Deep Dive: Startup.com (2001)
Film Lens
Startup.com is a documentary that follows the rise and fall of the dot-com startup govWorks.com, founded by Kaleil Isaza Tuzman and Tom Herman. The film captures their experiences from 1999 to 2000, during the period when the Internet bubble was bursting. It details how the company raised $60 million in funding from notable investors such as Hearst Interactive Media and KKR, yet ultimately did not survive.
Directed by Jehane Noujaim and Chris Hegedus, the film was produced by D. A. Pennebaker and features over 400 hours of footage shot over two years. It premiered at the Sundance Film Festival on January 21, 2001, and was released in theaters on May 11, 2001. The film serves as a case study for the lessons learned in the tech industry during a tumultuous time.
Why Watch
- •Meet Kaleil Isaza Tuzman and Tom Herman's friendship.
- •Find out how govWorks.com raised $60 million.
- •See the impact of the dot-com bubble on startups.
Did You Know
•govWorks.com raised $60 million from investors like Hearst Interactive Media.
•The film premiered at Sundance on January 21, 2001.
•Startup.com has a 93% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes from 94 reviews.
•Filmmakers edited over 400 hours of footage for the final cut.
Perfect For
Entrepreneurship enthusiastsTech industry watchersDocumentary fans