The BIC Presents Podcast

In this special episode of BIC Presents, PJ Moynihan moderates a live panel discussion during the Berkshire Innovation Center's Stage Two Accelerator program focused on the entrepreneurial journey. Panelists include Troy Cunningham of Zulu Pods, Roger Questel of Questech, Al Enchill of Elegant Stitches, and BIC Executive Director Ben Sosne, who share how their businesses evolved through unexpected...

In this episode of BIC Presents , host PJ Moynihan sits down with Bryana Bayly, Manager of Industry Relations, and Heather Williams, Youth Program Director at the MassHire Berkshire Workforce Board, for a conversation about workforce development, career readiness, and the future of opportunity in Berkshire County. The discussion explores how MassHire works alongside schools, employers, community o...

In this episode, PJ Moynihan sits down with Ben Sosne, Executive Director of the Berkshire Innovation Center, and Dr. Jennifer Le Blond of the Mass Clean Energy Center following a Climate Tech Corridor Roadshow event held at the BIC. The conversation centers on how MassCEC is engaging directly with regions across the Commonwealth to inform its climate tech strategy and funding priorities. Le Blond...

In this episode of BIC Presents , PJ Moynihan sits down with Marie-Pascale Ruberandinda, founder of Globe Grown and participant in the Berkshire Innovation Center’s Stage 2 Accelerator Catalyst program. Originally from Rwanda and later based in Texas, Marie shares how growing up on her family’s farms inspired her to build technology that supports farmers and promotes sustainable agriculture. Globe...

In this episode, PJ Moynihan welcomes Steve Bravo, Director of Commercialization at New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA), and Leslie Nash, Interim Managing Director of Emerging Climatetech at Massachusetts Clean Energy Center (MassCEC), for a conversation about climate innovation across New York and Massachusetts. Steve describes how NYSERDA supports energy innovation...

In this episode of BIC Presents , host PJ Moynihan sits down with Noble Carbon co-founders Jared Lebos and Andrew Crane to discuss how their climate tech startup is developing smart circuit breakers designed to improve energy efficiency and grid resilience. Lebos, who previously worked in financial services, and Crane, an engineer originally from Berkshire County, met while attending business scho...

In this episode of BIC Presents , host PJ Moynihan speaks with Jeanne LeClair, Chief Business Officer of the Mass Life Sciences Center (MLSC), about how strategic public investment has shaped one of the world’s most successful Life Sciences ecosystems. Jeanne outlines MLSC’s role as a quasi-public agency investing across the full Life Sciences landscape, from academic research and shared infrastru...

In this episode of BIC Presents , host PJ Moynihan is joined by Ben Sosne, Executive Director of the Berkshire Innovation Center, and Lily Fitzgerald, Director of the Center for Advanced Manufacturing at MassTech Collaborative, for a deep dive into the Massachusetts Manufacturing Accelerator Program (MMAP). The conversation follows a ribbon-cutting event at Lenco Armored Vehicles in Pittsfield, hi...

In this episode of BIC Presents , host PJ Moynihan is joined by Ben Sosne, Executive Director of the Berkshire Innovation Center, Tyler Fairbank, CEO of The Fairbank Group, and Doug Crane, retired manufacturing executive and founding BIC board member, for a wide-ranging conversation on clean energy leadership in the Berkshires. The discussion centers on the formation of the Clean Energy Leadership...

In this episode of BIC Presents , host PJ Moynihan talks with Tim Butterworth, Director of Applied Technology at the Berkshire Innovation Center, about the structure and impact of the BIC’s Innovation Interns Program. Each summer, the program invites STEM students (often studying at schools like WPI, Columbia, and UMass Lowell) to apply their talents and develop skills in rapid prototyping, design...

In this episode of BIC Presents , host PJ Moynihan sat down with Garth Klimchuk, founder of NorthRenew Energy and longtime investment banker turned renewable energy developer. Raised in Calgary, Alberta, and trained as a geologist, Klimchuk’s career began in oil and gas before moving into finance at Barclays and Wharton. His work on Wall Street in power and utilities ultimately led him to focus on...

In this episode, host PJ Moynihan speaks with Maddy Zeliff, Program Manager at the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center (MassCEC), about the newly launched CriticalMass program. Designed to bridge the funding gap for climate tech startups, the initiative moves beyond early pilots to support larger-scale deployment projects across the Commonwealth. Maddy explains how MassCEC partnered with municipalit...

In this episode, PJ Moynihan sits down with Rob Sladen, co-founder of BIC Member company Zulu Pods, at their Northampton, Massachusetts facility.  Rob shares how Zulu Pods began in 2020 with a “Tide Pod for the jet engine” — a patented, precision oil delivery system for short-mission gas turbine engines. By combining a pump and oil tank into one compact unit, the company addresses inefficiencies a...

In this episode of BIC Presents , we share highlights from a special event hosted at the Berkshire Innovation Center in 2024 - a public screening of the Oscar-winning documentary American Factory , followed by a live community discussion. The film, produced by Participant Media and Higher Ground Productions (founded by Barack and Michelle Obama), documents the culture clash that unfolds when a Chi...

In this episode of BIC Presents , host PJ Moynihan welcomes Marc Bellora, founder of Clear Waterways Group and member of the BIC Stage 2 Accelerator program.  A Berkshires native who grew up exploring local lakes and streams on his BMX bike, Marc shares how a childhood love of nature evolved into a mission-driven career in environmental innovation.  After earning a degree in Environmental Science...

In this episode, PJ Moynihan speaks with Lani Willmar, founder of Ethos Admissions and Ethos Pathways. A Williams College graduate and first-generation Vietnamese-American entrepreneur, Lani shares how her upbringing shaped her drive to expand educational access and economic opportunity. Starting with college consulting, she soon realized the transformative power of guiding students through stress...

In this episode of BIC Presents , we dive into the world of meta optics - an emerging technology that uses nanoscopic, ultra-thin lenses to manipulate light in ways traditional optics never could. Our guests are Vince Einck, Chief Technology Officer of Myrias Optics, and Justin McKennon, Principal Scientist II at Electro Magnetic Applications (EMA) — two Massachusetts-based companies collaborating...

In this episode of BIC Presents , we sit down with Alex Brown, founder of Recover Hospitality, a company dedicated to making hotels, restaurants, and travel experiences more inclusive for the sober community. As someone in long-term recovery and a seasoned hotelier, Alex saw firsthand the challenges of navigating hospitality spaces where alcohol is deeply ingrained in the culture. Through his busi...

In this episode, industry experts dive into challenges and strategies for scaling a hardware startup, from manufacturing partnerships to cost-effective design and supply chain management.  Recorded live at the Berkshire Innovation Center and moderated by Director of Applied Technology Tim Butterworth, the panel features Eric Planey, CEO of SolaBlock; David McCloskey, founder of Alogous Engineering...

In this episode, Sharon Bort and Benedikt Reynolds discuss the groundbreaking work of the Massachusetts Climatetech Studio. The program pairs university and lab-based technologies with entrepreneurs to help commercialize climate tech innovations. Participants receive a stipend, expert mentorship, and access to grant funding, making entrepreneurship more accessible and equitable.  Sharon and Benedi...

Eric Singer shares the story of how his personal journey and passion for data inspired the creation of Magnetworks. Discover how their innovative platform simplifies job referrals, transforming hiring into a community-driven process. Eric also discusses how Magnetworks is tackling inefficiencies in the traditional job market, fostering local talent retention, and adapting hiring practices for a mo...

In this episode of the BIC Presents Podcast , we sit down with Ross Bloom, founder of Revvit, one of the startups currently enrolled in the BIC Stage 2 Accelerator program.  Ross shares how Revvit aims to transform the EV charging landscape via a low-cost, slow-charging solution that leverages existing electrical infrastructure.  He shares his vision for Revvit’s success, the sustainability princi...

This BIC Presents Podcast features Dr. Dennis Rebelo Ph. D., Best-Selling Author and Chief Learning Officer at the Berkshire Innovation Center, and Sarah Swift, an advocate for sustainable innovation, delves into her unique approach to merging artistic creativity with environmental consciousness. With a background in both the arts and green technologies, she highlights the power of creative thinki...

In this BIC Presents podcast, Chief Learning Officer Dr. Dennis Rebelo sat down with Hayden and Alex - young educators working in the northern Berkshire school district - to explore their recent visit to the Experience Center at BIC Works @ MoCA. This episode explores how the students engaged with cutting-edge technologies in an interactive, hands-on environment, and delves into the contrast betwe...

This BIC Presents podcast is a discussion with William Newsome from Fibrocor Therapeutics, a BIC Stage 2 Accelerator company. A Monument Mountain and Berkshire Community College alumni, Newsome discusses the path which lead him into a career in Biotech, Fibrocor's work treating diseases of fibrosis, and the prospect of bringing Biotech to the Berkshires. Links: Fibrocor Website Fibrocor on LinkedI...