Brooklyn, NY— Brooklyn Public Library’s annual PowerUP business plan competition awarded over $40,000 to aspiring entrepreneurs earlier this month with Dime Community Bank presenting the $20,000 grand prize to Noir Yoga, a Brooklyn-based yoga studio dedicated to cultivating community through mindful movement.
Noir Yoga joins a distinguished roster of successful Brooklyn-based businesses who got their start with the PowerUP. The Library competition, now celebrating 21 years, helped to launch Shipwrecked, Argyle Yarn, Green in BKLYN, Greenlight Bookstore, and many more.
George Constantinou and Farid Ali opened Bogota Latin Bistro after winning the first contest in 2003. Twenty years later, the restaurant is a Park Slope favorite, having survived a recession and the pandemic, and Ali and Constantinou have opened three additional restaurants.
PowerUP first began in 2003, to provide a helping hand after 9/11. Since then, the PowerUP contest has provided over $600,000 to over 200 entrepreneurs across the borough. Two of the winners have created multi-million dollars businesses and many of Brooklyn’s most successful and beloved shops and businesses launched with help from the competition.
Soon after winning the contest in 2015, Khalid Hamid and Shelly Marshall opened Island Pops. The Crown Heights ice cream shop features the flavors of Trinidad and the Caribbean, but everyone can enjoy their delicious treats. Island Pops now ships nationwide. Brooklyn Tea, a 2018 winner, has a shop in Brooklyn and one in Atlanta and now sell their tea in Target stores.
A select list of shops, restaurants and businesses owned and operated by PowerUP winners and the Library—perfect for holiday gifts—is below.
Storefront
Bogota Latin Bistro
141 5th Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11217
Greenlight Bookstore
686 Fulton Street, Brooklyn 11217
Island Pops
680 Nostrand Avenue, Brooklyn NY 11216
Green in BKLYN
432 Myrtle Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11205
Argyle Yarn Shop
288 Prospect West, Brooklyn NY 11215
Shipwrecked Mini Golf
621 Court Street, Brooklyn NY 11213
Brooklyn Tea
411 Lewis Avenue, Brooklyn NY 11233
The World is Change (book shop)
368 Tompkins Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11216
Hive Mind Books
219 Irving Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11237
Noir Yoga
109 Ralph Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11221
TerraArt
Union Square Holiday Market, Manhattan
Booth B14 through December 24
Brooklyn Click and Connect
1017 Church Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11218
Center for Brooklyn History Shop
128 Pierrepont Street, Brooklyn NY 12201
Online
Masala Mama Foods
Indian-inspired sauces and legumes
https://masalamamafoods.com/
Jess Pudd’n
Pudding-based desserts
https://www.jesspuddin.com/menu/
DMC Original Art
Art and home décor
https://www.dmcoriginalart.com/
B4 Your Skin
Vegan skin care
https://b4urskn.com/pages/our-story
When She Comes Home
Self-care packages for pre-natal and post-partum women
https://www.whenshecomeshome.com/
Riverdel Cheese
Vegan cheeses
https://www.riverdelcheese.com/
Brooklyn Public Library Shop
Clothing, tote bags, stationery, jewelry and more, with proceeds supporting the Library
https://shop.bklynlibrary.org/
About Brooklyn Public Library
Brooklyn Public Library is one of the nation’s largest library systems and among New York City’s most democratic institutions. As a leader in developing modern 21st century libraries, we provide resources to support personal advancement, foster civic literacy, and strengthen the fabric of community among the more than 2.6 million individuals who call Brooklyn home. We provide nearly 65,000 free programs a year with writers, thinkers, artists, and educators—from around the corner and around the world. And we give patrons millions of opportunities to enjoy one of life’s greatest satisfactions: the joy of a good book.