Queens businesses win big in local startup competition

Charly Uzcátegui and Tim Chu took were for among the four grant awardees from the Queens Economic Development Corporation’s StartUP competition. Photo courtesy of QEDC

By Rachel Vick

A group of Queens-based startups were named winners of the Queens Economic Development Corporation’s 15th annual StartUP! Competition on Monday.

Forest Hills-based learning and development center House of Playful Soul, Jamaica-based online halal retailer Prince Abou’s Butchery, Fresh Meadows-based florist Terrart NYC and St. Albans-based tech educators She Designs Creative Agency took home top prizes.

 “This is our second time in the competition and the experience has helped us to define our business and purpose, connect with other small business owners and find new opportunities to grow,” HOPS founder Thuy Petersen told the Eagle.  

The winner in each category — community, food, sustainability and tech — received $10,000 for their business after attending a series of workshops on subjects like branding and financial forecasting.

Petersen said winning the grant “really is a lifeline” for her business after a year of pandemic restrictions.

“The support that the QEDC provides small businesses is so impactful especially after this past year when so many of us are struggling to see the other side of COVID,” Petersen said.  “This grant means so much to us, our programs and the families that we support in our community."

This year’s winners beat nearly 50 applicants from across the borough, judged by a panel of local entrepreneurship experts, all competing for the prize money from Resorts World Casino New York City and Srivastava Technology Fund.

“Congratulations to this year’s winners and best of luck during your next steps,” said QEDC Executive Director Seth Bornstein. “At the same time, I’d like to remind the participants who didn’t win that they can try again next year.”