How this reality TV show helps competing entrepreneurs find their people — not just adversaries

It’s five days, 14-hour workdays, and one intense experience aimed at helping entrepreneurs sharpen their businesses. The setup for The Blox — a startup-focused reality TV competition and bootcamp — is crafted to immerse builders in the rigors of real-world business, said Weston Bergmann.

Season 17 of the live-in competition show launched in June, emphasizing systems, strategy, and founder grit, all while continuing to evolve its unique model.

“This season, in particular, brought together a number of exceptionally strong personalities who naturally emerged as leaders within the group,” said Bergmann, founder and creator of The Blox, who also leads the Kansas City-built incubator BetaBlox. “What we’re continuing to learn is how to lean into this, to build the experience with them, not for them.”

Shot in Tulsa, Oklahoma, Season 17 is now available to stream. Click here to watch episodes.

Lessons beyond the classroom

More than 100,000 entrepreneurs applied to be on The Blox this year. Just a select few made the cut, Bergmann said, noting the competitive process is designed to create a group that’s diverse in background, industry, and business stage.

Dr. June Christian, founder of Pineapple Lampshade, stands with Weston Bergmann, founder and creator of The Blox, during a Season 17 cast gathering; photo courtesy of The Blox

“The Blox represents a unique evolution beyond traditional academics,” he said. “We’ve built numerous parallel mechanisms to ensure every entrepreneur has the opportunity to absorb the material effectively, whether it’s group discussions, one-on-ones, slide shows, after-hours reflections, or even shared meals.”

That immersive approach stood out to The Blox alums like Dr. June Christian (Season 17), Kansas City founder of Pineapple Lampshade, a leadership development company, and McCartney Payton (Season 16), founder of Catalyst Painting, a residential and commercial painting business in Overland Park.

“The education that Wes has assembled is phenomenal,” said Christian. “It’s the information you need to start, scale, and potentially even sell a business, the kind of stuff you don’t get in grad school.”

“It was all so valuable, but the biggest thing I walked away with was the people,” Payton added. “The friendships, the connections, you just can’t buy that.”

Click here to watch full seasons of The Blox.

Competitors in Season 17 of The Blox hear from experts about Lean Startup Methodologies, a core concept emphasized within The Blox programming; photo courtesy of The Blox

Season 17 cast members gather during the taping of The Blox in Tulsa, Oklahoma; photo courtesy of The Blox

Building community and confidence

Christian and Payton came from different industries — executive coaching and painting — but both found shared purpose through the program.

“Wes has this great metaphor,” Christian said. “He talks about how owls hunt at night, and that’s what we are. We’re the ones burning the midnight oil, doing things that others don’t understand. And on The Blox, you find others just like you.”

Taylor Burris, AI Hub

Taylor Burris, co-founder of Kansas City’s AI Hub, a studio providing housing, resources, multimedia opportunities for creatives, said her time on the show during Season 12 helped her focus on shaping her business’s model.

She recalled spending time at Bergmann’s home, using the opportunity to study his book collection and get deeper insight into his entrepreneurial mindset.

“Literally every single part of it helped shape how I think about my business,” Burris said of her experience on The Blox. “We ended up pivoting and simplifying a lot afterward.”

Click here to learn more about casting for The Blox.

Mentors for Season 17 of The Blox pose with Weston Bergmann, founder and creator of The Blox; photo courtesy of The Blox

Pitching, perspective, and personal growth

McCartney Payton, Catalyst Painting

The show’s format, which blends business lessons, challenges, and community-building, also helps founders stretch outside their comfort zones.

“At first I was so nervous,” Christian said about the pitching portion of the show. “But by the end, you actually know these people, they’re your friends. So it doesn’t feel as daunting.”

Both Christian and Payton spoke about the added challenge, and pride, of being women in male-dominated industries.

“I’ve had clients completely ignore me on job sites and speak only to my male employees,” Payton said. “But being a woman-owned business? I love it. And The Blox taught me to lean into that more.”

“I was always taught to play small,” Christian added. “But Wes looked me in the eye and said, ‘Now’s the time to take up space.’ That was huge.”

Weston Bergmann, founder and creator of The Blox, speaks to entrepreneur competitors during a taping of Season 17 of The Blox; photo courtesy of The Blox

What’s next: Defense tech and small biz scale-ups

With its 23rd cohort underway, BetaBlox’s incubator continues to expand, including a major new program debuting this summer.

“After two years of preparation, we’re launching SigmaBlox, our Defense Tech Accelerator, this July,” Bergmann said. “It will host a 100-person cohort featuring some of the most advanced military technologies on the planet.”

BetaBlox is also launching a new multi-year program tailored to traditional small businesses, combining in-person and remote support to help entrepreneurs hit their next $1 million in revenue.

For alums, the lessons and the support continue long after the final pitch.

“By being a part of The Blox, you find your people,” said Christian.