Blind Tiger Pounces on BIG IDEAS Top Prize

After winning the Northwest Pennsylvania region of Ben Franklin Technology PArtners' annual BIG IDEAS pitch competition, Blind Tiger is primed to see the light. 

Named after a pre-Prohibition term for a speakeasy or illegal gambling hall, Blind Tiger Spirit Free Cocktails are a line of organic, all-natural cocktail alternatives conceived by Room 33's Rebecca Styn (owner), Lizzy Heffernan (events manager and bartender), and Shawn McCall (general manager). Each beverage — the Ward 8, Bees Knees, Sidecar, Southside — will be non-alcoholic and shelf-stable for up to 18 months. 

Ben Franklin Technology PArtners, a tech-based economic development program with four regional offices in Pennsylvania, will award Styn and her team with $50,000 as well as feedback, advice, and training through the judge's panel and valuable industry contacts. Blind Tiger beat out six contenders from the Northwest Pennsylvania region for their BIG IDEA, including four others from Erie County. 

To learn more about the concept and development process, check out this article about 2020's to-go cocktail phenomenon from the source herself:

Congratulations to Rebecca and all the finalists for infusing the spirit of innovation and entrepreneurship into the Erie region with their BIG IDEAS. 

Matt Swanseger can be reached at mswanseger@eriereader.com