Prospect Gymnastics Owner Mina Marsow Wins $5K Award From Brooklyn Public Library’s PowerUP! Competition

Many congratulations to neighbor Mina Marsow, the founder and owner of Prospect Gymnastics (1023 Church Avenue), who just received a $5,000 prize as part of Brooklyn Public Library’s 11th annual PowerUP! Business Plan Competition.

The event, which the library said “aims to enhance the borough’s economic development by incubating small businesses and supporting Brooklyn’s creative community,” drew more than 91 business plans from 650 individuals across the borough. Mina won second place, as did Shaun Jaffier of Droplet, a mobile app. Vander Carter landed first place, receiving $15,000, for JestGreen, a street vendor serving locally sourced greenery and juices.

With her $5,000 prize, Mina said she is planning to add a birthday party room to her gymnastics space next September.

We asked Mina if she could share some words of wisdom to others looking to open their own business or enter the PowerUP competition, and she said:

NYC has so many resources to help small business owners. Take advantage of them! Resources such as the Brooklyn Public Library, CAMBA, BOC Network, and SCORE have so many low-cost and free programs to help individuals open their own small business. Talk to other small business owners that have succeeded at what you are trying to accomplish.  Ask them questions and listen closely to their advice.

For any small business owner, or anyone who’d like to become one, who would like Mina’s advice, she said you’re welcome to email her at mina@prospect-gymnastics.com.

And if you are interested in competing in PowerUP! next year, information will be available online beginning February 2015. For the most up-to-date information, you can visit the library’s website.

Photos courtesy Mina Marsow.