Business Daily How a spiked drink led to a startup
Feb 27, 2026
Shirah Benarde, founder of NightCap and creator of a scrunchie drink-cover after a friend was spiked. She recounts pitching on TV, securing swift investment, and scaling a bedroom prototype into a global safety brand. Topics include the product’s invention, the Shark Tank surge, fundraising and manufacturing challenges, public criticism and policy influence, and plans for new products and testing.
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Teen Founder Wins Shark Tank Investment Quickly
- At 17 Shira and her brother pitched Nightcap on Shark Tank and secured $60,000 from Lori Greiner for 25% equity in one of the show's fastest deals.
- The investment provided mentorship and credibility that helped scale orders and stock after a viral TikTok spike.
TV Exposure Revealed Inventory As Growth Bottleneck
- The Shark Tank appearance produced almost $200,000 in sales within 48 hours, exposing inventory and fulfilment as immediate bottlenecks.
- Lori Greiner's investment specifically enabled Nightcap to buy stock quickly and meet sudden demand.
Prototype From A Scrunchie Saved A Friend
- Shira invented Nightcap after a college friend had her drink spiked and she felt helpless seeing how underreported the crime was.
- She made a prototype from a hair scrunchie and her mum's stockings, producing a washable scrunchie that doubles as a drink cover with a straw hole.