18 Culinary Teams Compete in New Season of CNBC's RESTAURANT STARTUP Tonight

CNBC welcomes 18 culinary entrepreneurs striving to secure an investment on the new season of "Restaurant Startup," premiering tonight, January 6 at 10PM ET/PT.

Produced by Endemol Shine North America, the nine one-hour episodes highlight THE HUNT for the next wave of food visionaries: would-be restaurateurs with big ideas but little capital.

Watch a Sneak Peek Here

"Restaurant Startup" features restaurateur and TV personality Joe Bastianich and chef and restaurateur Tim Love, who vie to invest their own money in restaurant concepts they believe could make them millions. Joining the deal table this season is Elizabeth Blau, a restaurateur and consultant who advises hospitality companies around the world.

The entrepreneurs bringing new culinary concepts to the table this season are:

55 Steak - Glendale, NY
Bocadillo - Portland, OR
Chas Germain - Los Angeles, CA
Full Circle Tavern - Dallas, TX
gastroPod - Miami, FL
Gloria Jean's Fine Southern Provisions - Kingston, TN
I Got Balls - Staten Island, NY
Midgley's Public House -Stockton, CA
Old New York - West Harlem, NY
Peli Peli Kitchen - Houston, TX
Rolz - Louisville, KY
S&R Eatery - Miami, FL
Shamone - Cape May, NJ
Smoke - Harrisburg, PA
Subdus - Chicago, IL
Taste - Oklahoma City, OK
The Chef and I - Nashville, TN
The COPPER Hen - Minneapolis, MN

In the premiere episode, "Raising the Stakes," airing Wednesday, January 6 at 10PM ET/PT, Joe and Tim hear from two teams looking to strip the classic steakhouse of all the stuffiness. Glendale, New York's 55 Steak is the project of a scrappy butcher turned restaurateur, who wants to give his hometown of Queens high-end food without pretension. Meanwhile, Midgley's Public House in Stockton, California is serving up top-notch cuts without the tuxedoed waiters and starched tablecloths. Will either team impress the investors enough to secure the deal of a lifetime?

Each week on "Restaurant Startup," two teams are invited to pitch their ideas to a panel of two investors. But only one team will receive the opportunity of a lifetime. The chosen team is given the keys to a working restaurant in Los Angeles. They get 36 HOURS and $7,500 to put their concept to the test and create a business plan; come up with a branding campaign; and finally, launch their dream restaurant. Under the watchful eye of culinary consultant Antonia Lofaso, the aspiring food moguls open their doors, serve their food, and test their concept on the public. Based on the reaction from the diners, the quality of the branding, and the viability of the business plan, Bastianich, Love, and Blau decide whether or not they will put their own money on the line to make someone's dreams come true - and, hopefully, make big money for themselves.

To learn more about "Restaurant Startup," visit: restaurantstartup.cnbcprime.com. Like us on Facebook: facebook.com/restaurantstartuptv and follow us on Twitter: twitter.com/RestStartup |@RestStartup.

"Restaurant Startup" is produced for CNBC by Endemol Shine NORTH AMERICA and JB Crushed, LLC with David Tibballs, Eden Gaha, Robin Feinberg and Joe Bastianich as executive producers. Jim Ackerman and Luke Bauer are the executive producers for CNBC.