Finalists Compete in Startup Weekend Maui

Attendees participated in a fast-paced icebreaker to boost entrepreneurs’ confidence leading into the 60-second start-up pitches on Friday. Photos by Casey Nishikawa.

By Maui Now Staff

The 2nd Annual Startup Weekend Maui kicked off on Friday, May 15, with nearly 30 entrepreneurs pitching business startup ideas in front of an enthusiastic audience of 80-plus like-minded individuals at the Maui Economic Development Board’s Malcolm Center in Kīhei.

Attendees participated in a fast-paced icebreaker to boost entrepreneurs’ confidence leading into the 60-second start-up pitches on Friday. Photos by Casey Nishikawa.

Limited to 60-seconds, entrepreneurs pulled out all the stops with pitches for ideas ranging from phone apps, social games, sustainable farms, food items, software programs and uber photography services to energy efficient systems, Internet co-ops, sustainable summits, eco lodges and local lifestyle companies.

Teams gathered around the 10 top-voted ideas and then entered a 54-hour frenzy to create their start-ups over the weekend.

“We were very impressed with the high energy, enthusiasm, ingenuity and creativity of this year’s entrepreneurs,” said Gerry Smith of MEDB. “The ideas that were pitched were as diverse as the methods for accomplishing these startups and we look forward to hearing how they transform their ideas into reality.”

The event will culminate today with presentations in front of local business leaders. The winning team will be announced tonight.

For updates through the weekend, call Smith at MEDB at (808) 270-6803.

Startup Weekend brings together entrepreneurs of different backgrounds and offers them a fun, intense, risk-free way to get a startup off the ground; connect with other passionate and skilled individuals; and perhaps even find a co-founder or two to transform their ideas into reality.

Startup Weekend is a global grassroots movement of active and empowered entrepreneurs who are learning the basics of founding start-ups and launching successful ventures. It is the largest community of passionate entrepreneurs with over 1800 past events in 120 countries around the world in 2014.

The 2nd Annual Startup Weekend Maui is hosted by the Maui Economic Development Board. Event sponsors include: County of Maui Mayor’s Office of Economic Development, Blue Startups, High Technology Development Corporation, HI-Growth Initiative, Pacific Media Group, Startup Capital Ventures and Sultan Ventures.

LINKS

• Prizes Announced for Annual Startup Weekend Maui Winners
• MaiTai Maui Tech Night to Kick Off Startup Weekend Maui
• Startup Weekend Maui Kicks Off With Bootcamp & Pitch Workshop
• Judges, Coaches, Mentors Announced for ‘Startup Weekend Maui’
• ‘Startup Weekend Maui’ Offers Business Action for Entrepreneurs