Timothy Huo is among this year's honorees of Pacific Business News’ annual Inno Under 25 awards. To see the other winners, click here.
Timothy Huo
Age: 22
Timothy Huo recently graduated from the University of Hawaii at Manoa with a master’s in computer science. Last year, in partnership with fellow Inno Under 25 honoree Alyssia Chen, he created Tadish, a mobile app that allows users to record and rate individual dishes — rather than restaurants — and provides individualized suggestions based on their preferences.
“When Alyssia first shared the idea with me in a computer science class, it immediately resonated because I’ve often experienced situations where my friends and I had different tastes when eating out. After brainstorming and reading scientific articles on taste together, she and I developed a prototype and a unique dish rating system,” he recalled.
The pair earned third place at this year’s UH Venture Competition for Tadish, beating 40 other teams.
Huo also has competed in various technical and business competitions, including the Hawaii Annual Code Challenge, where he twice took first place. He also took first place in an international hackathon as part of a team that created an app that aims to help facilitate environmental-related events.
He served as the president of ICSpark, an independent organization at UH Manoa that provides free coding mentorship programs for students in grades 6 to 12. Huo also is a leader with Technology Outreach Hawaii, a nonprofit that promotes technology education throughout the state. He formerly was the chief information officer and is now a director.
What accomplishment are you most proud of to date?
Although I initially concentrated solely on the technical field, I’m proud I made an effort to explore areas like customer validation, strategy and business operations. This growth was largely fueled by seizing opportunities provided by the Pacific Asian Center for Entrepreneurship, through which I gained valuable insights by engaging with real-world challenges outside of tech. The experience taught me how critical it is to bridge the gap between technology and business, allowing me to grow both professionally and personally.
What is your favorite part of what you do?
One of the most rewarding aspects of my work is creating websites and applications that provide value both to others and to myself. Whether developing solutions, enhancing user experiences, or experimenting with new ideas, it’s exciting to bring those concepts to life and see them make an impact. The ability to turn ideas into functional products, especially those that benefit others, drives my passion for development.
How do you envision the future — what is next for you, and what is your ultimate career goal?
As a recent graduate, I see the next phase of my journey as an opportunity to further grow and acquire industry-level skills. My ultimate career goal is to leverage this knowledge to support communities, by providing them with the tools and technology they need to thrive in today’s digital landscape.
The “brain drain” has long been an issue for Hawaii. What do you think the state needs to retain its younger workforce?
This is a challenging issue, but I believe the state can make a significant impact by investing in STEM education for middle and high school students, thus building a stronger, future-ready workforce. Additionally, fostering mentorship programs could help Hawaii’s youth establish crucial local connections, encouraging them to pursue careers and opportunities within the state.
