Erie s Blind Tiger Spirit-Free Cocktails takes $50K technology prize
On Thursday, seven finalists pitched their business ideas by video conference in an attempt to win $50,000 in the Big Idea Contest, sponsored by Ben Franklin Technology Partners. Erie-based Blind Tiger Spirit-Free Cocktails, the brainchild of Room 33 Speakeasy co-owner Rebecca Styn and her husband, Rob Marht, came out on top.
Dozens of applications were submitted from across northwestern Pennsylvania and judges narrowed the list of applications to seven tech-entrepreneurs, innovators and small manufacturers. I was floored, Styn said. My only hope was I would be part of the divided top prize because they ve done that before. I had no expectation of (winning it all), she said.