Description

Impact SmallBiz Accelerator Program

Chamber of Commerce Hawaii and Hawaii Technology Development Corporation (HTDC) present the Impact SmallBiz Accelerator Program. The 5-month statewide program is designed to support small businesses and early-stage entrepreneurs, fostering growth to diversify and fortify Hawaii’s economy through mentorship, training and an opportunity to showcase their business.

Program at a Glance

• Two cohorts composed of eight companies each.
  • Cohort 1: September 2024 – January 2025
  • Cohort 2: November 2024 – March 2025
• Mentorship: Each business is paired with a mentor of a similar industry who will provide valuable insights and advice based on their own experiences, 1-2 hours per week
• Training: Guest speakers will provide skill development on topics such as Funding, Financial Accounting, Talent & Culture, Marketing and Legal, 1 hour per month
• Showcase: The cohort will end with a Showcase to connect with industry professionals, potential clients and other entrepreneurs that can lead to new opportunities such as investors, partners and collaborations

Criteria

• Chamber membership is not required
• Must be based in the state of Hawai’i
• Must be in business at least 12 months as of September 2024
• No more than $75,000 per year in revenue
• Less than 5 employees

Meet the Mentors
Meet our mentors! By working with a mentor, entrepreneurs are three times more likely to stay in business. A 2018 MicroMentor Impact report found that 75 percent of entrepreneurs globally who received mentoring increased their revenue and 82 percent survived their first one or two years in business, a crucial hurdle for startups.

 Len Higashi, Founder, Edge Velo LLC
Brian Kealoha, Chief Growth & Impact Officer, Vermont Energy Investment Corporation
Stan Lau, CEO & Founder, Hawaii Tech Support
Sandy Navarez, Market Director of Leisure Sales, Marriott Hawaii
Edward Ontai, President, DataHouse
Kurt Osaki, President & CEO, Osaki Creative Group
Erin Uehara, Owner & Chocolate Connections Officer, Chocolea
Eric Yeaman, Managing Partner, Hoku Capital LLC

ABOUT THE MENTORS

Meet the Speakers & Trainers
Meet our speakers and trainers! Each is an expert in their field with decades of experience. Our monthly sessions will cover the following topics: Business Model Planning, Funding 101 and Federal Funding, Financial Accounting, Talent & Culture, Marketing, and Legal.

Stacey Katakura, CEO, Accumulus
John Knorek, Director, Torkildson Katz
Mari Villa, CEO, Villa Business Consulting Group

ABOUT THE SPEAKERS & TRAINERS