Local and national TV audiences will get to learn about Wilmington startups and entrepreneurs starting Tuesday through the airing of the first episode of START UP.

The first episode will air on PBS (WUNC-DT4) at 4:30 p.m., as well as on World Channel. After airing, episodes will be available for view on PBS.org and Amazon Prime.

The first episode highlights TRU Colors, a brewery founded by George Taylor with the mission of addressing gang-related violence in the region by hiring gang members and promoting their personal and professional growth.

Season 9 of START UP filmed five of its 13 episodes in the Wilmington region in June. The docuseries highlights the struggles and victories of entrepreneurs across the U.S. and the season focuses on the Southeastern coast.

Other episodes featuring locals include:
Episode 3 - Sea Love Sea Salt
Episode 5 - Genesis Block
Episode 7 - Bitty and Beau’s Coffee
Episode 11 - End of Days Distillery

Other companies to be featured in the show are from Charleston, South Carolina; Savannah, Georgia; and Hartford, Wisconsin.

The show makers decided to feature Wilmington after being influenced by the founder of Network for Entrepreneurs in Wilmington and Wilmington Angels for Local Entrepreneurs, Jim Roberts, who had been writing show producers for over two years asking them to visit the region.

A trailer for the season was released in August giving a preview of the entrepreneurs interviewed.

Tuesday’s episode featuring TRU Colors comes just before the brewery is slated to launch its beer on Wednesday.