Today we’d like to introduce you to Shirah Benarde.
Hi Shirah, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Hi! Thank you so much for sharing my story. I’m Shirah Benarde, a young entrepreneur from West Palm Beach, FL. My entrepreneurial journey started when I was a junior in high school. I created NightCap when I was just 16 after a close friend of mine had her drink spiked during a night out. Determined, I went to my mother’s closet, grabbed a pair of pantyhose, cut them up, and attached them to a scrunchie to create the first NightCap prototype. Home from college for summer vacation, my brother saw the makeshift prototype sitting on our kitchen table, and as someone who had been living on a college campus for four years, he understood how massive this problem was and immediately saw potential due to its convenience and reusability.
Together, we took action to bring NightCap from concept to reality and worked tirelessly to ensure the product would be something our customers would feel comfortable bringing along on a night out with friends. My dad even came up with the name NightCap and helped my brother and me find a seamstress to get the product to where we wanted it to be. After that, we incorporated, launching a crowdfunding campaign, finding a manufacturer, winning several pitch competitions, and spreading the word about our newest invention.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
There’s always a certain amount of struggle when you’re starting a business at such a young age. It can be disheartening to receive thousands of DMs, comments, and reviews from customers describing their experiences with drink spiking. But knowing that our products are making the world a better place and ultimately creating peace of mind makes it all worth it. Starting a business at this age comes with a lot of judgment, as well, something you often have to turn a blind eye to.
For example, when I started posting videos on TikTok, I knew there would be some judgment coming my way from my high school and college friends, who often teased me about it. However, I knew that posting on social media would bring NightCap more exposure, and sales and help people who may have experienced traumatic situations from drink spiking or sexual assault. Posting on TikTok has not only been the best marketing tool for NightCap, but it also allows the brand to create meaningful content, raise awareness, and share tips on how to stay safe in a variety of scenarios.
My brother and I are passionate about our mission. We even offer an in-depth bar staff training course designed for anyone who works in the nighttime economy, and regularly works with State Senators and County Officials to educate, train, and enact policy that helps to hold predators accountable. At the end of the day, if I’ve saved one person, I’ve done my job.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about NightCap?
NightCap is a viral drink spiking prevention brand founded by Shirah and Michael Benarde in 2019 and featured on ABC’s SharkTank.
Offering a variety of products, including the hero NightCap Scrunchie, StopTopps, bottle caps, keychains, and more, the brand ultimately hopes to save lives and spread awareness. NightCap aims to be as widely accessible and impactful as possible and frequently works with bars, clubs, universities, police departments, local governments, non-profits, and other organizations.
You can find our products at NightCapit.com!
Any advice for finding a mentor or networking in general?
Michael and I’s investment and mentorship from Shark Tank’s Lori Greiner has been a truly priceless and wonderful experience. We look at Lori as a mentor.
We also regularly attend industry conferences and panels and have entered and won several pitch competitions and awards, including FSU’s Turkey Tank, Tallahassee Startup Week, The Jim Moran Micro Grant, and FSU’s InNOLEvation Challenge. These events also provide ample opportunity to connect with others in your industry.
Pricing:
- NightCap Scrunchie – $11.99
- StopTopps (25) – $9.99
- College Box – $79.99
- Gift Box – $54.99
Contact Info:
- Website: NightCapit.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nightcapit/?hl=en
Image Credits
Michael O’Malley
