Innovation and entrepreneurship excellence at the University of Hawaiʻi were on full display as more than a dozen alumni and students received 2023 awards from the Hawaii Venture Capital Association. The success of these entrepreneurs are examples of one of the goals in UH’s Strategic Plan 2023–2029: Diversify Hawaiʻi’s economy through UH innovation and research.
Five of the awardees are either current UH Mānoa students or recent graduates who have participated in a Pacific Asian Center for Entrepreneurship (PACE) program in the Shidler College of Business.
Lauren Pierce and Spencer VanDerKamp were finalists for the Social Impact Entrepreneur of the Year award. The UH Mānoa alumni earned more than $30,000 in funding and services through PACE programs: UH Venture Competition, Liftoff Advisors Program and Calvin Shindo Student Venture Fund. Their company called Reeler is a mobile app that connects small-scale fishermen directly to consumers.
- Related UH News story: New UH student-run venture fund announces first investments, August 18, 2022
Colby Takeda, the co-founder and CEO of Pear Suite, was a finalist for Tech Entrepreneur of the Year. Pear Suite is a software company that aims to better address the social drivers of health for older adults, which include increasing access to healthcare through transportation options, increasing the availability of healthy food, and getting them connected to technology for telehealth and more. Takeda and co-founder Justin Puckett, both graduates of UH Mānoa master’s of business administration program, tested the idea of Pear Suite through different programs, such as PACE’s Summer Startup Launchpad and Liftoff Advisors Program.
- Related UH News story: National accelerator picks healthcare tech startup founded by UH alumni, April 13, 2022
UH Mānoa graduates Lexi Nelson and Preston Holt were named finalists for the Student Entrepreneur of the Year award for their company called It’s Paradise. Launched through PACE’s UH Venture Competition and Summer Startup Launchpad, It’s Paradise is a candle business that uses fragrances to prompt memories of iconic Hawaiʻi locations.
“PACE strives to educate entrepreneurial thinkers and innovative problem solvers,” said Sandra Fujiyama, PACE executive director. “We are proud of the work of these PACE alumni and look forward to their future successes. PACE welcomes all students from the 10-campus UH System interested in entrepreneurship, innovation and commercialization to join our programs.”
Other awardees with UH ties
- Alexis Akiona, finalist for People’s Choice Award, Lexbreezy Hawaiʻi
- Alexandria Buchanan, finalist for Student Entrepreneur of the Year, Sharai Swim
- Jalene Kanani, winner for Island Innovator of the Year, Noho Home
- Kylie Matsuda-Lum, winner for Ag/Clean Tech Entrepreneur of the Year, Kahuku Farms
- Kālisi Mausio, finalist for Ag/Clean Tech Entrepreneur of the Year, Farm Trails
- Karyn Nolan, finalist for Tech Entrepreneur of the Year, Mappy
- Noʻeau Peralto, finalist for Social Impact Entrepreneur of the Year, Hui Mālama i ke Ala ʻŪlili
- Jason Ueki, Startup Paradise Champions, Tropical AgTech Conference
- Jim Wyban, Startup Paradise Champions, Tropical AgTech Conference
For a full list of awardees, visit the Hawaii Venture Capital Association website.
—By Marc Arakaki
