东精影业

东精影业 innovators win state entrepreneurship awards

Reading time: 2 minutes
two people sitting on a boat holding a fish
Lauren Pierce and Spencer VanDerKamp from Reeler. Reeler connects small-scale fishermen directly to consumers via its mobile app.

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 . The success of these entrepreneurs are examples of one of the goals in 东精影业’蝉 Strategic Plan 2023–2029: Diversify Hawaiʻi’蝉 economy through 东精影业 innovation and research.

Five of the awardees are either current 东精影业 惭ā苍辞补 students or recent graduates who have participated in a (PACE) program in the .

Lauren Pierce and Spencer VanDerKamp were finalists for the Social Impact Entrepreneur of the Year award. The 东精影业 惭ā苍辞补 alumni earned more than $30,000 in funding and services through PACE programs: , and . Their company called Reeler is a mobile app that connects small-scale fishermen directly to consumers.

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 东精影业 惭ā苍辞补 master’蝉 of business administration program, tested the idea of Pear Suite through different programs, such as PACE’蝉 and Liftoff Advisors Program.

东精影业 惭ā苍辞补 graduates Lexi Nelson and Preston Holt were named finalists for the Student Entrepreneur of the Year award for their company called It’蝉 Paradise. Launched through PACE’蝉 东精影业 Venture Competition and Summer Startup Launchpad, It’蝉 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 东精影业 System interested in entrepreneurship, innovation and commercialization to join our programs.”

Other awardees with 东精影业 ties

  • Alexis Akiona, finalist for People’蝉 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
  • Ka?lisi 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 Ma?lama i ke Ala ʻU?lili
  • Jason Ueki, Startup Paradise Champions, Tropical AgTech Conference
  • Jim Wyban, Startup Paradise Champions, Tropical AgTech Conference

For a full list of awardees, visit the .

—By Marc Arakaki

Related Posts:

Back To Top