Local incubator XLR8HI unveiled Tuesday its second preX cohort of 15 Hawaii-based startup companies in a wide range of industries.
The four-week, all-remote investment readiness and scaling curriculum is underway.
"Since we're sector- and stage-agnostic, they represent [various] sectors and industries and stages, so we're really excited to get going with them," Omar Sultan, managing partner of XLR8HI, told Pacific Business News. "We want it to be the widest opportunity for local entrepreneurs and companies. The idea is to provide immediate support services and guidance, not four months, six months from now, but immediate services."
The 15 companies hail from Oahu, Maui, Molokai, and Hawaii Island. Their specialties vary from locally sourced food and artificial intelligence, to bioenergy and natural disaster relief.
There were around 75 applicants for the cohort, Sultan said.
PreX was launched in April 2020 as a response to economic hardships of the coronavirus pandemic. It has backing from the U.S. Economic Development Administration, Hawaii Technology Development Corp., the Department of Business, Economic Development & Tourism, and Sultan Ventures.
Participants can expect technical assistance, community support from connecting businesses, and a final showcase day in which participants will have a chance to pitch their company to venture capitalists and angel investors.
“You will learn about investment opportunities and discover ways to think bigger about what's possible for your business,” said co-founder and artist Roxy Ortiz of Wooden Wave, a participant in April 2020's inaugural preX cohort, in a statement.
The 15 new companies are:
- AI.Fish, an artificial intelligence, machine learning, and computer vision company in the marine space.
- Ai Share, which connects food surplus to food demand.
- Aila Niu Hawaii, which produces 100% coconut-based natural skin care products in Puna.
- Circul8 Hawaii, which reduces waste by eliminating disposables through a reuse service that collects, sanitizes, and returns containers to businesses.
- Greenshoot, a public registry to help natural disaster survivors recover faster by sharing their needs with donors.
- Hello World Games, which develops games to help travelers, business people, and heritage learners acquire conversational skills in any foreign language.
- Kamuela Gourmet, which makes small batch, gourmet granola and muesli with standard, seasonal and limited edition flavors.
- Koko Kai Coconut Yogurt, which specializes in organic, Hawaii-made non-dairy coconut yogurt.
- Kupuna Care Pair, a software solution to help families connect with elderly care facilities quickly through automation technology.
- Moana Water, which offers sustainably packaged bottled water aimed at reducing the use of plastic in Hawaii and beyond.
- Olena Teahouse, a developer of naturally farmed herbal drinks to help health-conscious people access efficient nutrition.
- Pop Culture Artisan Pops, a specialist in gourmet ice pops and ice cream bars featuring local and premium ingredients.
- Study Duck, an automator of tools and strategies to help independent learners.
- Sugarcane Dane, a producer of sustainably made tropical syrups for bartenders, bakers, baristas, and beverage enthusiasts.
- Vespucci Collective, creator of carbon-negative bioenergy production systems through regenerative agriculture.
