Startup: Complete Story and Character Guide

From GenCoin to the Season 3 cliffhanger — everything you need to know about Crackle's most ambitious crime drama, answered in one place.

Startup aired from 2016 to 2018 on Crackle, running for three seasons of ten episodes each. It followed a trio of entrepreneurs whose cryptocurrency startup, ArakNet, becomes a vehicle for drug cartel money laundering — dragging them into a world of FBI investigations, Russian gangsters, NSA pressure, and impossible moral choices.

If you're here because you have questions — does Wes die? What happened to Phil Rask? What happens to Izzy? — you're in the right place. This guide covers every major character, every season beat, and the unresolved ending.

Full Season Recap

Season 1

Nick Talman, the son of a corrupt banker, is forced by FBI agent Phil Rask to wear a wire against his father. While navigating this, Nick stumbles into ArakNet, a cryptocurrency startup founded by his childhood friend Ronald Dacey and tech prodigy Izzy Morales. Unbeknownst to them, ArakNet is laundering money for the Vasquez drug cartel through a digital currency called GenCoin. The season ends with the trio discovering the truth and deciding to take control of their creation — not realising how deep the rabbit hole goes.

Season 2

Wes Chandler (Ron Perlman) enters as a powerful investor with cartel connections. The Russians want a piece of GenCoin. Phil Rask's murderous past catches up with him and he exits the picture. Ronald grows ruthless, Izzy struggles with her conscience, and Nick stays trapped in the middle. The season ends with the Russians attacking ArakNet and the trio plotting revenge.

Season 3

NSA agent Rebecca Stroud (Mira Sorvino) arrives, determined to force a government partnership — or destroy ArakNet trying. LH7, a gang from Ronald's past, resurfaces with new demands. Wes and his daughter Mara's schemes grow more dangerous. Izzy wrestles with losing control of her creation. The season builds to the devastating finale "Trading Up" — where the pressure from all sides finally explodes.

The Season 3 Finale "Trading Up" — Explained

The finale brings every thread to a violent head. Stroud corners the trio, demanding GenCoin's architecture for the NSA. LH7 closes in. Wes and Mara's double-dealing is exposed. In the final moments, Izzy confronts Stroud — and Nick, in a desperate, impulsive act, shoots and kills the NSA agent. The season ends with the three of them standing over Stroud's body, knowing they have crossed a line from which there is no return. The screen goes black. The show was cancelled on that moment.

Character Fate Guide

Does Wes Die in Startup?

No. Wes Chandler survives through the end of Season 3. His fate is left open — one of the many unresolved threads when the show was cancelled. It is implied he will face consequences from both the cartel and the NSA investigation, but the final episode does not show his death.

What Happened to Phil Rask in Startup?

Phil Rask's story reaches its conclusion in Season 2. After a long arc of corruption, violence, and manipulation, Rask's murderous past catches up with him. He is captured by the Russians working behind GenCoin and interrogated by Vera. Martin Freeman's character does not appear in Season 3 — his story ends in Season 2, removing the FBI pressure on the trio, though his absence creates a vacuum that Stroud fills in the final season.

Does Nick Die in Startup?

No. Nick Talman survives through the end of Season 3. However, his fate is the most uncertain of the trio. He is the one who pulls the trigger on Stroud in the finale. When the show ends, he is standing over her body, having crossed from reluctant accomplice to killer. The show gives no hint of what happens next — though a federal investigation into Stroud's disappearance seems inevitable.

Does Ronald Die in Startup?

No. Ronald Dacey survives through the end of Season 3. His LN7 connections resurface as a threat, but he is alive when the final credits roll. His future is uncertain — LH7 wants what he owes, Stroud's disappearance will be investigated, and his family is increasingly at risk.

What Happens to Izzy in Startup?

Izzy survives the series. Her arc is the show's emotional and moral centre — she is the one who most clearly sees the harm GenCoin is causing and struggles to reconcile her creation with its consequences. She is present at Stroud's death and, of the three, seems the most shaken by what they have done.

Does Anyone Die in Startup?

Yes. Among the notable deaths across three seasons: Phil Rask is killed in Season 2. Rebecca Stroud is killed by Nick in the Season 3 finale. Various cartel and Russian gang members die throughout. Nick's father also dies off-screen, a consequence of the investigation Nick was forced into.

ArakNet and GenCoin Explained

ArakNet is the startup at the heart of the series — a legitimate-seeming technology company that develops a digital currency called GenCoin. The Vasquez cartel uses GenCoin to launder money because cryptocurrency transactions are harder to trace than traditional banking. As the series progresses, the trio attempts to separate their creation from the cartel's control, but every solution creates a new problem — the Russians want in, the government wants control, and the technology itself becomes a weapon everyone is fighting over.

Why the Show Ended on a Cliffhanger

The Season 3 finale was written as a season finale, not a series finale. Crackle cancelled Startup in 2018 without giving the creators a chance to provide closure. The show was not officially renewed or un-renewed — it simply ended, leaving every major storyline unresolved. When Startup hit Netflix in 2021, it reached the Netflix Top 10, sparking fan campaigns for a fourth season — but none materialised.

Read Our Fan-Written Ending

We believe every cancelled show deserves closure. Our fan-written ending for Startup picks up where "Trading Up" left off — exploring the aftermath of Stroud's death, the LH7 threat, and a mysterious offer from a man named Costa who could make everything disappear.