Meet the newest 10 local companies joining mana up's cohort 9!
DFS Group, the world’s leading luxury travel retailer, and Hawaiʻi business accelerator Mana Up are excited to announce the launch of a creative, new and innovative partnership to support the growth of authentic Hawaiʻi products’ appeal to a global audience. DFS Hawaiʻi and Mana Up endeavor to assist local companies by connecting businesses to their customers locally as well as providing access to markets worldwide.
KITV4 Island News
Meli James, co-founder of Mana Up branches out to assist other local entrepreneurs. Mana Up is an economic development initiative to build Hawai'i's next 100 product companies earning $1million or more in annual revenue. They launched their second 12-week accelerator program in August. Helping enable Hawai'i product entrepreneurs to scale their businesses.
Join the excitement next Friday November 2, as Mana Up hosts its Holiday Showcase at T Galleria, by DFS Hawaii. Eleven local product businesses will present to a large audience, explaining how they are growing global businesses from right here in Hawaii.
Whether you are an investor, buyer, a potential customer, or simply interested in what it takes to grow a business globally, watch, listen, and learn as these ten dynamic businesses give their best pitch to a diverse crowd of industry experts and insiders.
Bytemarks Cafe
First, we hear from Meli James about the next Mana Up Showcase happening at T Galleria by DFS Hawaii in Waikiki. Then, we hear from Ruby Menon from JamBios and BJ Fogg from Stanford University about the Behavior Design Lab and Tiny Habits Workshops.
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.