Forget 'Jersey Shore,' MTV Wants to Put You in the Spotlight As shows like 'Shark Tank' and 'Undercover Boss' captivate American audiences, MTV is looking to similarly capitalize -- putting out casting calls for young treps who want to be stars.

By Kara Ohngren Prior

Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

Move over Jersey Shore and Teen Mom, young entrepreneurs could be the next reality TV sensation. New York production company Picture Shack Entertainment is now casting ambitious, wannabe-movers-and-shakers that look to be between the ages of 16 and 25 for a potential new show on MTV.

Ideal candidates will want to impact the world with their big, moneymaking ideas -- and have a big personality to go along with it, of course. They're looking for aspiring entrepreneurs who are interested in fashion, tech, real estate or something completely out of left field. Existing start-up founders can also apply, but their companies must be in the early stages and can't have already nabbed funding, says Picture Shack.

"We're excited to document the work of passionate young people who are driven to succeed," says Katie Petrachonis, a spokesperson for Picture Shack. "We hope the show both engages and inspires viewers. Everyone has some idea for a product or business, but not everyone pursues those ideas."

On the heels of other popular business-minded programs like Shark Tank and Undercover Boss, MTV's take would appeal to a whole new generation of viewers. The show is still in the early development stages, so many of the details -- like where the show will take place -- remain under wraps. But, you can likely expect fierce competition, startup business lessons and drama…lots of juicy drama. Sounds like a DVR must.

So do you think you have what it takes? If you're interested in landing your 15 minutes of fame on MTV's new series about young entrepreneurs, submit the following to casting@pictureshackentertainment.com by July 1.


  • Name

  • Location

  • Three photographs of yourself

  • A paragraph explaining your big idea, why you believe in it, how you want to reach it and why you deserve to compete in this new series.

Kara Ohngren is a freelance writer and part-time editor at YoungEntrepreneur. Her work has appeared in publications including Entrepreneur Magazine, The New York Times, MSNBC, The Huffington Post and Business Insider.

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