Blue Startups X ThriveHI

Host Pitch2Tokyo in Honolulu

Do you have a groundbreaking idea or startup ready to make waves? We’re looking for inspiring pre-seed to growth-stage startups with the potential to make a positive impact on people and planet.

To be eligible, you must:

• Have an innovative and/or inspiring vision that’s ready to be amplified.
• Must be a legally registered business entity within the last 10 years (2014 or later).
• Be available to travel to Tokyo on February 27th (and the surrounding dates) if you win. and win a trip to Tokyo!

Why You Should Apply:

• Grand Prize: Winners from each city will receive a roundtrip trip travel to Tokyo to compete in the Global Gathering Final Round.
• Global Exposure: Get your idea in front of a global audience of innovators and investors.
• Invaluable Networking: Connect with industry leaders, experts, and fellow entrepreneurs.

*includes roundtrip economy air ticket and 4 nights accommodation.

Ready to Pitch?

Apply by January 8, 2025.

This is your chance to turn your vision into reality, gain global recognition, and experience the incredible city of Tokyo!

Just Attending?

Sign up here on Luma.

Call for Sponsors: East Meets West 2025

East Meets West (EMW) 2025 is coming to Honolulu, HI, on April 15-16, and we want you to join us as a sponsor!

Why Sponsor EMW 2025?

• Business Value – Present products and services to a group of influential business leaders from Hawaii and across the Pacific.
• Organization Value – Promote career opportunities to an audience of entrepreneurs, technologists, and investors connected to talent both in Hawaii and abroad.
• Community Value – Support economic development, entrepreneurship, and investment in Hawaii.

Building on Last Year’s Success
In 2024, EMW saw record-breaking attendance, a sold-out Summit Day, and incredible partnerships like the Startup World Cup. With standout speakers like Greg Shepard and Chris Yeh, EMW 2024 set a high bar—and we’re ready to exceed it in 2025.

Interested? Have questions?
Contact us today to learn more or discuss how we can maximize the impact of your sponsorship. Contact: [email protected]

For early-stage entrepreneurs:

Applications are now open for Batch 13 of ElevX Venture Studio Program, starting in February 2025. This program offers:

• Up to $200K in funding
• Cutting-edge technologies (AI/ML, computer vision, sensors, and more)
• Access to NEC’s world-class researchers and tailored mentorship

Applications close on December 20, 2024.

They are hosting A final webinar on December 13: https://lu.ma/20pred6k

Don’t miss the chance to elevate your entrepreneurial journey!

Community

Why participate?

• Help shape the future of UX in our local community.
• Your organization can opt in to receive recognition as a contributor in the State of UX in HI 2024 report.
• Four lucky participants will win a $25 Foodland gift card!

Choose your survey:

• For Hawaiʻi business leaders or professionals who manage people or budgets: Business Survey (https://tally.so/r/nrd5av)
• For all UX professionals and aspiring UXers connected to Hawaiʻi*: UX Community Survey (https://tally.so/r/nPBOBe)

*Whether you’re working in the islands for an off-island organization or have a strong tie to Hawaiʻi but are not currently local, we want to hear from you. 

Either survey takes just 5–10 minutes to complete.  Mahalo for your time and contribution. Your insights will help us understand the UX landscape in Hawaiʻi in 2024 and identify opportunities for growing our community.

WHY ATTEND?

• Explore job openings, internships, and apprenticeships.
• Network with leading technology, engineering, and defense employers.
• Receive free resume evaluations from business executives and HR professionals.
• Get your Al Generated headshot to enhance your profile.

Don’t miss this opportunity to advance your tech career in Hawaii!

Register now at www.htdc.org and upload your resume and cover letter (combined into one PDF). Resumes will be shared with all employers after the event.

For more information, contact [email protected] or log onto www.htdc.org.

Blue Startups Alumni Job Opportunities

Dataplor:

• Senior AI/ML Engineer, Lead Product Manager (Remote)

Hokali:

• Senior Talent Acquisition Specialist (Hybrid)

Hostfully:

• Mid-Level Quality Assurance Engineer, Senior Backend Developer (Java), Senior Frontend React Developer (Remote)

Instant:

• Teams Customer Service Agent (Remote)

Inttent:

• Front-End Engineer, ML Engineer (Remote)

Kind Traveler:

• West Coast Sales Territory Manager, East Coast Sales Territory Manager, Various sales positions—Southwest, Europe, Asia, Australia

Quibble:

• Senior MERN Software Engineer (Buenos Aires, Argentina), Business Development Manager (Miami, FL), Business Development Manager (Remote), Senior Revenue Manager (San Juan, Puerto Rico)

Reef.ai:

• Technical Customer Lead (Remote (Seattle, Portland))

Turno:

• Product Manager, SaaS (Remote)