THE SABIN ENTREPRENEURIAL PRIZE
ESTABLISHED 2011
BUSINESS PLAN PRESENTATIONS AND AWARDS EVENT
April 24, 2025
THE SABIN ENTREPRENEURIAL PRIZE
PRESENTATIONS
AGENDA
6:30 PM Welcome and Introductions
6:35 PM RePaw with Q&A
6:50 PM Eco-Pack with Q&A
7:05 PM VivaFit with Q&A
7:20 PM Break
7:30 PM SeaCH4nge with Q&A
7:45 PM Nudge with Q&A
8:00 PM Break / Judges Deliberation
8:15 PM Awarding of The Sabin Entrepreneurial Prize and Closing Remarks
THE SABIN ENTREPRENEURIAL PRIZE PRESENTATIONS
What is it?
The Sabin Entrepreneurial Prize is an initiative created with the generous support of the Andrew Sabin Family Foundation to educate and expose Berkshire students enrolled in Advanced Economics to entrepreneurship and sustainability.
The Sabin Entrepreneurial Prize is awarded to the best business plan for a product, service, project or program that not only could be financially feasible but could contribute to living in more sustainable communities. Additionally, the prize competition provides quality feedback from professionals, collaboration with the Yale Center for Business and the Environment, and opportunities for participants to meet with guest speakers from the business and environmental worlds.
The Sabin Entrepreneurial Prize seeks to:
• Introduce students to the essentials of writing a business plan;
• Provide a real-world platform to practice public speaking and presenting;
• Promote the entrepreneurial spirit;
• Stimulate creativity and critical thinking as it applies to the area of sustainable living;
• Reward effective collaboration in the construction and promotion of a coherent and sustainable business plan.
Who is the sponsor?
Andrew Sabin
Parent of Samuel Sabin ’13 and Matthew Cortes ’17
Grandparent of Michael Sabin ’21, Keira Sabin ’22, Ella Sabin ’24
Mr. Sabin does more than simply provide financial support to hundreds of organizations; he is actively engaged with community and environmental programs around the world. He spearheaded the building of a community recreation center in East Hampton, NY. As an extension of his lifelong fascination with reptiles and amphibians and dedication to environmental education, he founded the South Fork Natural History Museum in Bridgehampton, and he continues to lead nature walks for the institution. Mr. Sabin also participated in an expedition to Papua, New Guinea, that resulted in the discovery of a new species of frog that is named for him: Aphantophryne sabini.
He has served for several years on the environmental law advisory boards at Columbia Law School and UCLA School of Law, relationships that began through his role as treasurer of The Evan Frankel Foundation, which made grants of more than $17 million during its 15-year existence. Mr. Sabin is also proud to be a member of the board of visitors of the M.D. Anderson Cancer Center at the University of Texas since 2005. In 2007, to provide more professional support for his philanthropy and involve his family in charitable giving, he established the Andrew Sabin Family Foundation. Mr. Sabin’s passions are his family, the environment, bicycling and fishing. He also has a fondness for purple martins.
Who are the judges?
Matthew Cortes ’17
Matt began his professional career as a financial analyst at Bloomberg in New York, focusing on the commodities asset class and supporting client data consumption on the platform. In the fall of 2024, Matt transitioned into a new role in precious metals trading at Sabin Metal Corporation, marking an exciting next step in his career.
Matt is a 2017 graduate of Berkshire School. He earned his bachelor’s degree in business and enterprise management from Wake Forest University in 2021. While at Berkshire, Matt served as cross-country captain, prefect of Stanley dormitory, and was a finalist in the Sabin Prize in 2016. An avid runner, Matt continues to stay active and recently competed in the New York Marathon.
Brooks Gammill ’19
Brooks is the Co-Founder of RecruitU, an early-career recruitment marketplace designed for students pursuing careers in finance and consulting. The idea for RecruitU emerged from Brooks’ firsthand experience navigating the investment banking recruiting process. Based in New York City, RecruitU serves over 30,000 students from over 650 schools and is trusted by more than a dozen enterprise clients. Before launching RecruitU, Brooks founded Grill Guys LLC, a high-end grill cleaning marketplace operating across New York, Connecticut, and Massachusetts. Since its founding in 2018, Grill Guys has employed a number of Berkshire Bears and continues to operate today under the leadership of Brooks’ brothers, Briggs ’20 and Boden ’22.
Brooks comes from a proud Berkshire family – he is one of five brothers to attend the school, with the youngest set to arrive on campus this fall. His father, Ken, currently serves on the Board of Trustees. Brooks was also a finalist in the 2019 Sabin Entrepreneurial Prize.
Carrie Herrington P’22,’22,’25
A fourth-generation native of Great Barrington, Massachusetts, Carrie grew up immersed in the beauty of the Berkshires. Surrounded by a legacy of seventeen Berkshire Bears in her family (including children, Elle ’22, Emma ’22, and Teddy ’25), Carrie’s roots in the community run deep. She studied fashion merchandising at Fisher College and earned a B.S. in retailing from Syracuse University, later joining Saks Fifth Avenue’s executive training program and working as an assistant buyer. She then brought her talents to Gucci America before returning home to the Berkshires. In 1999, after identifying a need for stylish home furnishings, Carrie launched C. Herrington Home + Design in Great Barrington, now based in Hillsdale, NY, which offers full interior design services. Beyond her work, Carrie is passionate about community service. She has served on both the Fairview Hospital Gala Committee for 27 years (co-chairing for the past seven) and the Southern Berkshire Chamber of Commerce board and was honored by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts for her leadership with Berkshire Health Systems.
Anthony St. Clair P’27
With over 30 years of experience in the financial services industry, Anthony has held senior roles including managing director, partner, registered securities principal, investment banker, sales trader, execution services desk manager, and institutional sales trader. Most recently, as managing director of client services at FORCE Family Office, he developed a network of family offices, ultra-high-net-worth individuals (UHNWIs), and institutional allocators of capital. Through FORCE, he worked with a diverse range of clients across finance, healthcare, fintech, and manufacturing facilitating nearly 1,500 strategic introductions on behalf of these companies to investors aligned with their sectors. In public service, Anthony serves as a planning board commissioner, where he has overseen urban development projects totaling more than $700 million. His insight into capital markets and urban infrastructure makes him a valued advisor in both private and public arenas. He currently serves as head of capital formation and strategy at Mikal Ventures, a venture studio applying AI to transform health behavior and data. He is also the proud father of Gabrielle ’27.
What are the business plans?
RePaw
Hemin Khalid ’25 Damon Mos ’25 Rufus Robertson ’25 Zach Zaurov ’25
Each year, an estimated 90 million pounds of discarded dog toys end up in North American landfills. Made with BPA plastics and other synthetic compounds, they pollute the environment and can leach toxins that our pets ingest. RePaw offers a smarter alternative. Through a convenient subscription, we deliver durable, biodegradable toys crafted primarily from hemp fibers and certified bioplastics. The result: premium playthings that keep dogs happy, keep harmful plastics out of ecosystems, and keep owners confident their companions are safe.
Eco-Pack
Slade Engstrom ’25 Caspar Meredith-Jones ’25 Alden Nisi ’25
Arturo Peña Fulcar ’25
Single-use ice packs are a hidden environmental hazard, filled with toxic chemicals and non-recyclable plastics; millions end up in landfills yearly. Eco-Pack offers a sustainable solution: biodegradable ice packs made from aloe vera, glycerin, and water, encased in hemp fabric, and coated in coconut oil and beeswax. These packs are perfect for meal delivery services like HelloFresh, Factor, Marley Spoon, Blue Apron, and medical or athletic use; our packs keep food, medicine, and injuries cold without harming people or the planet. Even better when discarded, they nourish the soil instead of polluting it. As demand for eco-friendly shipping grows, Eco-Pack delivers a cleaner, safer way to chill.
VivaFit
Olivia
Feeley ’25 Charlotte Flanagan ’25 Angela Pham ’25
VivaFit is a plant-based energy supplement for women seeking to combat health and sustainability concerns in the traditional preworkout and supplement industry. VivaFit is designed for individuals who seek a convenient, effective, and environmentally friendly energy boost. We combine clean, plant-based ingredients with sustainable, compostable packaging. Unlike traditional powders or drinks, our tablets do not require mixing, plastic containers, wrappers, or any other added waste. These factors make VivaFit an easy and eco-friendly option. Attracting a large market of women seeking sustainable health benefits, VivaFit offers a unique energy alternative that is made for women by women.
SeaCH4nge
Emma
Leahy ’25 Troy Monte ’25 Luke Plamondon ’25
SeaCH4nge Livestock Feed tackles two major environmental threats methane emissions from cattle and the overgrowth of sargassum seaweed on Florida’s beaches by turning one into the solution for the other. Our product uses sargassum, which naturally reduces methane in cows’ digestion by up to 40%, to create a nutrient-rich, sustainable feed. In doing so, we help farmers lower their environmental footprint while also cleaning up coastal ecosystems overwhelmed by seaweed. With added protein and fat variations to support underweight livestock, SeaCH4nge is affordable, scalable, and designed for real-world impact, both on the farm and in the fight against climate change.
Nudge
Edward Lee ’25 Olive Simpson ’25 Ryan Zouaoui ’25
Nudge is an AI-powered browser extension that addresses the lack of knowledge surrounding sustainable shopping. Fast fashion accounts for approximately 10% of the carbon dioxide emissions, and this industry is expected to continue growing. Nudge aims to combat this, targeting users who want to be more environmentally conscious when shopping online. In real time, our browser extension will rate current products and offer alternative solutions with a higher sustainability score. It's one slight Nudge for you, but one giant leap for sustainable shopping.
Rooted in an inspiring natural setting, Berkshire School instills the highest standards of character and citizenship and a commitment to academic, artistic, and athletic excellence. Our community fosters diversity, a dedication to environmental stewardship, and an enduring love for learning. Pro Vita Non Pro Schola