Generation Startup The Film

What Generation Startup The Film does

Generation Startup The Film is the commercial distribution vehicle for a 93-minute feature documentary produced by Creative Breed and directed by Academy Award winner Cynthia Wade and Cheryl Miller Houser. The film was shot over 17 months beginning August 2014 and follows six recent college graduates as they build startups in Detroit through the Venture for America fellowship program. It premiered at the Traverse City Film Festival on July 31, 2016, and received a theatrical release starting September 23, 2016 at New York City's IFC Center before rolling out to Los Angeles and Detroit.

The underlying technology is conventional documentary filmmaking; there is no proprietary software, API, or platform architecture. The core product is the documentary itself, supplemented by add-on licensing products: single-event screening licenses, theater buyouts for corporate clients, and educational DVD/Digital Site Licenses for K-12 schools, universities, and public libraries.

The business is monetized entirely through one-time license sales across four channels. Consumer revenue comes from digital purchase and rental on iTunes, Google Play, YouTube, and Vudu. Theatrical revenue is handled by Long Shot Factory at partner cinemas. Institutional revenue is split between direct educational licensing (DVD and site licenses) and Film Sprout-led non-theatrical campaigns. Community screenings are aggregated via Tugg. Internationally, the American Film Showcase partnership with the U.S. State Department and USC Film School distributes the film to embassies and consulates across 60+ countries. Pricing for screening licenses varies by event type and audience size and is not publicly disclosed; the operating entity is private with 1-10 employees and no disclosed funding rounds or investor ownership.

Name

Generation Startup The Film

Legal name

Generation Startup The Film

Website

https://generationstartupthefilm.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2016

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Documentary Film Distribution

NAICS

All Other Schools and Instruction (61169)

akta.pro primary industry

Corporate Learning & Training Content Development (EDAGAKAC)

akta.pro secondary industry

Entrepreneurship Foundations & Startup Basics (EDAMAHAA)

Keywords

• Documentary film production
• Educational film licensing
• Independent film distribution
• Corporate screening events
• Entrepreneurship media content

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Digital Commerce or Content

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Digital Distribution: Revenue from digital sales through iTunes, Google Play, YouTube, and Vudu platforms where consumers can purchase or rent the film.
2. Educational Licensing: DVD and Digital Site Licenses sold to K-12 schools, universities, and public libraries. Single screening licenses also available for educational institutions.
3. Event Screening Licenses: Single screening licenses for organizations hosting private or public screenings. Pricing varies by event type and audience size. Screenings can be used as fundraisers pending filmmaker approval.
4. Theatrical Distribution: Revenue from theatrical releases at partner cinemas including IFC Center NYC, Laemmle Monica Santa Monica, and Detroit-area theaters.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

GENERATION STARTUP is a 93-minute feature documentary film that follows six recent college graduates over 17 months as they build startups in Detroit through the Venture for America program. The company distributes the film through theatrical releases, consumer digital platforms (iTunes, Google Play, YouTube, Vudu), educational site licenses for schools and libraries, and single-event screening licenses for corporate and community organizations.

Product overview

GENERATION STARTUP is a single documentary film (93 minutes) that chronicles six recent college graduates building startups in Detroit over 17 months. The company's product offering consists of the core documentary film distributed through consumer platforms (iTunes, Google Play, YouTube, Vudu), supplemented by institutional offerings including event screening licenses for private/public screenings, theater buyouts for corporate events, and educational licenses (DVD and Digital Site License) for K-12 schools, universities, and public libraries. Distribution partners include Long Shot Factory (theatrical), Tugg (community screenings), and Film Sprout (educational/non-theatrical campaigns). The film was selected for the prestigious American Film Showcase, a partnership between the State Department and USC Film School, enabling screenings at embassies and consulates worldwide.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• GENERATION STARTUP Documentary Film A 93-minute documentary film following six recent college graduates over 17 months as they launch startups in Detroit, Michigan, providing an honest portrayal of entrepreneurship struggles and triumphs. Available for individual streaming and rental purchase.
• Event Screening License Single screening license for hosting the film in theaters, boardrooms, community centers, schools, or other venues. Pricing varies by event type and audience size. Available to corporate, nonprofit, and community organizers.
• Theater Buyout Private theater buyout option for companies seeking exclusive screenings of the documentary, facilitated through the Tugg partnership platform.
• Educational License (K-12, Universities, Libraries) DVD and/or Digital Site License for educational institutions including K-12 schools, universities, and public libraries. Available as single screening or multi-site license for entrepreneurship curriculum and library collections.

Quantifiable outcome

• Screenings at 60+ countries through American Film Showcase
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and flagship.

• Long Shot FactorycoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 27 June 2016Long Shot Factory partnered as the primary theatrical distributor for the film, handling documentary theatrical releases, festival campaigns, and educational distribution. They managed the film's theatrical release at IFC Center NYC and other venues.
• TuggcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 27 June 2016Tugg enabled individuals and organizations to host community screenings by providing a platform where users could choose the film, date, time, and location for their screening at local theaters and venues. Over 1,800 films available on their platform.
• Film SproutcoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 27 June 2016Film Sprout led the national non-theatrical campaign, specializing in community and campus screening tours. They helped expand the film's reach to grassroots institutions and underserved audiences, timing the campaign with National Entrepreneurship Month in November.
• American Film Showcase (State Department/USC Film School)flagshipChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 17 June 2016The American Film Showcase, a partnership between the U.S. State Department and USC Film School, selected the film to screen at U.S. embassies and consulates worldwide, representing the film's highest-profile distribution partnership for international reach.
• Venture for AmericacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe film features entrepreneurs who are Venture for America fellows. VFA is a fellowship program that places top college graduates in startups in emerging U.S. cities to train as entrepreneurs. The film prominently features the VFA program and its mission to generate job growth.
• Creative BreedcoreOthersCreative Breed is the full-service production company that produced GENERATION STARTUP, founded by co-director Cheryl Miller Houser in 2013.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Kartemquin Films: Long-standing Chicago-based independent documentary production company producing social-issue films for educational and broadcast distribution. Comparable as a non-fiction producer that monetizes through educational licensing, theatrical, and community screening tours — a similar GTM motion to Generation Startup.
• Docurama Films: Documentary distribution label founded by executive producer Susan Margolin (also an EP on Generation Startup). Directly comparable as a documentary specialist distributing via digital, educational, and home video channels — providing a reference point for how niche non-fiction catalogs monetize.

Broad incumbents

• FilmRise: Independent film and documentary distributor with strong digital and FAST channel presence. Comparable because it monetizes independent documentary titles through streaming, educational, and AVOD channels — directly relevant for projecting Generation Startup's digital revenue trajectory.
• Participant Media: Larger impact-driven documentary and feature producer ('An Inconvenient Truth', 'Food, Inc.'). Comparable because it produces mission-driven non-fiction content with strong educational distribution and corporate/social-impact partnerships, though at a much larger scale and broader slate.

Others

• The Kauffman Foundation: Philanthropy focused on entrepreneurship education that has screened Generation Startup and produces its own research-driven entrepreneurship content. Comparable as both a customer/buyer of entrepreneurship educational content and a producer of similar mission-aligned media.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/gen_startup
• Instagraminstagram.com/gen_startup
• Facebookfacebook.com/GenerationStartupTheFilm
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/generation-startup-the-film

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Generation Startup The Film