For most people, startup investing is a spectator sport.
The real action—the equity deals, the insider rounds, the wealth creation—happens behind closed doors. Going Public is changing that. It’s the first interactive series that lets viewers invest in companies while they watch, making the private markets public in a way that’s never been done before.
The idea came from a moment of frustration. Todd M. Goldberg, Executive Producer and Creator of Going Public, was preparing his MedTech company for an IPO. Friends and colleagues were excited and wanted to invest—but the answer was no.
“I was told all the shares were allocated to institutional investors,” Goldberg says. “That’s when I realized how broken the system was. Everyday people were being shut out, not just from IPOs, but from the entire startup ecosystem.”
That frustration became fuel for a new model—one that combines storytelling with access, education with action, and viewers with ownership.
The Format: Watch, Learn, Invest
Going Public follows real founders as they scale their businesses and raise capital. It’s part documentary, part investment platform. And it’s fully interactive.
Viewers watch each company’s journey—their wins, losses, investor meetings, and operational hurdles—and they can invest in real time through the show’s Click-to-Invest feature.
“The goal was to make it feel as simple as buying something online,” says Goldberg. “If you’re inspired by a founder’s vision, you don’t need a broker or a private invite. You can click and become an investor right there.”
The result is a radical democratization of startup funding, one that puts early-stage equity within reach of millions.
Season 3: Bigger Stakes, Broader Appeal
Season 3 showcases a more curated, consumer-facing set of companies—startups with proven traction, strong missions, and market-ready products. These aren’t speculative ideas—they’re growth-stage businesses looking for capital to expand.
“We’re featuring companies that viewers can actually connect with,” Goldberg explains. “These are products they’ve seen in stores or used themselves. That familiarity builds trust—and interest.”
The season also features a major strategic addition: gaming superstar Tyler “Ninja” Blevins, who joined as a co-founder of Nutcase, the featured company in episode 1. With millions of followers and deep reach into Gen Z and millennial audiences, Blevins brings new eyes—and energy—to the show.
“Ninja is the bridge between culture and capital,” says Goldberg. “He brings credibility to a new generation of investors who might otherwise tune out anything related to finance.”
Real Mentorship, Not Just Cameras
The show also provides tangible value to the founders themselves. Through partnerships with Silicon Valley VCs, operators, and advisors, each company gets access to high-level mentorship as part of their journey.
“These are serious conversations about growth, strategy, and investor readiness,” Goldberg says. “And because it’s all on camera, the audience learns too.”
It’s startup education, but without the paywall. Viewers see the process unfold in real time—term sheets, pivots, investor feedback—all laid bare.
The Finale Goes Live
This season also introduces a new element: a livestream finale in partnership with X (formerly Twitter), where viewers can interact, ask founders questions, and invest on the spot.
“We wanted the finale to feel alive, like a closing bell moment for everyone,” Goldberg explains. “It’s high-stakes, high-engagement, and completely new.”
The real-time format turns investing into an event, tapping into social dynamics that traditional finance platforms simply can’t match.
Filling the Gaps in Financial Media
Where traditional financial shows focus on news, data, and jargon, Going Public focuses on people, opportunity, and education. It’s designed for the curious, the motivated, and the underserved.
“We’re not talking at viewers—we’re inviting them in,” says Goldberg. “And when someone says this show helped them make their first investment, that’s what success looks like.”
What’s Ahead
Goldberg and his team are already planning what’s next: global expansion, deeper investor tools, and new formats that reach even more audiences.
But at its core, the mission stays the same: to make investing less about who you know, and more about what you believe in.
“Ownership should be for everyone,” says Goldberg. “And Going Public is how we make that happen.”
