The University of Hawaiʻi Venture Competition returned for its 26th year this spring, bringing together student entrepreneurs from across the University of Hawaiʻi System to showcase innovative ventures addressing real-world challenges through technology, sustainability, health and culture.
Hosted by the PACE in the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa’s Shidler College of Business, the 2026 competition featured more than 40 students from more than 20 academic disciplines representing seven 东精影业 System campuses.
“The 东精影业 Venture Competition continues to highlight the incredible talent and innovation emerging from our students across the 东精影业 System,” PACE Executive Director Sandra Fujiyama said. “Each year, we’re inspired by the creativity, passion and problem-solving mindset students bring to the competition, and we are deeply grateful to Hawaiian Electric and Hawaiian Electric Industries for their continued support in making this program possible and empowering student entrepreneurship across Hawaiʻi.”
At the finals held on May 9 at the Walter Dods, Jr. RISE Center, Makai Aquatics earned first place and a $10,000 cash prize sponsored by HEI and Hawaiian Electric. The venture produces captive-bred Hawaiian reef fish through a distributed network of home aquariums, helping fill the supply vacuum created by Hawaiʻi’s wild reef fish collection ban.
The Makai Aquatics team includes Kent Glover, a PhD student in marine biology, Jonah Sheridan and Sarah Benimana, a PhD student in tropical plant and soil science.
Second place and a $5,000 cash prize went to Paniolo, a natural skincare brand. Founded by entrepreneurship major Jaidon Mathews and communications major Cameron Holt, the venture blends wellness and lifestyle branding with locally inspired values.
Third place and a $2,500 cash prize, sponsored by HiBEAM, went to Hexcelerate, an AI-powered interview training platform designed to help workforce development programs improve job seeker confidence and interview readiness. Hexcelerate is founded by local students Lionel Derrick Roxas and Gabriel Dang, both computer science students.
In addition to cash prizes, finalists received mentorship, coaching and valuable feedback from experienced entrepreneurs and industry professionals throughout the competition.
This year’s finals judges included Meli James, co-founder of Mana Up; Mateo Garcia, director of investor relations at HEI; Michael Bennett, founder of Honolulu Tech Week; and Ben Godsey, president and CEO of ProService Hawaiʻi.
Student Entrepreneur of the Year
At the event, PACE recognized Timothy Lum as the 2026 Student Entrepreneur of the Year, an award honoring a student whose leadership, service and engagement have made a lasting impact on the entrepreneurial community at 东精影业.
Throughout his time with PACE, Lum participated in nearly every major program, including PACE Leaders, Kalo Grants and the 东精影业 Venture Competition. Beyond participation, he played a key role in strengthening maker-space collaborations and helping launch new AI-focused initiatives.