PORT ORCHARD — Sylling’s Elderberry, a small business in Port Orchard and Poulsbo, won the edg3 FUND small-business competition’s Innovation Award and $10,000 in cash Nov. 20 from sponsoring company Kitsap Bank.

The Innovation Award goes to one business selected from a pool of small-business finalists that, in the opinion of judges, demonstrated creativity, innovation and resiliency and, when faced with challenges, the business was able to adapt and overcome obstacles.

Founded by Nate and Lindsey Sylling, Sylling’s Elderberry creates an elderberry syrup using simple, organic ingredients with no artificial preservatives. The ingredient reportedly has an ancient history of supporting the immune system and maintaining whole-body health, and having antiviral, anti-cancer and anti-inflammatory properties, the owners said.

Requests for their elderberry syrup spiked in 2020, causing Sylling’s Elderberry to find solutions to meet the new demand for their product. The company created a doorstep drop-off service, and also produced do-it-yourself brewing kits for those preferring to make their own syrup, have special dietary restrictions, or want to choose an alternative sweetener for their syrup.

When faced with supply-chain disruptions, the owners worked with other producers to establish the nationwide Elderberry Trade Association, allowing members across the country to obtain quality elderberries in larger cost-efficient quantities.

Campfire Coffee of Tacoma, owned by Quincy and Whitni Henry, edged seven other competitors in the seventh annual edg3 FUND competition to take home the grand prize of $25,000. The company is the only known coffee roaster in the nation that honors the tradition of roasting coffee over an open campfire flame and bringing specialty coffee to their local community, sponsors said.