Applications for Cohort 9 have closed! Stay tuned to meet our newest cohort in may.
Mana Up's three-hour virtual QVC-style annual product showcase on Nov. 20 was a transformation of the in-person event and pop-up marketplace usually held at the Duty Free Store in Waikiki.
Normally, the showcase would bring in more than 1,000 shoppers, but this year more than 80,000 tuned in — a reach 80 times greater than in years past.
This serial entrepreneur is determined to fuel economic growth in Hawaii with her latest venture that she co-founded, Mana Up Hawaii, which helps local companies elevate their brands for a global market.
Each year Honolulu-based Mana-Up Hawaii hosts a 12-week accelerator program for Hawaiʻi entrepreneurs, helping them bring their products to market. The program culminates with a Product Showcase event, where participants present a 3-minute pitch to a crowd of 1,000 people at T Galleria by DFS in Waikīkī. There’s food, live entertainment and a marketplace where attendees can buy the products the entrepreneurs just pitched.
Central Pacific Bank, Mana Up, and the Hawaii Food Manufacturers Association started a partnership that will be the catalyst for new retail opportunities for Hawaii small businesses to sell products in Japan with Prince Hotels and Resorts and Natural Lawson convenience stores.
Central Pacific Bank News Release: Central Pacific Bank, Mana Up, and the Hawaii Food Manufacturers Association Secure New Retail Opportunities in Japan for Hawaii Small Businesses
Yireh is one of the companies participating in product accelerator Mana Up’s fifth cohort, and since joining, has been working on building a stronger e-commerce presence.
The origin of Jules + Gem Hawai'i traces back to Lana Gronwald discovering her love for candles when she and her husband bought a candle kit for date night.
Now, natural and authentic hand-poured soy candles and other bath and body products made by Jules + Gem Hawai'i are sold in specialty boutique stores across Hawaii, the continental United States, and the world.
Dr. Lyn Lam and Terry Lam, co-founders of Kapa Nui Nails, prioritized listening to the concerns, needs, and wants of women throughout their careers. Kapa Nui nail polish is made of only three ingredients—water, acrylates copolymer, and mineral pigments—the number of components in their recipe is far fewer than the traditional.
Haku Collective, founded by Scotty Wilks and Kimié Miner, works to support Hawai'i-based musicians through live events, production, publishing, product, and mentorship opportunities.
The foundation for Nāpili FLO Farm’s locally-crafted artisanal kimchi and fermented foods is embedded in family love and determination to create a business that benefits the land and community. Meet the founder, Monica Bogar, who is behind the sustainable & organic urban farm.
The idea for Ao Organics Hawaiʻi sparked when its founder Chelsa Davis was looking for a safe product to shield her family from the sun. The reef-safe skincare company started with Davis sharing her skincare line with friends and family. Now, Ao Organics is sold in more than 40 stores with locations across the islands, in New York, California, as well as Belgium.
