HPU is training the next generation of global entrepreneurs,” according to Dr. Bee Leng Chua, director of the University’s Entrepreneurship Center. Its method: a competition designed to get students to think about unique business ideas, pitch them to potential investors, and receive support and cash prizes to help sustain their ventures.

Fifteen teams of students from HPU’s business, communication, and liberal arts programs competed for cash awards, including $5,000 for the best new venture. in HPU’s spring inaugural New Venture Challenge, May 14-16. Competitions included posters, presentations (pitches) and business plans and were presented to 34 judges from the Honolulu business community who played the role of potential investors.

The top prize went to Aroomafresh LLC. Students Matthew Boyd and Vincent Kimura propose to develop a prototype and market an inexpensive and “green” airfreshening device to large retailers. Boyd was effusive about his experience of the New Venture Challenge.

“ I think the whole thing went off extremely well,” he said. “Even if we hadn’t won, this experience enabled me to get so much feedback that it well and truly paid for the time and effort we put in.”
Amore & Sapore took second place, a $3,000 cash prize, and received the top prize in the Poster Competition. Founded by Laura Genocchio and Eddie McDonough, Amore & Sapore will offer culinary and travel lovers a vacation package in Northern Italy.

Third place and $2,000 were awarded to Hingano Supermarket, a retail and wholesale business that is planned to bring a reliable supply of high quality goods, services, and jobs to the people of Tonga. Hingano Supermarket is the brainchild of Vili Hingano and teammates Richard Fale and Enna Taulanga.

TherapyCam, fourth place winner, is an online distance-counseling software service that facilitates individual or group therapy sessions using a webcam. The TherapyCam team was represented by Andrew Sabo, Claudia Wagner, Juergen Gross, and Louise Huang.

HItravel, developed by Hsiu-Han Chen, Chia-Chen Wu, Yi-Yin Chen, Yen-Ju Chen, and Alita Kristensen swept a number of honors, winning the Elevator Pitch Competition, First Runner-up in the Poster Competition, and Best Presentation Award in its division. HItravel is planned as a travel information Web site platform.

Honorable Mention, Best Business Plan and Best Presentation in its division went to The Bedside Buggie of KDM products. Founders Kristen Kearns and Miguel Malabayabas plan to develop and market an innovative infant crib.

Uproar Magazine received Honorable Mention in its division, and impressed the judges by already having a sponsor for its debut as Hawai‘i’s first mixed martial arts publication. Creators Britanny Yap and Hanalei Jaber plan to pair the magazine with a Web site with breaking news, fight results, and video interviews.

Mike Schricker won Honorable Mention and Best Presentation in its division for Kids on Drugs, the first “tellall” guide for parents of drug users. The electronic book contains 150 pages of content, images and hours of video to help parents identify symptoms of drug use.

Hawai‘i Key Bank received Honorable Mention in its division. Artur Valieu and Mikalai Litvin see Hawai‘i Key Bank as a way to create private and secure storage of copies of keys that will be available to owners at any time for a small fee.

Wazha Dube’s venture, Da Spot, received the 2nd Runner-up prize in the Elevator Pitch competition. Da Spot is a restaurant and gaming establishment catering to college and university students and offering affordable food, beverages, and entertainment.

HPU President Chatt G. Wright summed up the importance of the Venture Challenge for HPU students. “It’s rare that young people have an opportunity to get feedback from men and women who start companies in the real world. The 34 business leaders who responded to our request to be judges are decision-makers in the business world. They offer our student entrepreneurs insights into the ups and downs an entrepreneur has to face.”

The five grand finals judges included David Tumilowicz, publisher of Hawaii Business; Bill Spencer, president of Hawaii Venture Capital Association; Ted Jung, senior vice president of Smith Barney; Larry Rodriguez, managing partner (retired) Ernst & Young – Hawaii; and Barinna Poon, president of Hong Kong Business Association of Hawai‘i. For more information on HPU’s Entrepreneurship Center, call Dr. Bee Leng Chua at 687-7068 or e-mail bchua@hpu.edu