Netflix, the platform that helped popularize prestige American dramas and comedies, has quietly, yet powerfully, built a global portfolio. This offering extends far beyond the familiar shores of the United States, providing subscribers with some of the most emotionally resonant and visually stunning content originating from Asia. Among this wave of international hits, the show, often simply called Startup, is actually a fascinating case of dual titles. What is the series about?

This intriguing dual naming convention starts with the Korean series, which offers a bright and hopeful look at entrepreneurial ambition.

The reasons to watch the 2020 Korean drama Start-Up are manifold, chief among them being its deeply compelling exploration of passion and rivalry within Seoul’s tech incubator, Sandbox. A famous scene involves the gripping presentation where the characters must pitch their revolutionary ideas, showcasing the pressure of securing funding.

The ensemble cast of Start-Up (2020) is led by a quartet of notable Korean actors who drive the emotional core of the series. Bae Suzy plays the ambitious Seo Dal Mi, who dreams of becoming the next Steve Jobs. Nam Joo-hyuk stars as Nam Do San, a math genius and the struggling founder of Samsan Tech. Rounding out the main conflict is Kim Seon-ho as Han Ji Pyung, a successful venture capitalist known as the Gordon Ramsay of Korea, and Kang Han-na as Won In Jae, Dal Mi’s successful but estranged older sister, who is determined to succeed on her own terms.

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This series beautifully balances romantic tension with the cutthroat world of entrepreneurship, leaving viewers invested in the success of the young dreamers, which contrasts sharply with the gritty American version.

The 2016 American series, titled StartUp, offers a completely different, darker, and more crime-infused perspective on innovation. Reasons to watch this iteration include its raw portrayal of how an ambitious tech concept, a digital currency, becomes entangled with the dangerous world of money laundering and organized crime in Miami. A famous scene involves the initial, tense meeting between the tech visionary, the corrupt financier, and the street-smart gang leader, which sets the foundation for their uneasy alliance.

The main cast of the American series StartUp (2016) features a tense trinity of individuals forced into an uneasy partnership. Adam Brody stars as Nick Talman, a corrupt financier seeking to legitimize his father's ill-gotten gains. Edi Gathegi plays Ronald Dacey, a Haitian-American gang leader who provides the muscle and a major cash infusion. Completing the core team is Otmara Marrero as Izzy Morales, the brilliant but erratic programmer who creates the digital currency. Their actions are often monitored by the menacing FBI agent Phil Rask, portrayed by Martin Freeman. This series emphasizes the moral ambiguity of fast money and technology, a gritty contrast to the inspirational atmosphere of the Korean drama.

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Which one will you watch first, Start-Up or StartUp? Let us know in the comments below.