Valley of the Boom

5.8

2019•43m

Production

An adrenaline-fueled ride through the culture of speculation, innovation and disruption during Silicon Valley’s unprecedented tech boom and subsequent bust in the 1990s. This mostly scripted series weaves in select documentary elements that help tell the true inside story of the internet’s formative years.

Trailers & Videos

Valley of the Boom: Trailer #1 | National Geographic

Seasons

6 Episodes • Premiered 2019

1. Part 1: print ("hello, world")

Marc Andreessen and team take the ever-expanding Netscape on a road show in search of potential investors, proving the internet is real and here to stay. Stephan Paternot and Todd Krizelman struggle to secure financing for their virtual community platform, TheGlobe.com. Michael Fenne changes his physical appearance as he travels across the country to Southern California searching for new opportunities.

2. Part 2: pseudocode

Thanks to the influx of cash from a successful IPO, Netscape dominates the browser market. This catches the attention of Microsoft, which retaliates, sparking the browser wars. TheGlobe.com continues to grow and finally raises enough money to keep afloat... for now. Michael Fenne excitedly starts a new company that promises to deliver revolutionary streaming technology.

3. Part 3: agile method

With the browser wars in full swing, Microsoft attacks Netscape. In need of additional financing, TheGlobe.com team hesitates to bring on a potential investor, not convinced he’ll be a good fit for the company. Using stolen tech, Michael Fenne launches a new company called Pixelon with the help of a new investment firm.

4. Part 4: priority inversion

In the next strike in the browser wars, Microsoft bundles Internet Explorer with every new Windows PC, hitting Netscape hard. Stephan Paternot and Todd Krizelman run on fumes as they juggle IPO prep with managing their expanding startup. As Pixelon prepares for its massive live event iBash, Michael Fenne's management style grows more erratic, grabbing the attention of an employee who becomes suspicious of Fenne and his tech.

5. Part 5: segfault

A dying Netscape takes drastic measures to reestablish itself as a cutting-edge innovator. Stephan Paternot and Todd Krizelman struggle to keep TheGlobe.com's focus on virtual communities. Pixelon launches iBash, a massive concert in Vegas with a star-studded lineup, as it introduces its revolutionary streaming technology to the world.

6. Part 6: fatal error

Marc Andreessen settles into AOL as Jim Barksdale keeps up with the Microsoft anti-trust case. Stephan Paternot and Todd Krizelman are in the throes of trying to save TheGlobe.com as they discover some potentially damaging news. Pixelon's investors and board members confront Michael Fenne, demanding an explanation about their failing tech.