$10,000 Prizes, Training Available
The Queens Economic Development Corporation, the Queens Library, the Citi Foundation and Queens College officially kicked off the Seventh Annual Queens StartUP! Business Plan Competition at a networking party at the Z Hotel in Long Island City last Monday, Aug. 27.
The competition will award three businesses $10,000 each, while providing technical assistance and training on how to start a small business and entrepreneurial resources to all participants.
Participants have the choice of attending free training seminars at the Queens Central Branch Library in Jamaica from October to January 2013, taking a 10-week course starting in October or via recorded webinars.
This year has a new, fourth category: an entrepreneurship award for Queens College students. Eligible candidates can participate in the training sessions and receive the same business counseling as the other contestants. The student winner will receive $5,000 from the college.
“Citi is once again pleased to support the Seventh Annual StartUP! competition with a $50,000 grant from the Citi Foundation,” said Rei Perez, Citi community officer for Queens. “The Citi Foundation supports several competitions throughout New York City to encourage innovation among entrepreneurs and create jobs in communities where they are needed most.”
“We are extremely happy to offer StartUP! again,” said QEDC Executive Director Seth Bornstein. “Since the QEDC was founded in 1977, Citi has been a staunch supporter of our programs. The annual Start UP! competition reinforces Citi’s commitment to those seeking to start a small business.”
“Entrepreneurial business is the bedrock of Queens’ economy. Queens Library has so many resources to help businesses grow and succeed,” said Thomas W. Galante, president & CEO of Queens Library. “We offer free technology training and free computers to use, books, videos, workshops and databases that help with basic business skills. We are pleased to be a StartUP! partner. Queens Library enriches local business as much as it enriches lives.”
“Queens College’s decision to fund a special student award this year reflects our commitment to supporting the entrepreneurial spirit that is crucial to the borough’s development,” said James Muyskens, president of Queens College. “We are delighted to collaborate with the QEDC, Queens Library and Citi Foundation to make this competition possible.”
During last year’s Sixth Annual StartUP!, roughly 230 participants received technical assistance and training on how to start a small business and had access to entrepreneurial resources at the Queens Library’s central branch in Jamaica. Then, a total of 42 teams submitted business plans to the Citi judges.
Flushing residents Kenneth Chen and Ann Yu won first place in the “Food-Based Business” category for their plan to launch the Itizy Gourmet Ice Cream Truck, which sells all-natural premium ice cream and sorbet.
Cindi Strauss and her Addicks Enterprises received top honors in the “Innovative Business” category. The Howard Beach resident’s start-up manufactures a label kit designed to organize purses and other types of handbags with “Seez-it” labels that eliminate the need to dig through a filled purse or dump out contents when searching for personal items.
The champions in the third category, “Social Enterprise,” were Sonu Sanghoee of Fresh Meadows and Long Island City’s Elizabeth Schwartz for Better Speech Now, which provides accent-reduction services.
Those interested in finding out more about the StartUP! contest are invited to log onto www.queensny.org.
