Shanel Lindsay founded the Boston-based biotech and medical cannabis device company Ardent Life, Inc. in 2015 and is a graduate of the BEI program (Cohort VI). Shanel used cannabis medicinally as an alternative to pharmaceuticals to treat pain, and she was frustrated by the limitations of the traditional inhalation and digestive administration methods. Shanel gained over a decade-worth of experience working with various techniques of extracting, preparing, and applying cannabis compounds, and she wanted to help others in similar situations.

Shanel acted on this passion for empowering and helping patients when Massachusetts passed its medical cannabis law in 2012. Working with MCR labs, she was able to perfect the decarboxylation process, resulting in the creation of Ardent, and their first product, the NOVA™, allowing patients to achieve precise dosing.

Ardent is now a global brand that continues to grow exceptionally. Shanel continues advocating for patients and destigmatizing medical cannabis use.