Local startup accelerators and venture capitalists have been working collaboratively over the past few years to put Hawai‘i on the map as a unique and lucrative place to start a tech business. The second annual East Meets West Conference, which spanned three days in mid-January, is the culmination of that effort.
Presented by Blue Startups, the conference brings together investors, entrepreneurs and global tech influences from Asia, Hawai‘i and North America, offering learning and networking opportunities as well as insight from a lineup of international speakers.
The event kicked off with a sold-out tour of the accelerators and co-working spaces that comprise Hawai‘i’s startup ecosystem. In addition to showcasing Hawai‘i’s top 10 startups to an international audience, the event featured keynotes, fireside chats and deep dive discussions on operating and investing in foreign markets.
Entrepreneurs laid down their best pitches during 10-minute, one on one meetings with investors. The conference also showcased the Mobile Challenge Asia Pacific, better known as MCAP, a pitch-off event featuring 30 new mobile startups and early-stage ventures from nine countries in the Asia-Pacific region. The three winners will go on to compete in the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, Spain.
