NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — Finalists have been selected for Lever's Berkshire Intrapreneur Challenge, which will take place Sept. 23 at the Lever Innovation Summit at the Berkshire Innovation Center in Pittsfield. 

 

The winner will receive a $25,000 Lever Innovation Grant to continue developing their idea.

 

While many Lever Challenges focus on startups, the Intrapreneur Challenge will showcase employees at established Berkshire companies who innovate from within, using the tools of entrepreneurship to develop new products and services that will yield revenue growth and create jobs. 

 

"Our Intrapreneur Challenge finalists are truly exceptional—their work serves as an example of why the Berkshires are a hotspot for innovation," said Lever's Head of Innovation, Brent Filson. 

 

The Berkshire Intrapreneur Challenge will take place on the first day of Lever's Innovation Summit, which will also offer keynote speeches from CEOs and state officials, panels on rural innovation and diversity, equity, and inclusion, networking opportunities, and more. To learn more or RSVP, visit leverinc.org/innovation-summit-2021. 

 

Berkshire Intrapreneur Challenge Finalists

 

Kripalu Center for Yoga & Health, Stockbridge

Kripalu Center for Yoga & Health is a nonprofit educational organization dedicated to serving people and communities in realizing their full potential through the transformative wisdom and practice of yoga. Kripalu is the largest yoga retreat center in North America. Kripalu is developing a plan to bring its sourdough bread and other signature baked goods to local and regional markets, with proceeds being used to bring Yoga to underserved communities.

 

The Chamberlain Group, Great Barrington

The Chamberlain Group designs, develops, and manufactures high-fidelity mimetic anatomy for surgical and interventional training, research, device development, and marketing. They are developing a door silencer, initially designed to address hospital noise pollution, that acts as a soft barrier between the colliding metal parts of the door latch mechanism to reduce the noise of a closing door. 

 

Shire City Herbals, Inc. - Pittsfield

Since 2010, Shire City Herbals has handcrafted certified organic, infused Apple Cider Vinegar tonics, including their signature Fire Cider. Shire City Herbals is developing an incubator program to assist other local female-led consumer brands with eCommerce management and marketing, as well as production, warehousing, and fulfillment services.

 

JM Spartan Training LLC, Pittsfield 

JM Spartan offers a broad spectrum of training opportunities surrounding emergency preparedness, situational awareness, and workplace violence to businesses, organizations, schools, and financial institutions.  JM Spartan Training, LLC is developing an enhanced training platform through the use of technology and gamification.

 

Wellness Concepts Inc., Great Barrington

Wellness Concepts is a certified woman-owned business, delivering science and evidence-based, scalable well-being solutions that create sustainable behavior change for corporate clients and their employees.  Wellness Concepts is developing a cohesive, user-friendly platform designed to house and seamlessly deliver a la carte programming and to further our mission for corporate well-being access, engagement, and impact.