The Social Justice Fund awarded $450,000 total to five Brooklyn-based businesses
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BROOKLYN, NY (Nov. 4, 2026) — The Social Justice Fund, founded by Clara Wu Tsai, owner of the New York Liberty and Brooklyn Nets, announced two grand prize winners of its inaugural $450,000 Brooklyn Pitch Competition, held on Tuesday, Nov. 3 at The Centurion New York by American Express. Brooklyn Custom Builds and WONU each won the competition’s grand prize of $150,000 to be used to support operations, hiring, and market expansion, ultimately driving economic growth in the borough.
Brooklyn Custom Builds and WONU were chosen by judges Clara Wu Tsai, David Belt of Newlab, and Rich Tao of Udy Road Holdings from a selection of five finalist businesses operating in Brooklyn with an annual revenue of $1-5M. The judges awarded the grand prize to the winners for their growth strategy, job creation potential, economic impact in Brooklyn, execution capacity, and origin story.
Brooklyn Custom Builds, based in East Williamsburg, builds custom-designed mobile offices, medical clinics, and command centers. Founded by Arthur Wei and Oliver Gallini, the company has grown rapidly through word-of-mouth referrals, competitive pricing, customization options, and its early positioning in a growing market for mobile vans. Brooklyn Custom Builds plans to use the grand prize to launch an outbound marketing campaign, with the goal of expanding its Brooklyn-based team and increasing production capacity.
WONU, based in Crown Heights, is a full-service creative, design, and production studio that curates in-person experiences for luxury retail brands. Founded and led by Jade Akintola, the studio is built on the belief that consumers are increasingly seeking meaningful, real-world connections. Operating in the $64 billion experiential marketing industry, WONU plans to use the funds to expand its full-time team and strengthen its senior leadership capacity to meet growing demand from existing and prospective clients.
The three other finalists each received prizes of $50,000. The winners and finalists will also receive investor introductions and capital matchmaking, strategic advisory sessions, and connections to procurement opportunities.
The Brooklyn Pitch Competition finalists included:
● Malai (East Williamsburg) — South Asian-inspired ice cream company
● PhysioRX (Park Slope) — Physical therapy and performance training company
● Kirrin Finch (Navy Yard) — Ready-to-wear gender-inclusive suiting and apparel brand for women, trans, and non-binary individuals
“We created the Brooklyn Pitch Competition to support small businesses that have the potential to scale — those that we know can achieve significant growth with the right resources and support,” said Wu Tsai. “We were especially impressed by the potential that WONU and Brooklyn Custom Builds showed to create local jobs and expand their presence in rapidly growing markets. Our hope is that the funds and ongoing mentorship that the winners and finalists receive will allow them to grow their businesses and create more economic opportunity for Brooklyn for years to come.”
The Brooklyn Pitch Competition is part of the Social Justice Fund’s ongoing commitment to the business community in Brooklyn. The fund has launched programs that make capital affordable for entrepreneurs such as loan, equity, and grant programs. To learn more about the Social Justice Fund’s initiatives supporting local businesses visit www.bksjf.org.
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About the Social Justice Fund
Clara Wu Tsai launched The Social Justice Fund in 2020 in Brooklyn to support economic mobility within communities across the borough. Driven by a $50 million commitment over ten years, the Social Justice Fund invests in programs that are scalable and confront the root causes of racial gaps in education, criminal justice, health, and wealth.
Media Contact: DKCSocialJusticefund@dkcnews.com
