Overview

BuildShift is a new workforce initiative launched by Mountjoy Enterprises, a beverage co-packer in Petaluma, CA, where high labor costs and the urgency of automation have collided. In response, we created a unique model: invite displaced tech professionals and aspiring engineers to join us on the production floor—not just to work, but to innovate.

Interns work minimum-wage jobs while being encouraged to design, prototype, and deploy automation solutions that save time and labor. Their systems get implemented in real production settings. Some even get the chance to sell their solutions through our platform to small businesses or buyers who want to support their journey.

The Problem

• Entry-level production labor costs are high in Northern California, even as inflation and tariffs rise.

• Software professionals are being displaced at scale, especially early-career engineers and bootcamp grads.

• Most automation solutions are out of reach for small businesses—or too abstract for retraining programs.

Our Solution

We combine:

• Hands-on learning in a real factory

• Mentorship in automation, mechatronics, and product design

• Opportunity for participants to market and sell the tools they create

• Open-source culture meets shop-floor experience

Our motto: Fix it by thinking about it.