Some local businesses are learning what it takes to grow in a competitive economy. NY1's Tanya Klich has more on the tenth annual Queens “StartUp!” Business Plan Competition.

Richard Mumith, co-founder of Queens Food Tours, may be an expert in local fare, but not in business finance.

"We started this as a hobby initially, just taking friends and families and showcasing different Queens neighborhoods,” said Mumith. “But eventually it got so popular." 

He's just one of many testing his business chops in the borough. The Queens Economic Development Corporation advises startups at their space in Long Island City. But they also run a Startup! Competition, and just announced this year’s winners.

“Small business is the engine that makes this borough work,” said Seth Bornstein, Executive Director at the QEDC.

The tenth annual contest was open to Queens businesses with less than $20,000 in revenue. Three hundred attended orientation. Over the course of 5 months, they had to attend classes in pricing, marketing, and tax filing.

“It was very rigorous especially because I was actually building a business at the same time,” said Michael Piggott of Middle Village. He's the co-founder of Gamechat, a messaging platform for gamers.    

Roughly 60 submitted their business plans, but only nine made the cut.

“Of those nine finalists, each of them gives a presentation to paneling judges, kind of like Shark Tank but a lot nicer,” said Bornstein.

“I came in with my A-game," said Mumith.

The QEDC awarded $10,000 to three businesses in different categories. Mumith won the "Community" prize and says the funding will help him launch new tours in neighborhoods like Flushing and Jackson Heights and tap new markets.

“Ninety-five percent of our customers have been local people from Manhattan and Queens, but now we really want to get our name out there to tourists coming into New York City," said Mumith.

Daphne Yeh’s Jerky Chips won the “Food” category. She makes pork-based, Taiwanese-style snacks.

While two of the three winners are in the culinary field, Piggott, the winner of the "Innovation" category, says he's glad the tech industry continues to expand into Queens.

“Every workshop I went to I met different entrepreneurs,” said Piggott. “And they were very passionate about making Queens the go to place for tech.”

He plans to use the prize money for new office space and equipment. To learn more about the next QEDC contest, visit queensny.org.