Applications for Cohort 9 have closed! Stay tuned to meet our newest cohort in may.
Mana Up today announces a partnership with Shopify to provide access for the Hawaii community to e-commerce expertise and free resources to Mana Up’s cohort companies. As its first initiative together in Hawaii, Mana Up’s first and second cohort, along with community entrepreneurs, will get a rare chance to learn how to grow their product sales online with Shopify's Merchant Success Manager Desiree Shank.
Bytemarks Cafe
First, we hear from Stefan Opsal from Sultan Ventures and XLR8HI to tell us about a series of workshops for Hawaii businesses, entrepreneurs and startups. XLR8HI is offering a 50% discount for the workshop: Essentials of Entrepreneurship to Bytemarks Cafe listeners by using the promo code: Bytemarks
Then we hear from Stacey Nomura from Bradley and Lily and learn about Mana Up‘s second cohort.
Hawaii Business Magazine
Startup accelerator Mana Up today announced its second cohort of 11 local companies, whose products include coffee, clothing, jewelry and stationery – made with Hawaii themes and inspiration.
They were selected from 73 applicants and begin their 12-week program Aug. 15. Mana Up aims to help the companies grow their businesses with help on marketing, sourcing, manufacturing and shipping.
Hawaii Business Magazine
“We’re going to bring the world honey for everyone, with aloha from Hawaii, with our fiercely loving tiki bottle,” says Malcolm Yorkston about his company, Hawaiian Rainbow Bees.
Yorkston, a teacher by day, had struggled with allergies for years. When he could no longer read to his daughters at bedtime due to congestion he sought a cure. “I heard raw honey works, so I started to treat myself with honey, and [it] worked,” he says.
Honolulu Star Advertiser
Tamara and Dylan Butterbaugh think big. And that’s a good thing, because as owners of Manoa Chocolate, the husband-and-wife team is determined to do no less than put Hawaii chocolate on the map.
The Butterbaughs are part of a new breed of cacao and chocolate experts who are building an entire industry around American craft chocolate, a style of fine chocolate that emphasizes the essential flavor of the cacao bean and a single-origin style of dark chocolate.
Hawaii News Now
Ten local companies are ready to take on global expansion. Selected as Mana Up's first cohort, these 10 businesses are already selling market-tested, value-added products and can state unequivocally that they are authentic representatives of the Hawaii brand. All are entwined with Hawaii's agricultural sector by either growing their own crops or sourcing raw ingredients from local farms. Each company makes a premium product geared towards enticing a global audience, in part because of their roots in Hawaii.
KITV4 Island News
On this week's Wellness Wednesday: a local girl combines her love for the islands and a healthy lifestyle. And now, she's getting a chance to grow her dream through a special program that's wrapping up with a big showcase.
Special guest: Mele Kalama-Kingma, the Founder of "Mamalani" and Meli James, Co-Founder of "Mana Up" joined Tesia on Wellness Wednesday.
KHON2
It's not easy being a business owner. That's why a new program wants to help. "Mana Up" helps Hawaii startups strengthen their companies.
Co-Founder Meli James joined Take2 to talk about it. Jan Hori with the Hawaiian Pie Company also joined Take2 to discuss their participation and to reveal a new flavor for the month of May.
Hawaii Business Magazine
The entrepreneurial spirit is alive and flourishing in Hawaii, aka Startup Paradise. A total of 27 companies and individuals were honored at the Hawaii Venture Capital Association’s annual awards dinner on March 1 at the Waialae Country Club. The honorees are young and older and cover a lot of industries, from ag and food to tech and tourism.
Pacific Edge Magazine
It’s time to welcome a new initiative to grow the bustling landscape of business and innovation in the state of Hawai‘i. Headquartered in the historic Dole Cannery, product accelerator Mana Up aims to help local companies scale for global expansion and compete in the world marketplace by leveraging Hawai‘i’s unique assets and powerful brand.
The Garden Island
LAWAI — Monkeypod Jam is one of 10 businesses selected as Mana Up’s first cohort selling market- tested, value-added products that are authentic representatives of the Hawaii brand.
The announcement was made last week in Honolulu. Monkeypod Jam is the only firm honored from Kauai.
Pacific Business Magazine
Mana Up selected 10 local companies, all sourcing from Hawaii’s agriculture, to be the first participantes in a Hawaii-based product accelerator, the first of its kind in the state.
The program, the latest venture from Hawaii Venture Capital Association President Meli James, 1776 General Counsel Brittany Heyd and e-commerce strategist Michael Cheski, seeks to invest in Hawaii companies earning $100,000 or more in annual revenue, by emphasizing the strength of the Hawaii brand.