Meet the 13 D-FW Small Businesses on the Next Season of PBS’ “Start Up”

A diverse cast of 13 D-FW companies will get their shine this fall on the latest season of the Emmy-nominated PBS documentary series “Start Up.

For its final season, “Start Up” features 13 small businesses in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, giving viewers a behind-the-scenes look at these companies. It is only the second time in the show’s 12 seasons that an entire season has taken place in one area.

Businesses featured range from Desert Creek Honey, a raw honey business based in Blue Ridge, to JC Scott, a custom tailoring and hairdressing shop in the heart of West Dallas.

“The region offers a unique blend of big-city resources and a strong sense of community, which is exactly the kind of environment we want to highlight,” producer Jenny Feterovich said in a press release.

The 13 small businesses were selected through an extensive research and interview process that considered many factors, said host and executive producer Gary Bredow. However, he said having a diverse cast of small business owners and industries is a priority.

“We want viewers to see themselves in these businesses,” Bredow said. “We want to show representation so people can see that they can do it too.”

Unoma Okorafor and her McKinney-based wellness brand Herbal Goodness are one example. Okorafor, a black woman, was born in Nigeria but immigrated to Texas to earn her master’s degree at Rice University before settling in North Texas and building her business.

Bredow also highlighted Ampersand, a Fort Worth cafe-turned-bar and lounge. He complimented the company’s young ownership, led by CEO Toan Luong, praising their energy in making an unorthodox concept successful.

According to the press release, the show’s mission is “to demystify entrepreneurship by showcasing the grit, creativity and resilience required to build successful businesses from the ground up.”

The series will be broadcast on Saturdays at 6 pm on KERA, starting from September 28. The new season will have 13 episodes.

The other featured businesses are listed below:

• Just Elope, a wedding service specializing in elopements and pop-up weddings,
• Magdalena’s Catering and Events, a Fort Worth family-owned catering company specializing in Mexican and American cuisine.
• Blade Craft Barber Academy, a barber school in Deep Ellum focused on making the male-dominated field more inclusive. According to their website, it closed for good in July.
• Veterans Moving America, a Fort Worth-based moving company founded to support veterans by providing employment opportunities after their service.
• Mansfield Funeral Home and Cremations, a woman-owned funeral home in Mansfield, Texas.
• Simpleaf, a company that makes environmentally conscious washable wipes.
• Revitalize Charging Solutions, a company that sells electric vehicle charging stations for both residential and commercial use.
• The Blok Climbing Co., a bouldering gym in Fort Worth.
• Building With Integrity Contractors, a contractor, builder and construction management company in Dallas.

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