If you are reading this review and wondering whether to watch the show, watch at least the first episode. The pilot episode is one of the best episodes I've seen. Unfortunately, it's downhill from there.

Start-Up is a show that lacks balance. Some storylines/conflicts are dragged out for too long, while others are glossed over.

The business plot is weak but perhaps that's me having my expectations set too high by similar tech shows like Silicon Valley, Mr Robot, Halt and Catch Fire. This is much a consequence of the business taking a back seat to the romance story. The romance is wrecked by an unnecessary conflict that could have been resolved within the first few episodes. Seeing how polarizing it is online is just a testament to that fact. A good story shouldn't have that.

The show could have benefitted from having well developed platonic relationship between the FML and either, or perhaps both, MLs. But I guess I have given up on KDramas ever giving equal focus to platonic opposite-sex relationships, everything has to be romantic.

Ultimately the show could have benefitted from more business and family conflicts and less romance.

I really loved the first 4 episodes and would probably rewatch them if it had developed better beyond that. I would still suggest that you give it a watch if you want to. The show has some great cinematography, the best OST I've heard and some great acting. It's a shame that the writing couldn't keep up. But even then there's still a good story in there. If the pilot hadn't been as good as it was, I think I would have enjoyed this story a lot more.