$40,000 Awarded to Brooklyn Entrepreneurs Including Audience Favorite Graceful Travels
Competition Marks a Milestone with Submission of 1000th Proposal
Brooklyn, NY—Brooklyn Public Library’s 15th annual PowerUP! Business Plan Competition awarded $40,000 to aspiring entrepreneurs at a pitch competition and awards ceremony last night. Dime Community Bank presented the $20,000 grand prize to Jonathan Hessney, founder of OnRout. The company will act as a neutral third party, allowing shipping carriers like Fed Ex and UPS to bid on jobs.
A judging panel of business owners, nonprofit leaders and academics selected OnRout from a field of 77 entries, the majority of whom had no previous business experience.
“Brooklyn Public Library is proud to have helped over 125 businesses launch around the borough,” said Brooklyn Public Library President and CEO Linda E. Johnson. “We congratulate all of the PowerUP participants tonight for their vision and hard work and look forward to visiting their shops and using their services in the near future.”
The second-place prize of $10,000, underwritten by Ridgewood Savings Bank, was awarded to Alfonso Wright for Brooklyn Tea, a tea room where patrons can sip, meet friends, or hang out. Miguel Estrada and Warren Holder won the third-place prize of $5000 for Electric Fox—a contemporary arcade bar where patrons can participate in multiplayer video games.
Five participants were recognized with merit awards and $1000 of seed money. The merit winners pitched their ideas to the live audience at Central Library who voted for their favorite by cell phone. Keturah Suggs was awarded the audience favorite award, earning an additional $1000 for Graceful Travels, a vanpool service for adults age 60 and over.
The other merit winners were: Stephanie Amann and Molly McFadden for Wyldaire, packable and fashionable hats; Rhonda Harper and Roshanna Crawford for Little Innovators AfterSchool League, a nonprofit program to enhance students’ knowledge of STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts and math); Charanor Marcano for Charanor, high fashion shoes and accessories; and Lisa Paige for No Rocking Chairs Over Here Social Adult Daycare Center, a facility specializing in meals and programs for persons with disabilities.
“Congratulations to this year’s winners of the PowerUP! Business Plan Competition and also to every applicant who participated in this program,” said Kenneth J. Mahon, President and Chief Executive Officer of Dime Community Bank. “Dime is proud to sponsor this important program, which enables local entrepreneurs to build successful start-up businesses.” He added, “We recognize the important role that entrepreneurs and small businesses play in the economic development of our communities and are committed to helping them grow and prosper.”
Starting in 2003, the PowerUP! contest has provided a total of more than $400,000 to over 125 entrepreneurs. Many successful Brooklyn businesses launched with help from PowerUP! including Bogota Latin Bistro, Green in Brooklyn, Tinsel Experiential Design, and Greenlight Bookstore.
All participants attended classes on subjects like marketing, business finance and the utilization of library resources. They also received one-on-one business plan assistance from successful entrepreneurs and business experts.
Past winners—including Island Pops, Bogota Latin Bistro, Tamra Teahouse, Soul Sister Quisine, and Shari’s Sugar Shack—returned to the Library to provide refreshments for the ceremony.
Dime Community Bank is the lead sponsor for PowerUP. The second-place prize is underwritten by Ridgewood Savings Bank. Additional program support is provided by women.nyc, Con Edison, ReferenceUSA, Elizabeth Crowell & Robert Wilson and Signature Bank.
To learn more about the competition, you can view a short video here.
About Brooklyn Public Library
Brooklyn Public Library (BPL) is an independent library system for the 2.5 million residents of Brooklyn. It is the fifth largest library system in the United States with 60 neighborhood libraries located throughout the borough. BPL offers free programs and services for all ages and stages of life, including a large selection of books in more than 30 languages, author talks, literacy programs and public computers. BPL’s eResources, such as eBooks and eVideos, catalog information and free homework help, are available to customers of all ages 24 hours a day at our website: http://www.bklynlibrary.org/.