The New York Public Library Announces Kweer Cards Winner of 2018 StartUP! Business Plan Competition

Creator of unique inclusive greeting cards for the LGBTQ+ community to receive $15,000  

September 14, 2018 – The New York Public Library (NYPL) announced today the winner of its New York StartUP! 2018 Business Plan Competition. The annual competition managed by the Library’s Business Library (SIBL) awarded a $15,000 cash prize 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. The funding received will be used to support product inventory, website and e-commerce set-up, and administration purposes.

“Each year, the Library sees hundreds of aspiring entrepreneurs enter the StartUP! Business Plan Competition and each year we are inspired by the creativity and determination of our fellow New Yorkers. It is an honor and privilege to support the efforts of New York City’s newest small business owners and we look forward to their future success,” said Anne Lehmann, Associate Director of SIBL.

Honorable mentions were also given to:

  • Pooja Khanna of Begin to Heal, LLC –  an online marketplace to book online remote or in-person sessions with 200 curated practitioners in alternative medicine or holistic wellness in New York City
  • Josalyn Mayfield of Co. Co. (Coffee & Cocktails) - a coffeehouse and bar in Harlem on a mission to disrupt the on premise drinking industry.

Kweer Cards was selected over 30 other completed plans. The Library received 250 applications to the 2018 New York StartUP! Business Plan Competition. In order to qualify for the competition entrants had to be 18 years of age or older; live in Manhattan, the Bronx or Staten Island; and plan to start a business in one of those boroughs.

Entrants were required to attend an orientation, business planning workshops, and meet with expert business advisors in the course of writing their business plans. The workshops and business counseling sessions provided practical information about starting and growing a business and entrants made use of the extensive business collections and business information databases available at SIBL. The business plans were evaluated by a panel of judges representing local business development leaders from non-profits and public agencies, financial funders, and successful entrepreneurs.

The Business Library, located at 188 Madison Avenue, offers free, public access to digital and physical collections that support New York City’s entrepreneurs. In addition to business directories and premium databases, such as Bloomberg terminals, the Library also regularly hosts events and workshops with leading experts in the areas of business, entrepreneurship, marketing and financial planning. For more information about current programs and services, visit www.nypl.org/sibl.

About The Science, Industry, and Business Library

The Science, Industry and Business Library (SIBL) is a premier public business library founded in 1996 with comprehensive print materials, e-resources, and services for start-ups and established businesses seeking expansion, and for job seekers from entry to executive levels. Library staff provide roving assistance and consultations, and advisory services are offered on-site by experienced business owners, career coaches, and a financial specialist.

About The New York Public Library

The New York Public Library is a free provider of education and information for the people of New York and beyond. With 92 locations—including research and branch libraries—throughout the Bronx, Manhattan, and Staten Island, the Library offers free materials, computer access, classes, exhibitions, programming and more to everyone from toddlers to scholars, and has seen record numbers of attendance and circulation in recent years. The New York Public Library serves more than 18 million patrons who come through its doors annually and millions more around the globe who use its resources at www.nypl.org. To offer this wide array of free programming, The New York Public Library relies on both public and private funding. Learn more about how to support the Library at nypl.org/support.