START UP, the six-time Emmy-nominated public television series hosted by Gary Bredow and produced by Jenny Feterovich, returns for its 14th season with 13 new episodes featuring entrepreneurs across Ohio and Illinois. The season launches nationally on WORLD Channel and begins streaming on PBS.org and the PBS app October 4, and is airing on PBS and PTV stations nationwide.
DETROIT, Sept. 30, 2026 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- START UP, the six-time Emmy-nominated television series, returns for its 14th season with 13 new episodes bringing to life the compelling stories of entrepreneurs across Ohio and Illinois. Season 14 is beginning to air on PBS and PTV stations nationwide, with viewers encouraged to check local listings for individual station dates and times. The season launches nationally on WORLD Channel October 4 and begins streaming on PBS.org and the PBS app October 4.
Produced by Jenny Feterovich and hosted by Gary Bredow, START UP continues its mission to demystify entrepreneurship by showcasing the grit, creativity and resilience required to build successful businesses from the ground up.
"START UP has always been about giving entrepreneurs the spotlight they deserve," said Gary Bredow, creator and host of START UP. "It never ceases to amaze me how differently ambition shows up; from a paintball park built on a childhood dream to a stained-glass studio restoring pieces of history. We wanted this season to capture that range."
Season 14 spans Ohio and Illinois, highlighting 13 entrepreneurs across a wide range of industries, from wellness and hospitality to aviation technology and sustainable food innovation.
"Ohio and Illinois offered such a rich mix of stories," Feterovich said. "Columbus has this incredible community of makers and founders reinventing what small business looks like, and Chicago brought some of the most ambitious food and beverage entrepreneurs we've ever featured.
Together, they gave us a season that reflects just how diverse and special entrepreneurship in the Midwest really is" Bredow added, "Every season teaches me something new about what it takes to build a business from nothing, and Season 14 was no exception. Whether it was hearing how Charmy's Market started as a way to bring the taste of their home city of Tehran to the Columbus community, or watching the Goodwin team rethink software for an entire industry, these entrepreneurs reminded me why we started this show in the first place."
Season 14 Featured Businesses:
- LVL UP Sports (Grove City, OH): Founded by Dave Pando, LVL UP Sports is a paintball and airsoft park built around a full-scale outdoor experience, including a woodsball course and a castle-style arena. A story about never giving up on a childhood dream.
- Replenish (Columbus, OH): A wellness hub founded by sisters Chanelle and Deja Redman and their mother, Wauvette Duncan, offering spa services, movement practices and community-centered programs. A story about care, community and restoration.
- Best Dam Tape (Pickerington, OH): Founded by Logan Cuvo, Best Dam Tape makes performance hockey tape known for its grip, durability and easy tear, and is rapidly expanding into new applications beyond the rink. A story about adapting and embracing a new path in life.
- Restalgic (Columbus, OH): Founded by Nathan Johnson and his husband, David, Restalgic is a pottery studio and boutique blending artistry with everyday luxury through immersive classes and original creations. A story about reinventing yourself in the face of adversity.
- Farmer's Fridge (Chicago, IL): Founded by Luke Saunders, Farmer's Fridge turns fresh, healthy food into a smart, self-serve concept, solving the everyday challenge of finding a good meal on the go. A story about creativity and innovation.
- Girls Gone Raw (Alexandria, OH): Founded by Lauren Becks, Girls Gone Raw makes raw food diets for dogs and cats from minimally processed ingredients tailored to pets' unique dietary needs. A story about perseverance and reinvention.
- Nouvie (Chicago, IL): Founded by Fiona McEntee and Faith Anderson, Nouvie is a non-alcoholic sparkling wine brand built for the ritual of celebration, without the alcohol. A story about meeting the needs of an evolving society.
- Caviar Dream (Chicago, IL): Founded by Kendra Anderson and Christine LeMieux, Caviar Dream is reimagining caviar as more inclusive and approachable, widening access to a once-exclusive luxury. A story about widening access so everyone can experience moments of luxury.
- Maker's Social (Columbus, OH): Founded by Megan Pando, Maker's Social is a makerspace and bar where members craft jewelry, leather goods and woodworking projects while sharing drinks and conversation. A story about blending your passion and skillset.
- Charmy's Market (Columbus, OH): Founded by Sherry and Rezi Bayegan, who fled persecution in Tehran, Charmy's Market serves fresh Persian dishes and everyday essentials, welcoming longtime patrons and newcomers alike. A story about the power of love.
- Solstice Stained Glass (Chicago, IL): Founded by Emily Carlson, Solstice Stained Glass repairs, restores and designs stained glass for congregations, homeowners and institutions across Chicagoland. A story about art, expression and turning your passion into a viable business.
- Goodwin (Columbus, OH): Founded by Ilya Bodner and his team, Goodwin builds next-generation software that streamlines operations for private jet charter brokers and operators. A story about scaling in a highly niche industry.
- Clever Carnivore (Chicago, IL): Founded by Dr. Virginia Rangos and Dr. Paul Burridge, Clever Carnivore is developing meat that's produced more efficiently and sustainably, without sacrificing taste. A story about foresight into a changing world.
Season 14 is made possible thanks to the generous support of sponsors including Pens.com, BambooHR and Bluehost.
"For 60 years, Pens.com has had a front-row seat to what entrepreneurship actually looks like. Not the highlight reel, but the real work of building a brand from nothing. START UP tells those stories honestly, and the businesses in Season 14 remind us why we do what we do. Every order we fulfill represents someone's brand, someone's livelihood, someone's bet on themselves. That is exactly the kind of ambition we have built our business to support," said Kristin Smith, Chief Marketing Officer of Pens.com.
Season 14 launches nationally on WORLD Channel October 4 and begins streaming October 4 on PBS.org and the PBS app. Viewers should check local listings for individual PBS and PTV station dates and times.
About START UP
START UP is a nationally recognized television series that tells the inspiring stories of American small business owners. Hosted by Gary Bredow and produced by Jenny Feterovich, the show travels across the country to highlight the diverse journeys of entrepreneurs building businesses from the ground up. Now in its 14th season, with episodes filmed across states nationwide, START UP has become a valuable educational tool in schools, universities and prisons, and has received six Daytime Emmy nominations for Outstanding Host, Writing and Casting. To learn more about the series, visit startuptelevision.com.
Media Contact
Gary Bredow, START UP TELEVISION PROJECT, 1 7346049790, [email protected], startuptelevision.com
SOURCE START UP TELEVISION PROJECT
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