Season One debuts as a four-episode unscripted series following six U.S. startup founders as they navigate the pressure, personalities, pivots, and preparation leading to the 2026 CodeLaunch U.S. Championship.
PLANO, Texas — July 27, 2026 — CodeLaunch today announced the launch of Next Founder Up, its first original episodic reality series, premiering August 5 on YouTube.
The four-episode series takes viewers inside the high-stakes journey of six founders as they prepare to compete in the 2026 CodeLaunch U.S. Championship, where one startup will earn a place in the CodeLaunch World Championship.
Premiering weekly throughout August, the series gives audiences an unfiltered look at what happens before founders step onto the competition stage. From product development and pitch preparation to personal sacrifices, unexpected challenges, and the relationships formed throughout the process, Next Founder Up captures the realities of building a startup under pressure.
OFFICIAL TRAILER
Unlike traditional pitch shows that focus on a single presentation, Next Founder Up allows viewers to experience the founder journey from the inside, making them invested in the people, not just the pitches.
The season concludes on August 26 with an interactive finale, where audiences can watch the CodeLaunch U.S. Championship and vote in real time as founders compete for a place in the 2026 CodeLaunch World Championship.
“Next Founder Up is about more than startups. It's about people willing to bet on themselves, People usually only see the few minutes a founder spends on stage. We wanted to tell the story leading up to that moment: the pressure, the setbacks, the wins, the personalities, and everything it takes to earn the opportunity. That's where the real story is.”
Next Founder Up marks CodeLaunch’s first original reality competition series, expanding the organization beyond its signature Venturetainment-style live startup events while giving audiences an entertaining and authentic look at entrepreneurship through the eyes of the founders themselves.
For more than a decade, CodeLaunch has helped early-stage startups accelerate their businesses by connecting founders with investors, mentors, corporate partners, and Improving’s Professional Coder League (PCL), experienced software engineering teams that work alongside finalists to help prepare their products for competition.
Unlike traditional startup accelerators, CodeLaunch does not take equity from participating companies, allowing founders to maintain ownership while gaining access to technical expertise and an extensive innovation ecosystem.
"CodeLaunch gave us more than a stage. It gave us momentum. The exposure, mentorship, and connections helped accelerate our journey in ways that would have taken years on our own. I'm excited to see the next generation of founders get their shot with Next Founder Up!"
That founder-first approach continues to drive CodeLaunch’s mission of making entrepreneurship more accessible while giving innovators the resources, connections, and visibility needed to grow.
Curtis Hite, CEO of Improving, the parent company of CodeLaunch, said the series reflects the organization’s continued investment in founders and the broader innovation ecosystem.
"CodeLaunch continues to create meaningful opportunities for founders by surrounding them with the technology, talent, and support needed to move their businesses forward. Next Founder Up gives audiences a new way to experience that process by highlighting not only the ideas, but also the personalities, collaboration, resilience, and technical expertise behind them. We're proud to support a platform that strengthens the startup ecosystem and helps promising founders turn momentum into measurable progress."
To learn more about the founders competing in the 2026 CodeLaunch U.S. Championship, click here: CodeLaunch 2026 U.S. Championship: From 291 Startups to 6 Finalists
EPISODE RELEASE SCHEDULE
Episode 1 — August 5 | 1:00 PM ET / 12:00 PM CT
Meet the six founders, their companies, and the journeys that brought them to CodeLaunch.
Episode 2 — August 12 | 1:00 PM ET / 12:00 PM CT
The competition intensifies as founders refine their products, strengthen their pitches, and prepare for one of the biggest opportunities of their startup careers.
Episode 3 — August 19 | 1:00 PM ET / 12:00 PM CT
With Championship Day approaching, every decision matters as pressure builds and emotions rise.
Episode 4 — Season 1 Finale — August 26 | 7:00 PM ET / 6:00 PM CT
The journey culminates with the CodeLaunch U.S. Championship, where audiences can watch the competition live and vote alongside the in-person audience through the LaunchKings platform to help determine which founder advances to the 2026 CodeLaunch World Championship.
Next Founder Up premieres August 5 on the CodeLaunch YouTube channel, with new episodes released weekly through August 26. Anyone can watch all four episodes for free. Those who want their votes to contribute to the ultimate U.S. championship winner must acquire a Virtual Angel ticket here.
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ABOUT CODELAUNCH
CodeLaunch is a startup accelerator competition and live Venturetainment platform that connects early-stage founders with professional software engineering teams, investors, mentors, and corporate partners to accelerate startup growth.
Since its founding in 2013, CodeLaunch has helped hundreds of startups across North America and Latin America transform ambitious ideas into scalable companies without taking equity. Through its founder-first model, CodeLaunch brings together professional software engineering teams, investors, mentors, and corporate partners while enabling founders to retain full ownership of their companies.
MEDIA CONTACT
CodeLaunch Team
Email: [email protected]
Phone: (214) 613-4456
Website: codelaunch.com
