Mana Up welcomes 10 Hawaiʻi companies to its 9th Cohort

HONOLULU (KHON2) -- Mana Up has selected 10 local companies to join its ninth cohort for a six-month accelerator program running from June to November 2024. These companies join 85 Hawaii-based businesses that have graduated from Mana Up since its founding in 2018.

For this cohort, Mana Up saw 163 local companies apply, interviewed 68, and announced 10 companies accepted into this year’s program.

Over half of these companies are focused on innovative product development using local agriculture. These include Bizia Surf and Coffee Bar, Farm to Fudge, Hawai‘i Ulu Cooperative, Honua Skincare, Kaua‘i Hemp Co., Sea Crunchies and To Be Organics.

They source ingredients like invasive albizia trees, cacao, ‘ulu (Hawaiian breadfruit), Hawaiian healing botanicals, hemp, and seaweed.

The application cycle for the ninth cohort yielded the following data:

• Island: O‘ahu (60%), Hawai‘i Island (15%), Maui (18%), Kaua‘i (5%), and Moloka‘i (2%).
• Income breakdown: $500,000+ (23%), $100,000-$500,000 (26%), under $100,000 (51%).
• Average employees: 2.92.

This year’s applicants are optimistic about the future, expecting a 20% increase in revenue for 2024 compared to 2023.

This growth is crucial for expanding Hawai‘i’s economy. Last year, Mana Up alumni generated $81 million in total revenue and created 874 jobs in Hawai‘i, growing at an average rate of 33% annually.

The companies in Cohort 9 will participate in a six-month accelerator that includes weekly workshops, curated mentor introductions, access to sales channels, and customized goal setting. Special perks include a customized brand brief, a 2-minute video spotlight, and a feature in the 2024 Mana Up Showcase.

"We are excited to welcome this diverse and innovative group into our ninth cohort," said Meli James, co-founder of Mana Up. "Each company’s unique strengths and commitment to leveraging local resources are vital for Hawai‘i’s economic sustainability. We also look forward to working with three Maui entrepreneurs on their journeys as they rebuild revenue streams and create local jobs."

This latest cohort includes three Maui-based companies: Farm to Fudge, To Be Organics, and Waiwaolani.

Additionally, Mana Up featured 11 Maui small businesses in the Aloha Market NYC in April 2024, which garnered a feature on Good Morning America highlighting Maui-based Napili Flo Farm and Maui Chili Chili Oil.

Here are the 10 companies selected for Cohort 9:

1. Alikaleo Park - An everyday kids’ activewear company with colorful and funky clothing offering UPF protection, founded by Alx and Sarah Kawakami in Honolulu, O‘ahu.
2. Bizia Surf & Coffee Bar - A café and surfboard retailer using wood from invasive albizia trees, founded by Christine and Joey Valenti in Wahiawa, O‘ahu.
3. Farm to Fudge - Premium dark chocolate coconut fudge handcrafted with local and organic ingredients, founded by Janice Leilani Lafontaine in Kahului, Maui.
4. Hawai‘i ‘Ulu Cooperative - A farmer-owned business revitalizing ‘ulu (breadfruit) and other Hawai‘i-grown staples, founded by Dana Shapiro in Kailua-Kona, Hawai‘i Island.
5. Honua Skincare - A facial line combining Hawaiian botanicals with modern skincare technology, founded by Kapua Browning in Honolulu, O‘ahu.
6. Kaua‘i Hemp Co. - Premium CBD wellness products using organic Kaua‘i-grown hemp, founded by Judiah McRoberts & Daryl Kaneshiro in Koloa, Kaua‘i.
7. Kris Goto - An artist creating original artwork inspired by the surf, ocean, and culture in Hawai‘i, founded by Kris Goto in Honolulu, O‘ahu.
8. Sea Crunchies - Unique seasonings made with Hawai‘i-grown seaweed, founded by Jina Wye in Mililani, O‘ahu.
9. To Be Organics - All-natural luxury bath, body, and home products using certified organic ingredients, founded by Karli Rose Supera-Wilson in Wailuku, Maui.
10. Waiwaolani - Comfortable clothing and accessories featuring prints inspired by native Hawaiian plants, founded by Roselani Aiwohi on Maui.

Mana Up Cohort 9 kicks off on Tuesday, June 4, and culminates with the annual Mana Up Showcase event on Nov. 7.

For more information, click here, and to shop House of Mana Up, visit House of Mana Up.

Mana Up is an accelerator and venture fund for Hawaiʻi-based products aiming for global markets, with a mission to increase economic opportunity and jobs for Hawaiʻi’s people.

Since its inception, 85 local companies have participated in the six-month accelerator program.