Lever, Mass Life Sciences Center Announce Health Tech Challenge

NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — Lever is now accepting applications for the Western Mass Health Technology Challenge, open to health technology startups in Berkshire, Franklin, Hampden, and Hampshire counties.

Presented in partnership with the Massachusetts Life Sciences Center (MLSC), the challenge will award $50,000 to the startup that presents the most scalable and investable healthcare products or services, with $25,000 to the runner-up. Entrepreneurs can learn more and apply at https://leverinc.org/western-massachusetts-health-technology-challenge/.

"We’re thrilled to continue our relationship with Mass Life Sciences and help new companies with the potential to grow, create jobs, and add to the amazing work being done by entrepreneurs in Western Massachusetts," said Lever’s executive director, Jeffrey Thomas. "This is a place full of smart people with great ideas. MLSC’s commitment to this Challenge series gives those smart people another vehicle to develop innovative work that can contribute to the regional economy while improving patient experiences and outcomes in healthcare." 

The Western Mass Health Technology Challenge represents a three-year partnership with Lever and MLSC, which will provide funding for additional Health Technology Challenges in 2023 and 2024. MLSC also funded Lever’s Health Technology Challenges in 2019, 2020, and 2021. Since then, the 22 companies that participated have raised $17 million in additional funding and created at least 40 jobs in Western Massachusetts. 

Participating companies complete Lever’s accelerated Challenge program, which gives them the opportunity to develop their pitches alongside expert mentors, conduct customer interviews, and develop a go-to-market strategy. 

"To truly remain the global leader in the life sciences, we must continue to leverage our regional assets and drive the growth of life science clusters across Massachusetts," said MLSC President and CEO Kenn Turner. "Lever is an essential partner for the Life Sciences Center. We are proud to collaborate on this newest endeavor to drive innovation and support the entrepreneurial community in Western Massachusetts."

McCann Committee Gets First Look at $17M Renovation Progress

By Jack GuerinoiBerkshires Staff
05:50AM / Monday, October 12, 2026

The project is in the home stretch with roofing and some windows and doors still to be installed. Superintendent James Brosnan also pointed above to HVAC improvements in the Guidance Office. 

NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — The McCann School Committee got a first look at the final stretch of a $17 million overhaul aimed at making the 64-year-old vocational school safer, quieter and more energy-efficient.

After a brief School Committee meeting Thursday, Superintendent James Brosnan led the members through the school, highlighting some of the changes made in the 64-year-old building.

"Just seeing this gives you a magnitude of the amount of work that goes on," he said.

The upgrades are being funded through the Massachusetts School Building Authority's Accelerated Repair Program and the Northern Berkshire Vocational School District's member towns.

Work was supposed to be completed before the start of the school year, but weather and the removal of materials caused a delay.

The tour was all indoors, and Brosnan told a disappointed committee that he was hesitant to take them onto the roof at night, but said the new roof is near 80 percent down.

"We have another 10, and 10 percent of that missing 20 is in the AVB [air and vapor barrier] and removal phase," Brosnan said. "That particular area is across the front, down the post-secondary ... we are going to pick up from guidance. So we have that plan going through next week. Fingers crossed, within two weeks we will have that piece down."

He said the roof has been built up and insulated for more efficiency.