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MANA UP AND BANK OF HAWAI‘I TO HOST “VISIONARY VENTURES”
PANEL EVENT CELEBRATING HAWAI‘I’S ENTREPRENEURS
Attendees will have the opportunity to hear from industry experts, and gain a deeper understanding of how acquisitions can drive growth and innovation in the small business sector.
Honolulu, HI – [July 22, 2024] – Mana Up and Bank of Hawai‘i are proud to announce their first community discussion, “Visionary Ventures,” a panel and pau hana designed to celebrate Hawai‘i’s entrepreneurs and explore the challenges faced at every stage of business growth. Open to the public, the event will take place on Wednesday, August 14, 2024, from 5:30 PM to 8:30 PM at the IBM Building, in partnership with Hawaii Business Magazine.
Attendees will have the opportunity to gain valuable insights from local entrepreneurs who have participated in the Mana Up accelerator program, as well as from experts at Bank of Hawai‘i. Two insightful panel discussions, moderated by Mana Up co-founder Meli James, will focus on the journey of Hawai‘i startups from humble beginnings to successful acquisitions.
The pau hana event will take place at the newest House of Mana Up retail experience at South Shore Market in Ward Village. Attendees will get to shop from local entrepreneurs, including the three featured on the panel, plus engage in fun activations and samplings allowing guests to network and interact directly with the founders behind some of Hawai‘i’s most successful emerging businesses.
“We are thrilled to support Mana Up and the incredible entrepreneurs who are driving Hawai‘i’s economy forward,” says Peter Ho, Chairman and CEO of Bank of Hawai‘i. “This event highlights our commitment to fostering innovation and growth within our local business community.”
Event Details:
Event: Bank of Hawai‘i & Mana Up Present “Visionary Ventures” - Panel & Pau Hana Event
Date: Wednesday, August 14, 2024
Time: 5:30 PM to 8:30 PM
Location: Panel at the IBM Building, followed by pau hana at House of Mana Up (South Shore Market in Ward Village)
Ticket cost:Free with registration
The panel, entitled “From Side Hustle through Acquisition,” will be composed of two parts: The first, speaking to companies in the growth phase (pre-acquisition), while the second speaks to companies going through the acquisition process.
Panelists will include:
Part 1 (Pre-Acquisition):
Part 2 (Acquisition):
“This event is a testament to the resilience and creativity of Hawai‘i’s entrepreneurial community,” says Meli James, co-founder of Mana Up. “Our partnership with Bank of Hawai‘i has been instrumental in providing the mentorship and resources needed to help local businesses thrive and achieve their full potential in support of Mana Up’s mission to expand the economy.”
This insightful panel builds upon the broader partnership between Mana Up and Bank of Hawai‘i, which started in 2022 aimed at diversifying Hawai‘i’s economy through supporting local entrepreneurs. As the exclusive banking partner at the Founder Level, Bank of Hawai‘i has implemented key strategic programs, including an executive mentorship program and a content collaboration for local entrepreneur stories. The two organizations have also collaborated to bring three pop-up shopping experiences downtown at the Bank of Hawai‘i Main Branch.
Panel seating is limited so early registration is encouraged. For more information and to register for the event, please visit https://manauphawaii.com/pages/panel-event.
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About Bank of Hawai‘i
Bank of Hawai‘i Corporation is a regional financial services company serving businesses, consumers, and governments in Hawai‘i and the West Pacific. The Company’s principal subsidiary, Bank of Hawai‘i, was founded in 1897. For more information about Bank of Hawai‘i Corporation, visit www.boh.com.
About Mana Up
Mana Up is an accelerator and venture fund for Hawaiʻi-based products growing to markets globally, with the mission to increase economic opportunity and jobs for the people of Hawaiʻi. To date, 85 local companies have participated in the six-month accelerator program that provides expansion opportunities and helps solve business challenges. For more information about the accelerator program, visit www.manauphawaii.com, and to shop House of Mana Up, visit https://houseofmanaup.com.
In addition to Bank of Hawai‘i, Mana Up is supported by Kamehameha Schools, Castle & Cooke Hawai’i, ALTRES, Hawaiian Airlines, Hawai’i Technology Development Corporation, Innovate Hawai’i, American Savings Bank, Ulupono Initiative, Young Brothers, UHA Health Insurance, Pineapple Tweed, Shopify, Foodland, DFS and Dole.
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