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
.png)
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
.png)
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
.png)
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
.png)
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
.png)
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
Access to Capital Readiness - Session 1
Join Centro Community Partners for a 3-session program “Access to Capital Readiness”!
This free online course aims to understand the sources of financing for entrepreneurs and to prepare adequately to access these sources to grow your business.
What’s included:
Understanding your…
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…
Resume & Cover Letter Help
Get help with your resume, cover letter, or career-related questions live with a librarian! Participants will receive up to 20 minutes of feedback and guidance.
Stop by the library and fill out our sign-up sheet. Make sure to bring your resume, cover letter, and any application-…
PropertyShark for NYC Real Estate Research
In this class we will be using PropertyShark, a Central Library only resource that you can use at the Business & Career Center to research any New York City property.
Whether it's the building's sale history, ownership information, or zoning, PropertyShark will show you this…
Resume Help at Brownsville Branch
Do you need help updating or even starting your resume? Brownsville branch is offering one-on-one assistance to anyone looking to sharpen their resume and make progress on their job search. We will provide feedback and suggestions regarding formatting and content and can even help…
Access to Capital Readiness - Session 2
Join Centro Community Partners for a 3-session program “Access to Capital Readiness”!
This free online course aims to understand the sources of financing for entrepreneurs and to prepare adequately to access these sources to grow your business.
What’s included:
Understanding your…
Intro to the Stock Market
Are you ready to take the first steps towards financial empowerment? Our Intro to the Stock Market workshop is designed to provide you with the foundational knowledge needed to start investing with confidence. Whether you're new to investing or just looking to sharpen your skills, this workshop…
Resume Help at Brownsville Branch
Do you need help updating or even starting your resume? Brownsville branch is offering one-on-one assistance to anyone looking to sharpen their resume and make progress on their job search. We will provide feedback and suggestions regarding formatting and content and can even help…
Access to Capital Readiness - Session 3
Join Centro Community Partners for a 3-session program “Access to Capital Readiness”!
This free online course aims to understand the sources of financing for entrepreneurs and to prepare adequately to access these sources to grow your business.
What’s included:
Understanding your…
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…
PowerUP! By the Numbers
.png)
- 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%
Business & Career eNewsletter
Sign up for our monthly email about events and workshops hosted by the Business & Career Center.
Sign up
Follow the Business & Career Center on Facebook!
Follow us