Forget Silicon Valley. Aloha Valley is having a moment. Once known primarily for tourism, Hawai’i is rapidly becoming a hub for innovation, attracting ambitious entrepreneurs and investors. According to a recent report by the Hawaii Venture Capital Association, VC funding in the state reached a record high of $2 billion in 2023, a tenfold increase from just five years prior.
Blue Startups, one of the first accelerators in Hawai’i, has been working to develop a thriving new local startup ecosystem. It was founded by Henk Rogers and Maya Rogers of the Tetris company and Chenoa Farnsworth of Hawai’i Angels as a public-private partnership in cooperation with the State of Hawai’i and the Hawai’i Technology Development Corporation. Blue Startups runs a mentor-driven program for those selected to participate.
Here are four Hawai’i founders who have benefitted from Blue Startups guidance.
1. Jennifer Loh, Cofounder & CEO of Travaras
Travaras is redefining the travel industry by making sustainable and responsible travel the norm, not the exception. The company makes it easy for customers to find and book sustainable travel options that reduce their environmental footprint, support local communities and preserve cultural heritage.
Cofounder and CEO Jennifer Loh has been committed to the environment since first learning about climate change as a child. During 15 years in the travel industry, she witnessed the sector’s struggle to adapt to sustainable practices. But she also was inspired by experiences such as co-chairing the Green Committee at the Hyatt Regency Maui and playing a pivotal role in achieving LEED-EBOM Silver certification. She views Travaras as the culmination of her journey.
One of the greatest challenges Loh has faced has been navigating the male-dominated travel and tech industries as a female leader. “There have been so many instances over the years when I didn’t feel like I had a voice or a seat at the table, and my ideas were passed over,” she said in an exclusive interview with me. “Also, at times I had more experience than my male counterparts yet was making a much lower salary.” At Travaras, Loh works hard to create an inclusive culture with equitable hiring practices.
“The entrepreneurial journey is not an easy one and comes with a lot of ups and downs,” Loh says. “The most fulfilling and impactful ventures stem from something you truly care about. Your passion will sustain you. I’m a firm believer in grit – when passion meets perseverance. There will be moments of doubt and uncertainty, but it’s important to remember why you’re working on your startup.”
2. Devon DeAngelo, Cofounder & CEO of Landng
Landng is a marketing technology startup that pairs travelers, influencers and brands with AI to reshape the way people discover and share trip plans based on personal taste and socially vetted recommendations. The company has partnered with the Hawai’i Visitors and Convention Bureau and the Hawai’i Tourism Authority to offer culturally and environmentally sustainable itineraries for visitors to experience on the island of O’ahu.
“My why is rooted in helping people live inspired lives through travel,” said CEO and Cofounder Devon DeAngelo, who is Native Hawaiian, in an exclusive interview with me. “I grew up in Hawai’i and have lived as a dual citizen between Paris and Honolulu for the past decade. Having the opportunity to launch in Hawai’i feels like a homecoming.”
One of the biggest challenges DeAngelo has faced as a female founder of a tech startup is navigating gender biases within the tech industry and VC space. She says, “I’ve encountered everything from subtle stereotypes and misconceptions to micro (and not so micro) aggressions that have attempted to undermine my leadership capabilities. To overcome this challenge, I’ve stayed focused on what matters: solving the pain for our users and customers. I’ve also done a lot of inner work.”
DeAngelo encourages aspiring entrepreneurs to “nurture your resilience, be your authentic self, build and leverage your network and prioritize rest. Get comfortable with being uncomfortable. If you’re uncomfortable, you’re doing it right. Get used to rejection. Use it as motivation. Stay true to your vision and values. If you’re a diverse founder, use it as your strength and lift others up when you can.”
3. Meg Hall, CEO of Segment X
Segment X uses AI to help B2B sales reps create personalized account plans and sales materials that are rooted in customer value. Typically, sales reps spend hundreds of hours researching accounts and preparing for customer conversations — but not with customers. Segment X streamlines this process in order to facilitate better conversations.
“My greatest fear is to live a monotonous life,” said CEO Meg Hall in an exclusive interview with me. “I grew up in a small town where there are more cows than people and less than 10% of the population has a BA. When you’re a teenager, you have a limited view of the world and what you can be. As I have grown older, I have continuously had to re-learn what I am capable of. Now it has become clear, your life rises to the level of what you are brave enough to ask for. Most people don’t try to build a dream company in Hawaii, so they will never own a tech company in Hawaii. These days, life is so much better than I could have ever imagined it would be. This makes me grateful for every opportunity.”
Halls says that if you speak to any truly successful person, they will see that they have had “slingshot moments” in their life – times when they were willing to temporarily take a step back and sacrifice some of their comfort and stability in order to gain much more. “These slingshot moments could be moving around the world, going back to grad school, or starting a company,” she says. “Have the courage to take a risky leap.”
4. Mina Singson-Brightman, Founder & CEO of 40hammocks
40hammocks is a group travel technology founded my Mina Singson-Brightman, who has worked with hundreds of groups that travel to the islands to celebrate a milestone event such as a wedding or a company incentive trip over the past decade. Her company makes it easy for people to book a block of hotel rooms at a luxury, boutique or lifestyle hotel.
“Seeing the joy and memories created from these experiences inspired me to help create more lifetime memories with 40hammocks,” said Singson-Brightman in an exclusive interview with me. “I love to discover new places and adventures together with people I love. For me, running this company is an extension of my life purpose so others can achieve this goal, too.”
Running her start-up has proved challenging, Singson-Brightman says, because 40hammocks is offering a new concept. “Getting rejected numerous times makes me question myself and I start to wonder whether it’s worth it to keep going. But when I look around me, I am comforted to see that our team, who are successful individuals themselves, passionately believe in the product. This pushes me to work harder and not to give up!”
Even though Singson-Brightman has founded other ventures that didn’t take off, she chooses not to count them as failures. She explains, “I consider them key take-aways in my journey as an entrepreneur. It’s cliché to say never give up, but an astute entrepreneur also knows when to quit, start again and learn from the past.”