“Thank you 1Berkshire for providing resources and opportunities like this for new businesses! I learned a great deal from their pitch camp and with support from my business mentor put together a winning pitch. Thank you for fostering this community of entrepreneurs and thank you to all the judges for sharing your time, expertise and enthusiasm. With this prize, BFF Adventures will be up and running soon to empower women and girls through guided outdoor experiences in the Berkshires.” – Mary Parkman, Pitch Competition Winner
1Berkshire held the first of three pitch competitions at the Stationery Factory in Dalton. Five entrepreneurs presented their business plans before a panel of judges made up of local business leaders, with three being awarded prize money and mentors.
First place and $1000 was awarded to Mary Parkman of Pittsfield, whose business, BFF Adventures, focuses on outdoor sports and guided biking, hiking, and ski excursions for women and girls. The goal of her business is for women to explore the many facets of life balance, fitness, and to enjoy the outdoors.
Second place and $300 was awarded to Devin Shea and Patrick Danahey of Pittsfield, whose business, R3SET, is a digital media platform focused on helping purpose start-ups scale their impact by optimizing their effective work output through automation and creativity focused lifestyle design.
Third place and $100 was awarded to Marie Georgefils of Florence, whose business plan is to import castor oil from Haiti and sell it as a beauty product for use on hair, skin, and more.
The final two competitions’ themes are the creative economy and food/farming/agriculture respectively. Application deadlines are March 17 for the April competition, and April 14 for May.
Pitch competitions are open for public viewing, limited by space. All pitch competitions are held at The Stationery Factory in 63 Flansburg Avenue, Dalton Mass. From 5:30 PM – 7:30 PM. For additional information or if you have questions, please contact David Curtis at dcurtis@1berkshire.com.
Visit 1berkshire.com to keep informed of all 1Berkshire programs and events and sign up to receive regular updates of what we’re doing.
This pitch event series is generously sponsored by iBerkshires.com
About 1Berkshire
1Berkshire is a countywide organization with an innovative approach to economic development that leverages the considerable strengths of existing organizations (The Berkshire Chamber of Commerce and the Berkshire Visitors Bureau). For more information, visit 1Berkshire.com.
