WHY
In a world where business content glorifies investor-backed ventures, From Scratch stands apart, celebrating entrepreneurs who, in their early days, built thriving brands without external support.
Shows like Shark Tank and Dragon’s Den focus on funding as the key to success, while The Profit highlights investors as saviors of struggling businesses. From Scratch offers a powerful counter-narrative, showcasing the raw, poetic journeys of founders who relied on resilience, authenticity, and grit to turn ideas into reality.
By capturing the beauty and struggle of building from the ground up, From Scratch connects deeply with audiences, proving that success is about more than capital—it’s about vision, dedication, and the courage to start alone
"From Scratch" embodies the mission of celebrating the strength and authenticity of entrepreneurs who dared to pursue their dreams without external financial support. By capturing the sleepless nights, tough decisions, moments of doubt, and the euphoria of their first hard-earned victories, the series offers an inspiring and raw vision of what it takes to build something from nothing. Designed to connect global audiences, it highlights resilience, self-belief, and the transformative power of determination, delivering an authentic and universal message for dreamers, creators, and lovers of real stories.
Hero Banner Concept for From Scratch
From Scratch is an 8-episode docuseries where self-made entrepreneurs ranging from global giants to rising stars.
BrewDog – Scotland
JAMES WATT
In 2007, in the quiet town of Fraserburgh, Scotland, James Watt and his friend Martin Dickie decided to disrupt the bland world of commercial beers. With no backing from investors and denied a bank loan deemed "unviable," they rented a small warehouse and began brewing bold, unconventional recipes using improvised fermenters and a battered delivery van. Facing rejection at every turn, the duo doubled down on innovation and rebellious branding. Their audacious “Equity for Punks” campaign invited beer enthusiasts to invest directly in their brewery, creating a passionate army of shareholders. What started as a defiant experiment quickly evolved into BrewDog—a symbol of the craft beer revolution in Britain, inspiring countless others to challenge the status quo. This episode chronicles James Watt’s relentless journey, where ingenuity and grit turned obstacles into opportunities, proving that great ideas can thrive even without traditional funding.
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Episode Structure
With its cinematic approach, From Scratch immerses viewers in the soul of each founder’s journey, capturing the raw beauty, struggle, and artistry of building something extraordinary without external funding. Narrated primarily by the founders themselves, these firsthand accounts bring unmatched authenticity, revealing moments of doubt, resilience, and triumph.
The narrative is enriched by voices of family members, close friends, and early collaborators—those who witnessed and supported the journey from the very beginning. Occasionally, credible experts add context, but no employees will feature unless they were integral to the early struggles and turning points.
Each episode runs 45 to 50 minutes, following a compelling narrative arc similar in pacing and depth to Chef’s Table. Focusing solely on the human journey, every episode highlights the vision and pivotal moments that transformed these ideas into the successes they are today, showcasing the resilience and passion that define every founder's legacy.
Opening – The Founder’s Introduction
Each episode begins with a defining moment that encapsulates the founder’s vision, drawing viewers into their unique perspective. This opening sets the tone, offering a glimpse of the passion, determination, or pivotal insight that inspired their journey.
Roots – The Beginning
The story rewinds to the founder’s early days, uncovering the personal and contextual origins of their idea. From humble beginnings to that first spark of ambition, this segment reveals the challenges of starting from scratch, highlighting their environment, relationships, and mindset.
Path – Obstacles and Triumphs
The narrative dives into the heart of the journey, charting the highs and lows of building something independently. Key struggles—financial, emotional, or logistical—are interwoven with breakthroughs that defined their progress. This section emphasizes the relentless resilience required to overcome seemingly insurmountable odds.
Essence – Purpose and Values
Here, the focus shifts to the founder’s deeper motivations, showing how their beliefs and values shaped not only their work but also their lives. This segment explores the human side of their journey, illustrating how their vision remained steadfast despite setbacks or external pressures.
Legacy and Turning Points
The episode concludes by reflecting on the turning points that transformed their idea into a success. Rather than focusing solely on the end product, this segment emphasizes the impact of their work, celebrating the moments and milestones that solidified their legacy. The final scenes leave viewers with an appreciation for the enduring human spirit that defines every self-made success.
Comparable Series
Chef’s Table
Celebrates the early struggles and artistic journeys of world-class chefs, paralleling From Scratch’s focus on resilience, passion, and creating something extraordinary from humble beginnings.
Just as Chef’s Table culminates in a three-Michelin-star dish, From Scratch builds to a groundbreaking product—reflecting the founder’s grit and vision through cinematic storytelling.
Abstract: The Art of Design
Explores the innovative processes of influential designers, much like From Scratch highlights entrepreneurs shaping their visions into iconic brands.
While Abstract celebrates design as art, From Scratch elevates entrepreneurial journeys, culminating in products that embody persistence, creativity, and authenticity through cinematic, visually compelling narratives.
The Last Dance
The Last Dance chronicles Michael Jordan’s relentless pursuit of greatness and the Chicago Bulls' iconic 1997-98 NBA season, paralleling From Scratch in its focus on resilience, sacrifice, and the emotional highs and lows of chasing a vision.
Both series blend archival footage, personal accounts, and behind-the-scenes moments to reveal the raw determination behind extraordinary achievements, offering an intimate look at the journey, struggles, and defining choices that shape success.
Style
From Scratch embraces a cinematic and deeply personal style, using carefully composed visuals and intimate storytelling to capture the raw beauty of each founder’s journey. While subtly inspired by visually driven series like Chef’s Table, it establishes its own voice, focusing on the emotional depth and authenticity of real stories.
From Scratch offers founders and their brands a unique, authentic narrative space that goes beyond the business itself to explore the journey, values, and legacy behind it, all in a deeply personal and engaging format.
Each episode delves deeply into the life of the founder, revealing their personal struggles, motivations, and triumphs. By exploring their journey, From Scratch paints a vivid picture of how their vision and values shape not just their work, but the lives they touch.
From Scratch employs a poetic visual style inspired by Chef’s Table and Abstract: The Art of Design, while maintaining its own voice. Using professional-grade equipment like the Alexa Mini, along with precise lighting and framing, it creates an immersive narrative that authentically captures founders' transformative journeys.
From Scratch resonates with a diverse audience by spotlighting the resilience and humanity of founders as they navigate the rollercoaster of building their dreams. It’s a series for anyone inspired by stories of courage, perseverance, and the unyielding pursuit of purpose.
From Scratch preserves and honors the stories of those who dared to start from nothing, transforming their passion into lasting impact. These journeys are more than inspiration—they are a testament to the enduring power of dedication and vision.
From Scratch provides a raw, unfiltered perspective on what it truly takes to build something from the ground up. By shedding light on both the struggles and triumphs, the series offers audiences an authentic and deeply relatable glimpse into the entrepreneurial spirit.
Production
From Scratch is crafted by a full-scale production team, seamlessly blending technical precision and storytelling artistry to deliver a cinematic documentary experience of the highest quality.
Renzo Vasques - Production Director and Master of Complex Storytelling
Renzo Vasques is a seasoned Production Director based in London, known for orchestrating high-impact projects with a meticulous eye for detail and an unwavering commitment to creative excellence. With a wealth of experience in managing multifaceted productions, Renzo has worked with top-tier brands and agencies, elevating campaigns through his strategic vision and expert execution.
Renzo’s journey in the industry has positioned him as a key figure behind the scenes, where he combines an in-depth understanding of production dynamics with a passion for impactful storytelling. He leads each project with precision, guiding teams to deliver content that not only meets but exceeds creative expectations. As a central force in the production of From Scratch, Renzo’s leadership and expertise ensure that every aspect of the project is executed seamlessly, turning ambitious ideas into captivating visual realities.
Known for his ability to handle complex logistics and his dedication to quality, Renzo brings a level of professionalism and artistry that is indispensable in today’s competitive landscape. His work is defined by a commitment to crafting meaningful stories and delivering results that resonate deeply with audiences and collaborators alike.
Tony Oppe - Executive Producer, Entrepreneur, and Chairman of Pixi Beauty
With over two decades of creative leadership and a track record of commercial success, Tony Oppe is not just a name in the beauty industry but a force behind the scenes of high-impact storytelling and production. As one of the founding members and current Chairman of Pixi Beauty, Tony has transformed a visionary startup into a globally recognized brand, a journey driven by his innate understanding of both artistry and business.
Before co-founding Pixi Beauty in 1999, Tony honed his expertise as a director and executive producer, crafting major commercial campaigns and working alongside top agencies and production companies. His seasoned approach to media creation, paired with a keen business sense, laid the groundwork for his role in guiding Pixi to worldwide success. Now, as he steps back into the realm of production, Tony is leveraging his extensive background and influential network to take the documentary series From Scratch to new heights.
Tony’s skill set uniquely positions him to oversee a project of this scope, bringing together the finesse of a seasoned director and the strategic mind of an accomplished entrepreneur. As Executive Producer, his vision will bridge the art of storytelling with the hard-won lessons of building a business from the ground up—much like the very essence of From Scratch. More than just a series, Tony sees this project as an opportunity to celebrate the resilience, ingenuity, and passion of those who turn dreams into reality without investors or shortcuts.
His deep industry knowledge, far-reaching connections, and commitment to impactful storytelling make him the keystone in transforming From Scratch into a truly global success, poised to resonate with audiences and industry leaders alike.
Rafael Maretti - Director, Storyteller, and Founder of Garoa Films
Rafael Maretti is an experienced director and producer with a career spanning over two decades, known for his global perspective and refined storytelling approach. He has directed standout projects for leading brands, including Shell, Philips, Stella Artois, and Pixi Beauty, crafting visuals that deeply resonate with audiences. His diverse portfolio includes creating dynamic content for platforms like MTV and collaborating with top agencies, demonstrating his versatility and dedication to pushing creative boundaries.
Throughout his career, Rafael has led large-scale teams on high-profile productions, most recently directing a major project for Pixi Beauty. His leadership extends to his role at Garoa Films, a production company he founded and directed for over a decade, where he continues to oversee all creative projects. Now, with the upcoming project From Scratch, Rafael channels his profound understanding of the entrepreneurial journey—a passion fueled by his own career of building something meaningful from the ground up.
As the General Director of From Scratch, Rafael brings a unique blend of creative vision, team leadership, and storytelling expertise. His focus on authenticity and emotional depth allows him to capture the true spirit of each project, making him an influential force in the industry and setting a high standard for impactful, globally resonant content.
Executive Production Team
Promo “FROM SCRATCH”
From Scratch is more than a series—it’s a celebration of the human spirit, resilience, and the art of building something extraordinary. This is a story that inspires, connects, and redefines how we view success, one founder at a time.
Note: This promo was created using real footage of Petra Strand (Pixi Beauty) alongside AI-generated visuals in the final seconds to depict the remaining seven founders. These artistic placeholders aim to provide a glimpse of the series’ cinematic vision. The final production will feature authentic storytelling and visually stunning real-world footage.