PowerUP Business Plan Competition

PowerUP is back for 2025! - Sign up for an Orientation Session today and get ready to power up your business idea!

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Since 2003, we have nurtured 10,900 individuals with over 1,800 business plans and awarded more than $650,000 in cash and in-kind gifts to Brooklyn entrepreneurs. Our success stories include more than 100 companies with passion for food and drink, health and wellness, arts and crafts, media and fashion, education, social justice, and cultural diversity–everything that makes Brooklyn great.

Curious about the pitch contest? Watch a previous pitch competition below:

Some early winners, like Bogota Latin Bistro and Greenlight Bookstore, have become local institutions, while recent winners like Brooklyn Tea and Island Pops, hope to be the next generation of Brooklyn destinations.

In the spirit of the Library, we welcome all Brooklyn residents. Among our 2022 participants, 25% are immigrants/foreign born, 72% are women, and 72% have never owned a business.

FAQs

Who can enter?

Entrants must be 18 years of age or older, live in Brooklyn and plan to start a business in Brooklyn. Sign up for an orientation session to learn more about how to apply.

What are the prizes?

Winners will receive cash awards as seed capital to start a business in Brooklyn. Cash prizes of $20,000 for first place, $10,000 for second place, $5,000 for third place, and $1,000 for five merit winners will be awarded. Also, during the awards ceremony,one of the merit winners will be chosen by the audience to receive an additional $1,000!

How can I apply?

The competition is administered through an online platform: https://powerup.smapply.io/ All prospective applicants must attend the orientation before applying. The orientation explains all the details of applying to and participating in the competition.

What do I have to do to participate?

Participants must attend the orientation, get a Brooklyn Public Library Card, meet with a business advisor, and attend a minimum of 3 PowerUP webinar classes.

What are the PowerUP classes?

Participants attend Zoom webinar classes on creating business plans, marketing, financial projections, and doing business research. The financial projections and business research classes are mandatory.

Who are the business advisors?

Participants are referred to organizations in the community who offer free business counseling.

May I submit a business plan that I have previously written?

Business plans must follow the format and guidelines provided by the competition. Previously written plans must be revised to comply with the competition guidelines.

What are the judges looking for?

A well-researched plan that follows the guidelines and clearly shows:

• A need and use for the financial award
• How your business will provide needed products or services to the community
• How your business will be viable and successful