The Business Council of Westchester’s Westchester Innovation Network (WIN) Champion Awards celebrated four groundbreaking innovators on Monday during the BCW’s annual Business Showcase held at the Westchester Marriott.

WIN, a BCW initiative, empowers entrepreneurs and inventors to partner with BCW members, testing and adapting their products or services within Westchester. This collaborative model not only nurtures the county’s economy but also fosters fresh solutions that address contemporary challenges. During the event, four WIN Champions each received a $2,500 grant to support their pioneering projects: EarthSuds, Immigr8, Laronix, and White Plains High School.

“These four innovators embody the creative spirit and forward-thinking that define Westchester’s approach to innovation. We are excited to see how each of them will continue to shape their respective fields and bring lasting positive change to our community,” said BCW President and CEO Marsha Gordon.

EarthSuds markets environmentally friendly shampoo, conditioner, and body wash tablets designed to minimize plastic waste. Resembling sugar cubes, the tablets dissolve with water, offering a sustainable alternative to single-use plastic bottles. Through the BCW WIN, EarthSuds collaborated with Cambria Suites in White Plains and the Royal Regency Hotel in Yonkers, where guests used the product as a plastic-free option.

Immigr8 is a pioneering artificial-intelligence-driven platform that simplifies visa applications for foreign workers. Richmond Community Services (RCS) worked with Immigr8 to streamline hiring through the federal H-1B visa program. Following a successful pilot arranged by the BCW WIN, RCS signed on with Immigr8 for expanded immigration support, benefiting from a faster, more efficient hiring process.

Laronix developed the MIRA Voice device, which uses artificial intelligence to help people with conditions such as spinal cord injuries and cerebral palsy regain clear speech. In partnership with the Burke Neurological Institute in White Plains, Laronix began a yearlong study of the device, offering transformative opportunities for individuals facing speech limitations.

White Plains High School provides its students with real-world entrepreneurial experience through INCubatoredu, an intensive, yearlong course in which students develop their own products or services. With mentorship from BCW members, students bring their ideas to life, creating potential startups. The BCW WIN grant will fund prototypes for student projects, encouraging hands-on learning and innovation.

The WIN Champion Awards spotlighted how these partnerships advance economic and social impact, propelling Westchester as a hub of creativity and opportunity.

Can Your Business Benefit from BCW WIN?

The Business Council of Westchester is committed to helping entrepreneurs bring their ideas to life through the support of its diverse business ecosystem in Westchester County through its BCW WIN initiative. Its network is composed of small and mid-sized companies, professional services firms, and non-profits along with several of the best-known brands in the world like IBM, Pepsico, MasterCard, Heineken, Danone, Morgan Stanley, and Regeneron. It also includes some of the largest hospitals and healthcare systems in the world and many colleges and universities. Click here for more information.