The Brooklyn Pitch Competition Will Award $450,000 to Local Businesses

By Brooklyn Magazine

Some of the most ambitious businesses in Brooklyn will vie for almost half a million dollars in funding this fall.

The Brooklyn Pitch Competition this week invited local entrepreneurs to apply for the chance to compete for nearly half a million dollars in unrestricted funding to accelerate growth. The initiative is a product of the Social Justice Fund, the organization New York Liberty owner Clara Wu Tsai founded to support economic mobility in the borough.

The competition will award a total of $450,000, including a $150,000 grand prize and additional prizes ranging from $25,000 to $75,000, to businesses based or operating primarily in Brooklyn. Along with location, criteria for entry include annual revenue of $1 million to $5 million; demonstrable growth strategy and potential for expansion; innovation, execution, and business momentum; and clear contributions to Brooklyn’s economy through job creation, local hiring, community impact, or neighborhood investment.

Following a screening process, five to eight finalists will participate in a pitch event, which will take place in November at Barclays Center, in the remodeled atrium.

The goal of the Brooklyn Pitch Competition is to “elevate entrepreneurs who are are actively shaping and strengthening the Brooklyn economy by expanding their access to growth capital,” Gregg Bishop, executive director of the Social Justice Fund, said in a statement. “This initiative is about more than funding. It’s about unlocking opportunity, bettering our neighborhoods, and building a more equitable Brooklyn for everyone.”

Applications for the Brooklyn Pitch Competition are open now, with a deadline of September 4, 2026. Interested businesses can apply here.