NY StartUP! Past Competitions
2023 Competition Winners & Finalists
Winners
- First Place: Maria Silvestre and Jennifer Silvestre, Nasir + Idie
- Second Place: Giana Quinterno and Sara Czworniak, Social Skills in Motion
- Third Place: Kevin Vittayarukskul and Shu Jie Zhang, HummingBio, Inc.
Honorable Mention & Finalists
- Honorable Mention: Kelli Lipson, FLUF
- Honorable Mention: Richard Liriano and Reed Blee, The Alcove NY
- Finalist: Michelle Obine Galvin, Snaggletooth, Inc.
- Finalist: Alex Guillaume, APPAOLLO
- Finalist: John A. Marshall, NYC Borough Pass
- Finalist: Stephanie Rogers and Adrienne Walker, Menopause Pack
- Finalist: Osariemen Uwaifo, The Yani Experience
2022 Competition Winners
Winners
- First Place: Melanie Davis, Cutie Box
- Second Place: Stephon Vaughns & Kaela Shelby, Everchild
Honorable Mention & Finalists
- Honorable Mention - Terry Proctor - VIMooZ
- Honorable Mention - Kelvin Estevez and Harrison Rodriguez - Café Cyclista
- Honorable Mention - Karen Heredia and Michael Braithwaite -Next Big Thing Consulting
- Finalist - Neyanel Vasquez-Garcia - La Joya Cosmetics LLC
- Finalist - Yvonne Liao - Yvonne Liao
- Finalist - Tameka Skipper - VELVET
- Finalist - Kelvin Estevez and Harrison Rodriguez - Café Cyclista
2020 Competition Winners & Finalists
Winners
- First Place, Bank OZK Community Impact Award: La Shay B. Green, SoulBites
- Second Place: Madelyn Scarpulla, New York Ninja Academy NYC
Honorable Mention & Finalists
- Honorable Mention: Constance Barnes, The Bronx Learning Lounge
- Honorable Mention: Monica Mohan and Wendy Qiu, May’d Fit LLC
- Honorable Mention: Stacy McCoy Prime, Midnight Club
- Finalist: Courtney Stern, Park Watch
- Finalist: Sabrina Ortega, ZOA Health
- Finalist: Julia Kim, Cloudflow
- Finalist: Christian Tirtasengadja and Aura Estrella, That Looks Good
- Finalist: Jacqueline Martoral and Javier Ceja, Myproperdeets
2019 Competition Winners & Finalists
Winners
- First Place: Maurisa Westbury, Adirah Inc.
- Second Place: Leslie Raucher & Maegan White, Rescue Toolkit, LLC.
Honorable Mention & Finalists
- Honorable Mention: Ashley M. Scott, The Happy Glow
- Honorable Mention: Stacy McCoy Prime, Upstream Design Lab, Inc.
- Finalist: Adrienne Walker & Stephanie Rogers, The Menopause Pack
- Finalist: Diane Tinsley, Kids Dance Revolution
- Finalist: Elona Bilovol, Cosmetics Manufacturing
2018 Competition Winners & Finalists
Winner
- First Place: Ken Moore, Kweer Cards
Kweer Cards’ crafts unique greeting cards for the LGBTQ+ community. The 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.
Honorable Mention & Finalists
- Honorable Mention: Josalyn Mayfield, Co.Co. ( Coffee & Cocktails)
- Honorable Mention: Pooja Khanna, Begin-to-Heal, LLC
- Finalist: Gladys Henriquez, Know My Rights Clothing Co.
- Finalist: Kariyma-Hamilton, Defy Lingerie
- Finalist: Maureen Miller, Mo Possibilities Inc.
- Finalist: Pamela Hawkins, Organic Love Beauty, LLC
- Finalist: Siu-Kwan Tsui, CyberGuardian
- Finalist: Steve Roberts, Mangi
- Finalist: Ventrice Lam, Classkite
View the finalists talking about their business plans.
2017 Competition Winners
- First Place: Tara Holloway, All Things Fitness
All Things Fitness is a lifestyle and social fitness company that emphasizes group engagement and accountability to promote healthier lifestyles and physical activity for communities with health and weight challenges.
- Second Place: Alexandria Carroll, License to Drift
License to Drift is a business cultivating a passionate community of travelers, influencers, and partners who are invested in helping you take your ideal trip.
- Third Place: Noelle Minter, 3rd Wind Network
Bronx-based 3rd Wind Network is an organization that supports the recently retired and helps them transition into their new lifestyle with classes and events focused on personal growth and social connection.
2016 Competition Winners & Finalists
Winners
- First Place: Patrick Connorton, Jason Pessel, and Andrew Betlyon, Reefill Inc.
- Second Place: Noelle Santos, The Lit Bar
- Third Place: Christina Clark, Manhattan Mushroom Company
Runners-Up
- Jacqueline McCabe, Urby Lifestyle LLC
- Kellie Lipson, Spoonable Spirits
Finalists
- Scott Pere, Cooked Cards & Comics, Inc.
- Evette Zayas, Food Sin Fronteras
- Carlos Vassallo, Newsbyte
- Michelle Galvin, Snaggletooth
- Aaron Laroc, SPEIDR, Inc.
Read the press release about the winners.
2015 Competition Winners & Finalists
Winners
- First Place: Jessica Spaulding, Harlem Chocolate Factory
- Second Place: Evelyn Vargas, Just Jazzy Cakes
- Third Place: Annie Etheridge, Field & Clover
Finalists
- Mikahila Bloomfield, Fashion League, Inc.
- Natasha Green, WeIntervene
Read the press release about the winners.
2014 Competition Winners & Finalists
Winners
- First Place: Lennard Camarillo and Arlene Lozano, Chicali R&B Concepts
- Second Place: Eleanor Luken and Mark Blackman, Harlem Independent Theater
- Third Place: Autumn Adeigbo, Makoko
Finalists
- James Lowery and Phylline Loza, Snowdow
- Jemini Patel, Barcode5
Read the press release about the winners.
2013 Competition Winners and Finalists
Winners
- First Place: Steven Kaufman, Quikiks
- Second Place: Michael Frankel, HULEDET
- Third Place: Deborah Walker and Larry Liu, Pomegranate Lab
Finalists
- Christie MacKinnon, Kicky's Kitchen, Inc.
- Caryn Neary, Popshops
Read the press release about the winners.
2012 Competition Winners & Finalists
Winners
- First Place: Dwayne Samuel and Jason Funes, Curatio HCS
Curatio HCS is a full-service home health care agency in the Bronx
- Second Place: Bernice Mast and Richard J. Becker, Wheatless and Meatless
Wheatless and Meatless is a line of gluten-free vegan burger mixes and meal starters
- Third Place: Rina Mansukhani and Christi Helsel, iEvoke
iEvoke is a plan to create a line of products that uses the powerful connection between scent and memory
Runners-Up
- Jean-Pierre Adechi, Wheelie
- Monica Sharma and Kim Nguyen, Runway Exchange
Finalists
- Case Carpenter
- Regina Clark
- Kurt Franz
- Precious L. Williams, Esq.
- Shaunte L. Williams
Read the press release about the 2012 winners.
2011 Competition Winners & Finalists
Winners
- First Place: Denise Adusei, Peartree Preschool
- Second Place: Lillian Lee, The Grand Assembly
- Third Place: Davinder "Bobby" Singh, Kashpile
Runners-Up
- Brian Foo, GiveLoop
- Jon Gray and Elizabeth Kim, Jon Gray International
Finalists
- Dave Pulito, Fradius
- Devon Prioleau, Fresca Gourmet Market
- Taiwo Odunsi and Julia Maksimova, HY-Gear
- Danielle Schiffren, Schiffren LLC
- Melissa Haines, Where Is This Going?
Read the press release about the 2011 winners.
2010 Competition Winners & Finalists
- First Place: Jennifer Chu, Chu Shu
- Second Place: Carol Santiago, SafeSnack Vending, Inc.
- Third Place: Eileen Kim, Ann, Kim & You