What is the program?

The program is designed to help early-stage entrepreneurs grow their businesses with five up-to $20K grants, access to industry experts and founder network.

Presented by the Queens Borough President Donovan Richards and Queens Economic Development Corporation, the multi-week program offers high-level entrepreneurial classes, one-on-one office hours with QEDC mentors & advisors, networking events with startup founders, and cash prizes (five up-to $20K awards).

 

What does the program offer?

PRIZES

There will be one winner in each category, with five winners in total. Each winner will be awarded up to $20,000 to start or grow their business with no strings attached.

ONLINE WORKSHOPS

We will be offering different online workshops from October, 2023 to January, 2024, covering a wide range of startup topics from product development, financial management to fundraising, legal issues and many more. The curriculum is not cohort-based. Participants can join any LIVE workshops that’s of interest to them or watch recordings.

NETWORKING EVENTS

We’re hosting in-person networking events once a month from October, 2023 to February, 2024. It will be a great opportunity for you to meet with other local entrepreneurs and learn about the resources in the Queens startup community.

ONE-ON-ONE OFFICE HOURS

Participants in the program can schedule one-on-one meetings with our program director to discuss their needs and progress. The program director will be able to share more resources or match them with different advisors for further assistance.

Competition Categories

Consumer Tech

Business to Consumer

A startup that builds technology products or services designed for everyday use by consumers.

Enterprise Tech

Business to Business

Technology products or services used by businesses or organizations.

Who Should Apply?

  • Pre-seed or seed stage tech startups still looking to establish a business model
  • Early stage CPG, community-based businesses, currently generating revenue
  • High-potential, ready to use a 20K grant to reach their next milestone
  • Willing and able to meet the requirements to participate in the Challenge

How to Apply?

Steps

  • Read the Eligibility Requirements
  • Make sure you attend a minimum of 4 events (workshop + in-person all count) between October 3, 2023 to February 28, 2024. Our live workshop schedule can be found on our Events page. If you miss them, no worries: recordings of past events can be found in our Video Library.
  • You can submit an online application anytime between October 3, 2023 to March 1st, 2024. The submission deadline is March 1st, 2024 at midnight.

Timeline

  • Roughly 4-5 live events per month from October, 2023 – February, 2024. Make sure you attend a minimum of 4 events or watch the recordings.
  • Our 1st round of judges will begin reviewing applications on March 5, 2024. It will take approximately 3 weeks to finish the 1st round judging.
  • Three finalists from each category will be announced in an in-person event at the end of March, 2024.
  • The total 15 finalists will be pitching to the 2nd round of judges during an in-person event in April, 2024. One winner from each category will be announced in the end of April.

 

Since 2007, we have had:
80 Winners
$590,000 in Grants
5000 Participants
 

What Our Former Participants Are Saying:

“We have seen a major increase in our sales since winning the competition. We’re extremely grateful for this amazing opportunity.”
“Everybody should do the competition. It’s not about $10,000. It’s about what you learnt and what it prepared you to do. The steps that you will go through towards the final pitch is worth way more than $10,000.”
Charly Uzcategui and Timothy Chu
Co-founders of TERRART NYC
2021 Winner, Sustainability
Tara Merdjanoff and Jeremy Bohen
Co-founders of QNSY
2021 Finalist, Food
“We have seen a major increase in our sales since winning the competition. We’re extremely grateful for this amazing opportunity.”
Charly Uzcategui and Timothy Chu
Co-founders of TERRART NYC
2021 Winner, Sustainability

 

“Everybody should do the competition. It’s not about $10,000. It’s about what you learnt and what it prepared you to do. The steps that you will go through towards the final pitch is worth way more than $10,000.”
Tara Merdjanoff and Jeremy Bohen
Co-founders of QNSY
2021 Finalist, Food
 

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is eligible to compete for the cash prizes?

Contestants must be entrepreneurs who run revenue-generating businesses, are 18 years of age or older, and U.S. citizens or legal residents in the United States. The business must demonstrate a strong Queens connection, such as being a Queens resident. For further details, please see our eligibility rules.

Are the online workshops mandatory?

All eligible applicants and/or the primary and/or secondary team member will be required to attend a minimum of 4 workshops held from October 2023 to January 2024 (If you can’t make the 8 live sessions, no worries; they will be recorded and available on our Video Library).

What happens after I submit the application online?

Our program staff will verify each applicant’s qualification starting March 1, 2024. We will check everyone’s eligibility, class participation and if your application is complete with the financial projections and video all submitted. Incomplete applications will be disqualified immediately.

All qualified applications will be sent to our 1st panel of judges for review. The judges will give scores and feedback for each application. Based on the scores, we will announce three finalists from each category. The 15 finalists will present to our 2nd panel of judges who will select a winner from each category.

5 winners will each receive a prize up to $20,000.

How many people can enter in one team?

Up to five individuals. Everyone involved in the proposed business described in the plan must register via YouNoodle as a team leader or team member and upload their State ID or Driver’s License. The business team leader needs to be a Queens resident and part of the co-founders/management team of the company.

Can a business advisor from QEDC help me with my application?

Yes and we recommend you do so by making an appointment to speak to an advisor at QEDC here. They can help go over your application before you submit it and provide feedback from a judge’s perspective.

What stage does my business needs to be?

You must be a startup defined as making less than 150K in annual sales or have tested the product or service and are able to demonstrate market interests or customer demand for the concept. Business registration and/or minimum sales are NOT required but you must have built the minimum viable product (MVP) and show that it has been tested and can demonstrate interest. Businesses that are not currently paying taxes, are not tax-compliant or not operating with appropriate licenses and permits will forfeit their prize funding if selected as winners.

Are there any requirements for the winners to use the award fund?

The funds must be used within one year from the date of the award being announced and can only be used for only the intended business purpose described in the business plan and nothing else. Please note that these awards are taxable and the Queens Economic Development Corporation and each winner must complete an IRS W-9 form before a check can be issued. All winners must include a written description on how the funds will be used, sign a release form, and agree to be surveyed for up to five years on the status of their business.

Are applications confidential?

Queens Economic Development Corporation (QEDC) recognizes that entrants may be concerned about the confidentiality of their applications. Applications will not be copied for any purpose other than the competition and internal use by QEDC’s Business Services Department. Entrants are also permitted to exclude any information they regard as confidential (please note, however, that if by excluding information you make your plan more difficult to understand it may be judged poorly). The short description of your business idea will be considered a “public summary” of your plan and may be used in public documentation related to the competition. While all responsible measures will be taken to ensure the protection of intellectual property and preserve the confidentiality of each submission, Queens Economic Development Corporation cannot take further responsibility to protect the intellectual property or other rights of each contestant. Protection of such rights is ultimately the responsibility of each applicant.
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