Project Runway: Fashion Startup was an eight-episode American reality television series that premiered on October 20, 2016 on Lifetime. This was the ninth direct spin-off series of another series, Project Runway, which airs on the same network. On Fashion Startup, aspiring fashion and beauty entrepreneurs were given the opportunity to pitch their business ideas to a of investors. The included Katia Beauchamp, CEO and cofounder of Birchbox; Christine Hunsicker, CEO and founder of Gwynnie Bee; Rebecca Minkoff, successful fashion designer with a global lifestyle brand; and Gary Wassner, CEO of Hilldun Corp. and chairman and cofounder of Interluxe Holdings, companies that have provided financing for some of America’s and the world’s designer labels.,