First established in 1998, this year marked Hawaii Venture Capital Association's 30th year in Startup Paradise. A huge mahalo to everyone who joined us in celebrating this legacy at the 18th Annual HVCA Entrepreneur and Deal of the Year Awards Gala on March 1, 2018.
Check out photos from the event here.
18th Annual HVCA Entrepreneur and Deal of the Year Awards Gala Recipients:
- Deal of the Year - Brian Goldstein, Noa Botanicals
- Investor of the Year - Ian Wetzel, Employees' Retirement System
- Entrepreneur of the Year - Manaola Yap & Zachary Pang, Manaola
- Island Innovator of the Year - Aaron Ackerman, Bowers and Kuboro
- Student Entrepreneur of the Year - Tom Knapp-Ramos, SwipeWrap
- Clean Tech / Ag Entrepreneur of the Year - Forest Frizzell & Olin Lagon, Shifted Energy
- Corporate Intrapreneur of the Year - John Komeiji, Hawaiian Telcom
- Tech Entrepreneur of the Year - Luke Joseph, iFirst Medical Technologies
- Social Impact Entrepreneur of the Year - Sumil Thapa, Ian Kitajima, Lauren Nahme, Stacy Clayton, Aaron Kagawa, Keith Matsumoto, Edwin Ju, Robert Lee, Man Chon Kuok, and Kayla Diniega, Altino Coding
- Startup Paradise Champion - Representative Jarrett Keohokalole, 48th House District
- Consumer Packaged Goods Entrepreneur of the Year - Jim Reddekopp, Hawaiian Vanilla Co
- People's Choice Startup of the Year - Mylen Yamamoto, Cropsticks by Cropmade
HVCA Awards Gala Sponsors '18
Presenting Sponsor
University of Hawaii System
Award Sponsors
Kamehameha Schools
Hawaii Technology Development Corp (HTDC)
American Savings Bank
Elemental Excelerator
Blue Startups
Noa Botanicals
Alaska Airlines
DrFortress
Hawaii Business Magazine
Reception Sponsor
Nexus Hawaii
Nexus Hawaii
Mana Up
Student Ticket Sponsor
Startup Capital Ventures
Lei Sponsor
The Orchid Lei
Community Sponsors
HonBlue
Kona Brewing Co
Empowered Presentations
Pineapple Tweed
Red Ring Studio
Media Partner
Hawaii Business Magazine