2023 marks the 20th anniversary of Brooklyn Public Library's PowerUP Business Plan Competition.
Since 2003, PowerUP has nurtured 10,575 individuals with over 1,350 business plans and awarded more than $600,000 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.
20th Anniversary Video: The Prize is in the Process
PowerUP! Success Stories
Green in BKLYN, 2009 PowerUP Winner
Meet Elissa Olin, owner of Green in BKLYN, a retail shop located in the Clinton Hill/Fort Greene area. It offers a one-stop shop where people who’d like to live an eco-friendly lifestyle—and those who already do—can find information and products to easily green their home and lives. greeninbklyn.com
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Terrart NYC, 2021 PowerUP Winner
Meet Timothy Chu, Charly Uzcategui and Henger Ydrogo, the owners of Terrart NYC. Integrating ecological and artistic concepts, Terrart NYC products are an affordable and easily sustainable alternative for people seeking to stay connected to mother nature. terrartnyc.com
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DMC Original Art, 2021 PowerUP Winner
Meet Danielle M. Chery, founder of DMC Original Art, whose mission is to spread the energy of peace and freedom through unique, handcrafted decor pieces and abstract creations. dmcoriginalart.com
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Brooklyn Tea, 2018 PowerUP Winner
Meet husband and wife team Jamila Wright and official Tea Sommelier Alfonso Wright, the founders of Brooklyn Tea. Headquartered in Bed-Stuy, the company is dedicated to sourcing and curating the highest quality teas from around the globe. brooklyntea.com
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Island Pops, 2015 PowerUP Winner
Meet married couple Khalid Hamid and Shelly Marshall, the owners of Island Pops, a Crown Heights shop that uses tropical ingredients in traditional and innovative ways to deliver a taste of the Caribbean in a cup, cone or on a stick! islandpops.com
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The Word Is Change, 2020 PowerUP Winner
Meet Alexander Dwinell, owner of The Word Is Change, a Bed-Stuy bookstore that sells used and new books, hosts readings and meetings, buys books for resale, and supports visual artists. thewordischange.com
Upcoming Events
Drop-In Resume & Career Help (Central Library)
Stop by Central Library's Business & Career Center for help with questions about your resume, cover letter, interview, and job search. All sessions are one-on-one on a first come, first served basis.
Census Data for Non-profits and Grant Writers
Join Joli Golden from the U.S. Census Bureau for an exciting workshop aimed at helping Brooklyn non-profits find the information they need to create winning grant proposals and business plans!
Attend this webinar to:
See how to access the most current and relevant…
Multilingual Business Help
Start or grow your business - in your language!Brooklyn Public Library offers free, one-on-one support for multilingual entrepreneurs of all origins, backgrounds and industries. Whether you're just getting started or already running a small business, we can help…
Women and Money: How to Make Sense of Today's Financial Markets
Learn all about today's financial markets from two women who watch it closely.
Join Financial Advisors Julia Strayer and Liz Maccarone as they host The Women and Money Roundtable. This series is a virtual, monthly financial literacy program designed to educate women in all walks of…
Tech Help for Your Job Search
This is a self-service open lab with support tech in the room to answer questions about:
Formatting & uploading resumesFormatting & uploading cover lettersNavigating job application websitesFilling out job applicationsUploading a documentEmailing an employerLaptops will be…
Multilingual Business Help
Start or grow your business - in your language!Brooklyn Public Library offers free, one-on-one support for multilingual entrepreneurs of all origins, backgrounds and industries. Whether you're just getting started or already running a small business, we can help…
How to Be a Rich Old Lady: Investing 101 Series Part 2
Have you ever felt confused by your IRA or 401(k)? Do you know that you should invest, but don't know how or where to begin? Or who you can trust for financial advice? In this exciting, exclusive, and somehow-entertaining two-part series, we are going to answer these questions and so…
Pace SBDC Business Counseling @ BPL
The Pace University Small Business Development Center (SBDC) is offering weekly, free, in-person one-to-one business advisement at the Brooklyn Public Library’s Business & Career Center!
These Business Advisement sessions are available to existing small businesses and…
Multilingual Business Help
Start or grow your business - in your language!Brooklyn Public Library offers free, one-on-one support for multilingual entrepreneurs of all origins, backgrounds and industries. Whether you're just getting started or already running a small business, we can help…
From Plan to Plate: Market Research and Resources for Food Entrepreneurs
Learn how market research helps food entrepreneurs validate ideas, understand customers, and identify opportunities in Brooklyn’s competitive and diverse food marketplace.Successful food businesses start with understanding the market. This session explores how aspiring food entrepreneurs can use…
PowerUP By the Numbers
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- Total number of winners: 183
- Prize money awarded: more than $600,000
- PowerUP companies by industry:
- Hospitality: 34%
- Retail: 13%
- Media: 11.7%
- Fashion & Beauty: 11.7%
- Arts & Crafts: 8.4%
- Education: 7.8%
- Wellness: 7.3%
- Service: 2.8%
- Pet Care: 1.7%
- Social Justice/Cultural Diversity: 1.1%
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