Starlab Studios Wins National Contest For Small Businesses

Image cred: Starlab Studios Facebook

A new-ish recording studio/performance venue might be terrific for fostering independent creative projects in its community. But those kinds of establishments have a pretty crummy track record when it comes to fiscal sustainability.

Union Square’s Starlab Studios hopes to buck that trend, and a national nonprofit specializing in small business cultivation has agreed to help.

The organizers of Starlab - a space that’s been used to record music, host stand-up comedy nights, and screen obscure films - have been placed among the 102 winners of the American Small Business Championship, an annual competition overseen by Score, the aforementioned nonprofit.

Starlab owner Richard Hawke is slated to receive a $1,000 gift card for Sam’s Club furniture and office supplies, a free trip to a training event, plus free promotion and mentoring provided by Score.

“We have been doing our own research and trusting our own experience in the process of financial accounting, business planning and management, but seem to be progressing much slower than hoped,” he said in the contest entry form. “With the help of mentoring and coaching, there would be a much better outlook for the survival of our company.”

Also in the entry form, Hawk states that the $1,000 will be put towards construction costs and supplies.