Business Advisory Groups

Entrants in the New York StartUP! Business Plan Competition are required to meet at least once with a business advisor while developing their business plans.  We recommend more than one meeting as you begin to develop your business plan.

At the first and any subsequent meetings, ask the advisor to sign the verification sheet linked below to verify the appointment took place and to provide any follow-up instructions or feedback on your plan.  Once completed, this form should be sent to startup@nypl.org.

The groups listed below can provide one-on-one advisory session(s) to applicants of the New York StartUP! Business Plan Competition.

Be prepared for your appointment! Have a written outline of your business idea and concepts for your business ready for your first meeting with your business advisor.

Entrants are not limited to the advisory groups listed here. 

 


 

Pace University SBDC
One Pace Plaza, Room W501
New York, NY, 10038
(212) 618-6655
Email Address: SBDC@Pace.edu
Hours of operation: 9:00 am–5:00 pm, weekdays

The Pace University SBDC is staffed by full-time small business advisors, who offer FREE virtual small business counseling sessions at their Lower Manhattan campus, the New York Public Library's Thomas Yoseloff Business Center or virtually. Please call (212) 618-6655 or email sbdc@Pace.edu to schedule a 1:1 counseling session and be sure to mention that you are an entrant in the New York StartUP! competition. And for more information check out https://www.pacesbdc.org/counseling-form.

 


 

SCORE NYC
SCORE mentors regularly provide mentoring services to entrants in business plan competitions sponsored by the New York Public Library's Thomas Yoseloff Business Center and by several NYC universities. When you make an appointment, mention that you are a StartUP! entrant. For more detailed information about SCORE NYC and a comprehensive listing of the experience and expertise of our 65+ business counselors, please visit their website Counselors are available to participate in remote mentoring sessions via phone, email, and video.Click here for more information and sign up for an appointment.

 


 

Midtown Manhattan SBDC
Baruch College, Field Center
55 Lexington Avenue Room 2-140
New York, NY 10010-2318  
Phone: 646. 312.4790
Email: sbdc@baruch.cuny.edu

Assists clients with:

  • Understanding the importance of a business plan
  • Discovering sources of funding
  • Preparing for e-commerce
  • Identifying avenues for exporting goods & services
  • Developing marketing plans
  • Assessing an invention’s viability
  • Complying with licensing and regulations

Click here for more information and sign up for an appointment.

 


 

Chinatown/Lower East Side Business Outreach Center (BOC)
Sponsored by the Chinatown Manpower Project
Call: 212 571-1692
Email at: bocinfo@cmpny.org

A wide range of business services is available, including information and assistance with:

  • Starting up
  • Business plan development
  • Access to financing
  • Marketing
  • Financial management
  • Licensing and permit information

     

 

Bronx Small Business Development Center
Lehman College Campus
250 Bedford Park Blvd., West
Bronx, NY 10468-1589 
Email: sbdc.bronx@lehman.cuny.edu

Appointments are required. To make an appointment for counseling, call (718) 960-8806 or use the online form.

Information and assistance with:

  • Understanding the importance of a business plan
  • Discovering sources of funding
  • Preparing for e-commerce
  • Identifying avenues for exporting goods & services
  • Developing marketing plans
  • Assessing an invention’s viability
  • Complying with licensing and regulations

 


 

South Bronx Overall Economic Development Corporation (SoBRO)
555 Bergen Ave. 3rd Floor
Bronx NY, 10455
Main: (718) 292-3113
Email: info@sobro.org
Website: www.sobro.org

SoBro's Entrepreneur Assistance Center
SoBRO offers training, support, and business development resources to start-up Bronx businesses and residents, including one-on-one business counseling and technical assistance in the areas of financing, management, marketing, government procurement, and loan packaging.

 


 

Staten Island Business Center (SIBOC)
Women’s Business Center, Staten Island
686 Forest Avenue
Staten Island, NY, 1010
Phone: (718) 816-4775
Fax: (718) 816-7234
Email: wbcsi@siboc.org 
Website: www.siboc.org 
Executive Director: Nina Flores

The Staten Island Business Outreach Center (SIBOC) is a Woman Business Center (WBC) a resource partner of the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA). The BOC Women’s Business Center (WBC) offers business training, one-on-one counseling and financing resources to help women entrepreneurs start and grow their businesses. By educating and empowering underserved minority and women entrepreneurs, the WBC contributes to the economic, cultural, and social vitality of our communities. SIBOC offers FREE Programs to assist all new entrepreneurs and existing businesses. Our one-on-one business counseling and seminars on timely business topics are available to all Staten Island. We now offer ONLINE Virtual Business Counseling Sessions - call or email our office to schedule an appointment. 

 


 

Staten Island SBDC
College Of Staten Island
2800 Victory Blvd., Building 3A Rm. 105
Staten Island, NY, 10314-9806
Center: (718) 982-2560
Fax: (718 )982-2323

Assists clients with the following:

  • Business Planning
  • Cost Analysis/Financial Management
  • Procurement Assistance Services/BidLinx
  • Minority Women Business Enterprise
  • Marketing Plans

Click here for more information and sign up for an appointment.