Meet the newest 10 local companies joining mana up's cohort 9!
Local product business accelerator Mana Up is hosting its annual entrepreneur showcase virtually for the second year in a row.
The 2021 showcase, which features business representatives from its sixth cohort, will livestream from the Hawaii Theatre via Facebook and YouTube on Thursday, Nov. 4 at 4 p.m. For the event, Mana Up partnered with sponsors King's Hawaiian, Hawaiian Airlines, Central Pacific Bank Foundation, Servco Hawaii and Hawaiian Electric Industries.
The featured businesses in the 2021 showcase include Aloha de Mele, Banan, HI Spice, Island Harvest, Kahuku Farms, Kakou Collective, Keiki Kaukau, Ohana Nui, Pawniolo Pets, Pono Potions, Sea Salts of Hawaii and Utara Organics.
“The Mana Up Showcase shines a spotlight on Hawaiiʻs rising talent, and that's something that we all want to be a part of," said Meli James, co-founder of Mana Up, in a statement. "We're excited to collaborate with many local organizations this year and reach a bigger audience than ever through live-streaming partners and TV broadcast partners KHON and FOX 5 San Diego."
The Mana Up 2021 Showcase includes a 90-minute main show featuring Hawaii entrepreneurs who share their stories in three minute “pitches,” as well as a roster of 12 rising singer-songwriters curated by local talent production company Haku Collective. The showcase will also include a two-hour post-show focused on live shopping, and interviews with each company.
This year's showcase will award a $5,000 cash prize, to be co-presented by Waiakea Hawaiian Volcanic Water and VertAccount, to the crowd-voted favorite entrepreneur.