Calling all tiki enthusiasts: help us study the culture you love.

The Tikipreneur Project

Tiki has survived for nearly a century — through booms, near-extinction, and a full-blown revival — because a devoted community keeps it alive. We’re a team from the University of Colorado Boulder’s Deming Center for Entrepreneurship studying what that community can teach us about authenticity, distinctiveness, and building something people genuinely care about.

The modern tiki revival is a story of people finding one another, sharing knowledge, preserving artifacts and stories, and piecing back together a culture that had nearly disappeared. We want to understand how that happened — and document the experiences of the people who helped make it happen. To us, this is the work of "Tikipreneurs"

You can hear us geeking out about it on Creative Distillation during Tiki Time with Jeff. We recently sat down with Martin and Rebecca Cate, founders of Smuggler’s Cove and authors of the James Beard Award-winning Smuggler’s Cove: Exotic Cocktails, Rum, and the Cult of Tiki, to talk about tiki’s history, the modern revival, rum, immersive experiences, and the community that keeps the culture alive. That conversation is part of a research project we hope will ultimately produce research insights.

Listen on Apple Podcasts  |  Listen on Spotify

Tiki bars aren’t just businesses; they’re a subculture with its own history, rituals, aesthetics, and devoted enthusiasts. That makes the tiki world a rare window into questions researchers care deeply about:

• How do businesses stay authentic while still growing and innovating?
• How does a community of enthusiasts shape what “counts” as real tiki?
• What makes a bar, a drink, or a maker stand out — without losing the tradition?
• How does passion turn into a livelihood, and a subculture into an industry?

Your experiences — as a regular, a home bartender, a collector, a bar owner, or just someone who lights up at the sight of a well-made Zombie — are exactly what we’re looking for.

Two ways to take part

1. Take the survey. A short, ~20-minute questionnaire about your relationship with tiki — how you got into it and what it means to you. Start the survey →

2. Share your contact info. Want to do more than a survey? Leave your details → and we may reach out about podcasts, collabs, interviews, and rum tastings. No commitment — you’re just raising your glass.

Do one or both. Every response helps.

Who can participate

• You’re 21 or older.
• You have some connection to tiki — from casual curiosity all the way to lifelong obsession.

That’s it. You don’t need to be an expert, a bartender, or a bar owner.

Who’s behind this

This research comes out of the Deming Center for Entrepreneurship at CU Boulder’s Leeds School of Business, led by Jeff York, Professor of Entrepreneurship at the University of Colorado Boulder. It’s the same crew behind Creative Distillation, the podcast that distills entrepreneurship research into actionable insights (over rum, usually). Learn more about the podcast →

FAQ

How long does the survey take?

About 20 minutes (more if you drink a Fog Cutter while filling it out).

Do I have to give my contact info?

No. You can take the survey without leaving any personal details. The contact form is only if you’d like to hear about future opportunities.

Is there any compensation?

Our undying love, gratitude, and potentially a cocktail should we meet in the future.

Do I need to be a tiki expert?

Not at all. We want the full spectrum — from the curious to the obsessed.

Where can I hear more about the project?

Check out Tiki Time with Jeff on Creative Distillation: listen to the episode →