By Mike Shields

The cable network TLC next month will debut “Girl Starter,” a reality competition series focused on a group of young women looking to launch their own businesses.

The show, which co-creator Jeannine Shao Collins described as a blend of reality hits such as “Shark Tank,” “The Apprentice,” “Project Runway” and “American Idol,” is the centerpiece of a new media venture, Girl Starter, aimed at empowering young female entrepreneurs and those interested in supporting them.

In addition to preparing to launch the TLC show, Girl Starter on Wednesday (International Women’s Day) rolled out a website, girlstarter.com, which will feature a mix of content tied to the TV series and original fare.

Girl Starter is the brainchild of three media veterans: Ms. Collins, former chief innovation officer at Meredith Corp., her husband Chris Collins, a digital media sales veteran who has logged stints at ESPN and The Wall Street Journal, and the TV writer and Broadway producer Dani Davis.

Ms. Collins said the idea for the project emerged three years ago when her daughter Julia began expressing interest in gender equity issues in the workplace and the idea of women starting businesses.

That led the group to start exploring concepts, writing, and talking with lots of women between the ages of 18 and 24. “At first, they told us our ideas sounded like they were coming from moms,” she said.

Eventually, they settled in on the concept for the show “Girl Starter,” which has been shooting this year in Brooklyn in conjunction with the production firm Al Roker Entertainment. It will premiere April 28 on TLC at 7 p.m.

This is an excerpt. Read the full article in The Wall Street Journal