard, and everyone needs to work crazy hard on each little thing. Having been a founder for most of my life, I deeply respect founders who can stick to their values and show grit.” said Anisha Singh, founder She Capital, founder and ex-CEO, MyDala “Mission Start Ab is unlike any other startup show – it is a boot camp that gives a bird’s eye view into the real ‘founder’s life’.
The best part about it is that you get to see how Bharat’s start-up ecosystem and founders have evolved. They are building from Bharat for Bharat and from Bharat for the world. I am thrilled to be part of a series that shows just how cool these founders are, and how the pressure they deal with on the show makes them diamonds.”
“Mission Start Ab is not just another reality series, it is a potential gamechanger for the Indian startup economy,” said Manish Chowdhary, co-founder WOW Skin Science. “It offers deep insights into the kind of challenges and opportunities our innovators face, and at the same time, what the investor community looks for, while evaluating investment in a startup. I am immensely proud to be a part of such a pathbreaking show and grateful to Prime Video for this unique opportunity. As investors, incubators, and mentors, we cannot reach out to every aspiring entrepreneur, but with this show, every budding entrepreneur will have a better insight into the right measures they need to take to grow in their space.”
