Innovation and entrepreneurship play a major role in shaping society amid COVID-19. Three startup projects received a big boost thanks to the University of Hawaiʻi Venture Competition.
Hosted by the Pacific Asian Center for Entrepreneurship (PACE) in the UH Mānoa Shidler College of Business, the program was held virtually for the first time in its 20-year history. Three teams used their digital prowess to win a share of more than $60,000 in prizes. Hawaiian Electric and the HEI Charitable Foundation were the competition’s title sponsors.
Competition winners
First place: Pono Potions is a company that manufactures artisanal flavored syrups that are made with locally-sourced ingredients from Hawaiʻi. Team members include Peter Hessler (Travel Industry Management), Madonna Castro-Perez (law) and Christilei Hessler (UH Mānoa alumna and attorney). The award is a $10,000 Hawaiian Electric and HEI Charitable Foundation cash prize and more than $23,000 in legal, marketing, design and startup support services.
Manaola Innovations, Inc. team membersSecond place: Manaola Innovations, Inc. is a company that designs discreet, adjustable garments that help reduce stress and anxiety. Team members are Everett Amundson (communicology) and Kendra Horvath (entrepreneurship, marketing and international business). The prize includes a $5,000 Hawaiian Electric and HEI Charitable Foundation cash prize and more than $15,000 in legal, marketing, design and startup support services.
Third place: What’sFresh! is an online marketplace for fresh fish and small-scale agriculture. Team members are Lauren Pierce (economics) and Spencer VanDerKamp (management information systems). The prize includes a $2,500 cash award in honor of pioneer Billy Richardson by HiBEAM and more than $8,000 in legal, marketing, design and startup support services.
“When the pandemic hit, we knew that canceling this competition was not an option. More than ever, our students will need the money and prizes to build their companies,” said PACE Executive Director Peter Rowan. “It’s our mission to educate and invest in entrepreneurial thinkers who can find innovative solutions to the problems we’ll face. These students are our future for a resilient Hawaiʻi.”
“The UH Venture Competition gave me the resources and mentorship to lay the foundation for a sustainable business model,” said Pono Potions President Peter Hessler. “Being able to accomplish this with the help from PACE during a pandemic was the most challenging and fulfilling experience in my life. I will invest the prize money in professional labeling and bottling equipment as we get ready to expand into retail and online stores in the next six months.”
More than 300 viewers tuned into the live stream broadcast of the final event, which was held on May 7. The semester-long competition is made possible thanks to more than 50 business professionals who volunteered their time and energy as coaches, judges and instructors. In addition to the title sponsors, Blue Logic Labs, HiBEAM, Impact HUB Honolulu, Pineapple Tweed, Sultan Ventures and Vantage Counsel provided prizes.”
