You have an idea, an innovative one, to create a new product or process or enter a product into a new market.

But maybe you lack the money to turn your idea into a business. Or you have the money and the small manufacturing business but don't know how to market your idea. Or you have the money and the business and the marketing but need human resources help to meet the needs of your growing number of employees.

Ben Franklin Technology Partners has helped northwestern Pennsylvania entrepreneurs solve those kinds of problems.

"Every entrepreneur deserves a conversation and some support," said Brian Slawin, a regional director and portfolio manager for Ben Franklin Technology Partners, which is a venture development organization that helps tech startups and small manufacturers. "Everyone who approaches us will get some help in some way."

That help has led to several success stories in the Erie region.

Blind Tiger Spirit-Free Cocktails

Slawin said Ben Franklin has twice invested in this Erie-based venture, although he wouldn't specify how much. Each year, Ben Franklin's four regional partners — Central & Northern, Northeastern, Southeastern and Southwestern — each receive $3.5 million in state funding, he said.

Within the Central & Northern region, the northwest region that includes Erie, Crawford, Warren, Clarion, Forest, Mercer and Venango counties usually invests $1.5 million total in 12 to 15 companies a year, Slawin said. The amount can range from $10,000 to $1 million. Although there haven't been any million-dollar investments in his seven years, he said, the region has "a couple in the hopper right now that might climb to that level."

Rebecca Styn, Blind Tiger's founder and CEO, said Ben Franklin has "been a necessary component to our ongoing success, for sure."

In January 2021, Blind Tiger won $50,000 in the Big Idea Contest sponsored by Ben Franklin Technology Partners. Styn said that helped build an e-commerce website, get labels designed and finalize recipes. She said Blind Tiger received additional funds from Ben Franklin in July 2022.

From 2021:Erie's Blind Tiger Spirit-Free Cocktails takes $50K technology prize

Styn said the company was formalized in 2020 and began selling product in 2021 and has experienced 100% year-over-year growth. Her spirit-free cocktail kits can now be purchased in 10 states and at stores including Giant Eagle in Pennsylvania and Ohio. They include bottled non-alcoholic versions of the drinks Bees' Knees, Southside, Sidecar and Ward 8.

"We definitely wouldn't be where we are today without Ben Franklin," Styn said, crediting it with helping her company's launch and development. She added that she would have still pursued the business but success wouldn't have come so quickly.

Styn said Ben Franklin Technology Partners has the ability to support start-up businesses.

"They have a broad scope of understanding of the entrepreneurial arena," she said.

There's huge potential for Erie's future in having more startups and support for those entrepreneurs is important, Styn said.

She has one other full-time employee in addition to herself but believes Blind Tiger will continue to grow.

"We're hoping to hire more, expand to more states, more product," Styn said. "I'd love to see us across the nation."

Slawin said it was great to see Blind Tiger's product expand to shelves in other states.

"We're very excited for them," he said.

Sphere Brakes

CEO Aaron Lewis' Sphere Brake Defense company website lists Ben Franklin Technology Partners as an affiliate. He said Sphere Brakes received help from Ben Franklin with accounting, human resources and marketing, as well as two investments, the amounts of which he didn't want to reveal.

Lewis said the money "definitely validated the concept" of what he was trying to do. Started in 2016, Sphere Brakes develops and commercializes patented sphere brake technology, primarily for the Department of Defense and the commercial vehicle industry, said Lewis, a U.S. Army veteran.

Located in east Erie, his company has three employees now.

"We're going to hire at least one additional employee in the first half of this year, maybe two," Lewis said.

From 2017:Could new brake design be a breakthrough?

He said Ben Franklin Technology Partners has the expertise and knowledge to support entrepreneurs.

"It's a lot and it's all free," Lewis said.

PSNergy

The June 2022 investment that PSNergy received from the Ben Franklin Technology Partners could be considered relatively small, not much more than the Erie business' monthly payroll, according to company President Carl Nicolia. While the money did help, Ben Franklin also offers much more, including legal and technical assistance, marketing support, a "network of resources you can talk to," Nicolia said.

"They're able to help answer questions. It's not just the money," he said.

He said PSNergy works with Ben Franklin entrepreneur Mike Wahlster, calling on him about once a week.

"He's been a great sounding board for our team," Nicolia said. "He brings a wealth of knowledge that's been super helpful."

From 2015:Carl Nicolia reduces business energy consumption

PSNergy works to reduce emissions and energy consumption for large industrial furnaces in steel, aluminum and heat-treating operations with hardware and software that keep furnaces running well, Nicolia said. Started in 2013, the Erie company's big-name customers include Tata Steel, Cleveland-Cliffs Inc. and Constellium.

"We doubled our number of employees in '22 and we have 20," Nicolia said, describing them as a mix of full-time and part-time.

"We're looking to grow again," he said. The goal is to add five to seven more employees, Nicolia said.

Slawin said each of these companies has created jobs and pay wages and tax dollars in the community. Their successes contribute to "a belief in ourselves," he said.

"These companies are proving that you can do this in Erie," he said.

Slawin said entrepreneurs just need to reach out to Ben Franklin for help. If it doesn't offer what's needed, it can refer individuals and companies to other sources. Visit benfranklin.org or call 814-863-4558 to learn more.

Contact Dana Massing at dmassing@timesnews.com. Follow her on Twitter @ETNmassing.

This article originally appeared on Erie Times-News: Ben Franklin investments help lead to success for Erie entrepreneurs