New York StartUP! 2023 Business Plan Competition
The 13th Annual New York StartUP! Business Plan Competition starts soon!
Win up to $15,000 to start your business, as well as gain practical insights about starting and growing a business while using the comprehensive small business resources at NYPL’s Thomas Yoseloff Business Center.
Are you eligible to win a cash prize?
1. You must live in Manhattan, The Bronx, or Staten Island *
2. Your business must be in Manhattan, The Bronx, or Staten Island
3. All businesses must have ideas or business models in the start-up phase and have earned less than $10,000
To Participate:
Step 1 - Attend a Virtual Orientation Q & A Session
The 1st requirement of the competition - attend a session for a review of the competition including how it works, the requirements, and the timeline.
Click here to see the full schedule of the sessions.
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Step 2 - Submit Your Entry Form by March 31, 2023.
The 2nd requirement of the competition - complete and submit an entry form to participate.
Click here to access the form.
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Step 3 - Attend 1 Virtual Q & A Session for Each of the 4 Technical Workshops
The 3rd requirement of the competition- you must attend 1 session for each of the 4 workshops.
Click here to see the full schedule of Virtual Q & A Sessions
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Step 4 - Schedule at Least 1 Virtual Consultation with a Business Librarian Before March 15, 2023.
The 4th requirement of the Competition - Business Center Librarians can provide resources for marketing and industry research, sample business plans, and business service providers.
Click here to schedule your virtual consultation.
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Step 5 - Meet at Least Once Before April 1, 2023 with a Business Advisor.
The 5th requirement of the Competition is to meet at least once with an expert business advisor to review your plan.
Click here to see a list of potential business advisors and the form to document your meetings.
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Step 6 - Upload a PDF of Your Business Plan to the Competition Site by 11:59 PM on May 31, 2023.
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Prizes
• First Prize - $15,000
• Second Prize - $10,000
• Third Prize - $7500
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Click here to review the full rules and eligibility requirements of the competition.
Questions about the StartUp! Competition? Contact startup@nypl.org
* Do you live in Brooklyn or Queens?
We welcome all to participate in the competition and learn how to put a business plan together. However, only residents of Manhattan, The Bronx, or Staten Island who start a business in one of these three boroughs are eligible to win a prize.
Similar competitions are available for residents of Brooklyn and Queens. The Brooklyn Public Library runs the Brooklyn PowerUP! Competition for Brooklyn residents. The Queens Economic Development Corporation (QEDC) offers the StartUP! Competition for Queens residents.
Past Winners
New York StartUP! 2022 Business Plan Competition Winners:
First Prize Winner: Melanie Davis, Cutie Box
Second Place Winner: Stephon Vaughns & Kaela Shelby, Everchild
2020 New York Startup! Winners Announced
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First Prize Winner of the Bank OZK Community Impact Award: La Shay B. Green, SoulBites
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Second Place Winner: Madelyn Scarpulla, New York Ninja Academy NYC
HONORABLE MENTION
● Constance Barnes -The Bronx Learning Lounge
● Monica Mohan and Wendy Qiu -May’d Fit LLC
● Stacy McCoy Prime -Midnight Club
2020 Finalists:
Meet the 2019 New York StartUP! Business Plan Competition Finalists
Grand Prize Winner: Maurisa Westbury- Adirah Inc.
First Runner-Up: Leslie Raucher & Maegan White-Rescue Toolkit, LLC.
Honorable Mention: Ashley M. Scott-The Happy Glow; Stacy McCoy Prime—Upstream Design Lab, Inc.
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NY Startup 2019 Finalists:
Adrienne Walker & Stephanie Rogers - The Menopause Pack
Leslie Raucher & Maegan White - Rescue Toolkit, LLC
Diane Tinsley - Kids Dance Revolution
Stacy McCoy Prime - Upstream Design Lab, Inc.
Elona Bilovol - cosmetics manufacturing
Maurisa Westbury - Adirah Inc.
Ashley M. Scott - The Happy Glow
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Meet the 2018 New York StartUP! Business Plan Competition Finalists
The top prize of $15,000 went to Kweer Cards, which crafts unique greeting cards for the LGBTQ+ community.
Founded by Ken Moore, Kweer Cards’ growing line of high-quality greeting cards strives to capture the experiences and sentiments of a currently underserved market through inclusive and whimsical designs. Read the press release.
2018 Finalists:
Gladys Henriquez -- Know My Rights Clothing Co.
Josalyn Mayfield --- Co.Co. ( Coffee & Cocktails)
Kariyma-Hamilton -Defy Lingerie
Kenneth Moore -----kweercards
Maureen Miller -----Mo Possibilities Inc.
Pamela Hawkins ----Organic Love Beauty, LLC
Pooja Khanna -------Begin-to-Heal, LLC.
Siu-Kwan Tsui ------CyberGuardian
Steve Roberts -------Mangi
Ventrice Lam -------Classkite
Honorable Mention:
Pooja Khanna
Josalyn Mayfield
Read the press release about the winner
** View the finalists talking about their plans.