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How the Tradition of Aloha is Delivering SDG Progress in Hawaiʻi
June 17, 2021
By MJ Altman on June 17, 2021 American Leadership on the SDGs People across America are using the Sustainable Development Goals as a road map to recover better by turning these global ambitions into local action. In Hawaiʻi, that means uniting communities around the tradition and spirit of aloha to accelerate progress on…Read More
5 Ways to Boost Local Innovation
January 5, 2020
By Tarik Sultan and Omar Sultan for Hawaii Business Magazine Authors say Hawai‘i can help build a vibrant and diverse economy in the 21st century with a coordinated effort by business and government. Visitor numbers keep setting records year after year, but core questions about tourism and the Hawai‘i economy haven’t changed for half a…Read More
Two Hawaii Execs Selected to National List of Influential Young Executives
October 17, 2019
By Olivia Peterkin – Web Editor, Pacific Business News Oct 17, 2019, 7:10am HST Isar Mostafanezhad, founder and CEO of Nalu Scientific, and Tarik Sultan, co-founder and managing partner of Sultan Ventures, have been selected for a national list of influential young executives. The Business Journals’ Influencers: Rising Stars spotlights 100 executives who are having…Read More
The Female Factor
October 11, 2019
By Katarina Matayoshi for Hawaii Business Magazine Does a founder’s gender shape the evolution of a startup? Three female founders reflect on how being a woman has defined their businesses. You’ve probably heard enough intriguing founders’ stories to know that an entrepreneur’s personal experiences and identity – whether it’s culture, ethnicity, religion, class or education – often leave distinctive…Read More
Greening the Concrete Jungle
September 9, 2019
Hawai‘i is introducing a new form of concrete that reduces greenhouse gas emissions It’s trivia night and the question is: “What’s the most abundant man-made material on the planet?” Would you guess plastic? Paper? Steel? If you think about the sheer quantity of buildings and roads that mankind has built around the globe, you might get…Read More
Three Ways to Drive Innovation at Your Business
August 5, 2019
Three Ways to Drive Innovation at Your Business By Tarik Sultan for Hawaii Business Magazine How a trio of Hawai‘i’s Top 250 organizations stays ahead with innovations The pace of business has accelerated in a world where the internet never sleeps, smartphones are omnipresent and both feed off the tap-tap immediacy of social media. Plus, the speed at which…Read More
Local Startups Ride the Wellness Wave
July 8, 2019
Local Startups Ride the Wellness Wave By Tarik Sultan for Hawaii Business Magazine From Silicon Beach to Wall Street, health and wellness is the hottest new frontier for tech ventures. Heavy-hitter companies like Amazon, JP Morgan, Berkshire Hathaway, Google, Apple and Uber are all hoping to disrupt a $4.2 trillion global wellness industry with new options…Read More
How Tech Is Re-Shaping Real Estate
May 23, 2019
How Tech Is Re-Shaping Real Estate By Tarik Sultan for Hawaii Business Magazine Two Hawai‘i-based startups are using property technology – “PropTech” – to drive innovation in condos and other buildings We are living in the rising Third Wave of the internet, an era when internet technology is so integrated into everyday transactions that you…Read More
Do It for the Gram
May 7, 2019
Do It for the Gram By Tarik Sultan for Hawaii Business Magazine Think of Instagram as a brand lab to test products and ideas Instagram has emerged as a vital (and potentially lucrative) marketing channel that not only drives customer acquisition, engagement and sales, but also provides small businesses with a free innovation lab…Read More
University of Hawaii’s Nationally Recognized Accelerator Selects Sixth Cohort
February 5, 2019
XLR8UH, the multi-phase education and investment program designed to help grow University of Hawaiʻientrepreneurs and startups, has selected four companies for the program’s sixth cohort. More than 100 companies applied across multiple UH campuses. The teams are eligible for up to $75,000 in seed capital, plus an additional $100,000 in follow-on funding, for a total XLR8UH-driven investment of $175,000. “As…Read More
Sensor Tech, Collaborative Workplace Startups Part of XLR8UH’s 6th Cohort
XLR8UH, the University of Hawaii’s nationally recognized startup program, has named four technology startups to its sixth cohort. The four companies are working on developing sensor technology, collaborative meeting environments and gift-wrap for digital items. They were chosen from more than 100 applicants across the 10 University of Hawaii System campuses for the program, which…Read More
University of Hawai‘i’s Accelerator Selects 6th Cohort
XLR8UH, the multi-phase education and investment program designed to help grow University of Hawaiʻi entrepreneurs and startups, has selected four companies to participate in the program’s sixth cohort. Recognized in 2017 by Forbes as one of the top 30 accelerator programs in the United States, XLR8UH is a public-private partnership between the University of Hawaiʻi and Sultan Ventures,…Read More
Startup Weekend Maui Workshop Attendees Learn Common Pitfalls That Cause Businesses to Fail
December 14, 2018
If there was one key lesson Hawaii attendees took away with them during last night’s Startup Weekend Maui workshop, “Lean Startup Canvas,” it was know thy customer. Presented by Maui Economic Development Board (MEDB), the hands-on workshop led by Omar Sultan (Managing Partner) and Kate Matayoshi (Program Manager) of Sultan Ventures and XLR8HI brought clarity…Read More
Inside The Innovator’s Mindset
October 2, 2018
by Stefan Opsal XLR8HI launched their speaker series in front of a filled space at Hālau ‘Īnana on September 26th (mahalo to Education Incubator for hosting us!). XLR8HI’s Talk Story featured Richard Tedlow, renowned historian, Harvard professor, and Silicon Valley insider. Living up to it’s name, the informal chat on leadership quickly evolved into an…Read More
Unplugged Conversation: Making Innovation Work For Women & Girls
September 23, 2018
By Katarina Poljakova #sheinnovates Hawaii Sultan Ventures associate Kate Poljakova represented SV on the innovation panel at the #sheinnnovates Honolulu event held at Hawaii Pacific University on September 17. #sheinnovates is an initiative under the UN Women’s Global Innovation Coalition for Change (GICC), focused on developing the innovation market to work better for women and…Read More
All Aloha Accelerator Meet Up
September 17, 2018
By Tarik Sultan, Co-founder of Sultan Ventures Last Friday evening, Startup Paradise convened at Ka Waiwai, a beautiful coworking “Hawaiian Space where community, culture, and commerce intersect” for the All Aloha Incubator and Accelerator Meet Up, a new event organized by Hawaii Investment Ready (HIR). The event is designed to be a meeting of…Read More
Failing Slow: Balancing Overoptimism and Overconfidence in Entrepreneurship
July 16, 2018
Overoptimism can kill. But in the world of entrepreneurship, overoptimism might very well be the life raft that helps you weather the roughest storms. While the barriers to entry for startups trying to break into the market can be quite high — from raising enough capital to locating a viable market — there are equally imposing barriers the entrepreneur…Read More
Expert Advice for Entrepreneurs: Lessons From The Startup Catalyst Podcast
June 28, 2018
Click here to read Lessons From The Startup Catalyst Podcast: Part 1 In Season 2, we asked accomplished founders and investors what advice they had for aspiring entrepreneurs. Here’s what they said: 1. Know yourself and know your unique truth Kathryn Finney, Founder & Managing Director, digitalundivided I think it is really important as an…Read More
5 Ways To Promote Inclusivity In Your Daily Work-Life: Lessons From The Startup Catalyst Podcast
June 26, 2018
Understatement: there’s a vast inclusivity gap in the startup world. Tech and startup cultures are known for their longstanding exclusivity, where the majority of founders and VCs are white men, and females and minorities are extremely underrepresented. Since Sultan Ventures started, we’ve been all about equity and access for entrepreneurs— access to opportunities, access…Read More
SV Travelogue Part 2: 2018 Global Entrepreneurship Congress in Istanbul
June 15, 2018
In April, I was on the tail end of my 2-month U.S. tour to meet with other startup champions when a chance invitation changed my course. I was lucky to get a last-minute, spontaneous invitation to the Global Entrepreneurship Congress, which is how I ended up changing my return ticket to Hawaii and rerouting to…Read More
SV Travelogue Part 1: Rise of The Rest, South by Southwest, & New Orleans Entrepreneur Week
June 11, 2018
Part of our work to drive innovation forward is exchanging knowledge with other startup ecosystems across the globe. In the first half of 2018 I set off on a multi-state tour to represent Sultan Ventures at various investor and ecosystem conferences, also known as the acronym tour (ROTR, SXSW, NOEW). In the spirit of knowledge…Read More
Op-ed: Hawaii Should Continue to Embrace Innovation
June 1, 2018
Hawaii Should Continue to Embrace Innovation By Tarik Sultan, managing partner of Sultan Ventures and managing partner of XLR8UH, a nationally recognized startup program that invests in Hawaii’s top talent and research. As a consumer, I look for five criteria when choosing a product or service: 1) Value – What is the price point?…Read More
Introducing The All-New Podcast: The Startup Catalyst Version 2.0
April 17, 2018
Today we’re excited to unveil the re-launch of our podcast “The Startup Catalyst” with a brand new season, a brand new host, Yasmin Dar, and a brand new podcast theme that we’re really passionate about. Season 2 is focused entirely on inclusivity in the startup and VC community, a space where the diversity stats are…Read More
Immigrants Get The Job Done In Hawaii
March 1, 2018
Here’s who they are and what they contribute to the local economy. Immigrants have an outsized place in Hawaii’s history. In the 19th and early 20th centuries they came from Japan, China, Puerto Rico and the Portuguese Azores and sustained the labor-intensive sugar and pineapple industries that dominated the state until a generation ago, creating…Read More
Engine: Loss of net neutrality puts innovation at risk in Hawaii
February 14, 2018
Tarik Sultan, is a managing partner at Sultan Ventures based in Honolulu. The world of innovation is at an exciting point in time, unrivaled by anything we’ve ever seen before. The cost of launching a startup has never been cheaper and the process has never been more efficient. This is largely due to reduced business costs (e.g….Read More
Star Advertiser: Loss of net neutrality puts innovation at risk in Hawaii
February 4, 2018
As the most isolated archipelago on Earth, Hawaii has long had a challenging economic riddle to solve: How does a group of remote islands in the middle of the Pacific participate in today’s global economy? The answer has depended on Hawaii’s ability to connect with the world through technology. How we embrace, foster…Read More
XLR8UH named one of ‘The Best Startup Accelerators Of 2017’ by Forbes.
December 1, 2017
The Best Startup Accelerators Of 2017 by Alex Konrad , Forbes Staff. Covering venture capital, software and startups . Jun 7, 2017 The startup accelerator remains one of tech’s most popular ways to get a business up and running. But which ones are the best for new startups? With hundreds of programs to choose from — the most popular…Read More
Reversing Hawaii’s Brain Drain
Five steps local leaders are taking right now to persuade bright young kamaaina to stay home or come back By LiAnne Yu Tony Marzi is the kind of kamaaina that Hawaii’s business and community leaders hope will come home. The 32-year-old grew up on Hawaii Island, graduated in computer science from UH Hilo, founded a coworking…Read More
XLR8UH Wins National Award For The Third Year In A Row
November 3, 2017
XLR8UH was named one of only 20 national winners of the U.S. Small Business Association’s (SBA) Growth Accelerator Fund competition. This marks the third year in a row that XLR8UH has won the competition, which includes a $50,000 cash award. XLR8UH was the only winner from Hawaiʻi in this year’s SBA’s Growth Accelerator Fund competition, which is designed to draw attention and…Read More
InnovateHer
July 2, 2017
Event Description 2017 InnovateHER is a cross-cutting national prize competition aimed at unearthing innovative products and services that help impact and empower the lives of women and families. From the pool of semi-finalist, The Small Business Administration (SBA) will select up to 10 finalist who will be invited to the National Challenge to be held…Read More
XLR8UH Makes List of Best Startup Accelerator Programs of 2017
June 9, 2017
XLR8UH, the University of Hawaii’s accelerator program, was named one of the nation’s best startup accelerators of 2017. “This is great momentum for innovation and startups in Hawaii, the university and Startup Paradise,” said Omar Sultan, managing director of XLR8UH. “We’re obviously very happy for the national recognition.” XLR8UH made the “Bronze” category in the…Read More
Master’s in Data Science Programs in Hawaii
June 7, 2017
Master’s in Data Science Programs in Hawaii The Aloha State may not be Silicon Paradise (yet), but it’s trying! To get you up-to-speed, we’ve put together a short guide to earning a HI data science degree. It has details on everything from research & scholarships to startups & salary numbers. Already have a university in…Read More
Tarik Sultan, Founder of Sultan Ventures, on Overcoming Talent Deficits
June 1, 2017
Tarik Sultan is the Founder and Managing Partner of Sultan Ventures, an investment firm, and Founder and Managing Partner of XLR8UH, the University of Hawaii (UH) venture accelerator program is an active leader in the Hawaiian startup community and focused on talent development. This time for the #StartupsEverywhere, series, he talks with me about his investment fund,…Read More
Hawaiian Baby Food Concept Takes Top Prize at Startup Event
May 23, 2017
The Maui News Poi Belly, a Hawaiian on-the-go baby food concept company using locally sourced ingredients, took first place in the Startup Weekend Maui event, held from Friday to Sunday at the Maui Research & Technology Park in Kihei. Jody Yoshida, Lauren Burgess and Naomi Glass had 54 hours to create a new business from…Read More
Entrepreneurs Get a Dose of Inspiration at MEDB’s Three-Day Startup Weekend
May 21, 2017
Thirty would-be entrepreneurs hit the ground running for the fourth annual Startup Weekend Maui, which began Friday and culminates today at the Maui Research and Technology Park in Kihei. With the overarching theme of “the hardest part of starting up is starting out,” the three-day event, presented by Maui Economic Development Board, is designed to…Read More
Ask The Expert: How To Get Into An Accelerator
May 17, 2017
Q: I’m an independent entrepreneur with a great business plan. How do I get into an accelerator? A: First determine whether an accelerator is the right path for your startup. We get many teams looking for investment capital when they should focus on obtaining a loan or simply on organic growth. If investment capital is…Read More
Benefits of Lean Startup Methodology for Businesses Touted at Workshop
March 19, 2017
The old adage “If you build it they will come” flew out the door during Maui Economic Development Board’s “Business Model Canvas & Lean Startup Overview” workshop held on Feb. 15. In its place came the advice to all entrepreneurs and small business owners: “Best to not build anything until you figure out first what…Read More
The Innovation Economy
March 9, 2017
Susan Yamada is the Executive Director of the Pacific Asian Center for Entrepreneurship (PACE) located within the University of Hawaii’s Shidler College of Business. Omar Sultan is Managing Partner of Sultan Ventures and Founding Managing Director of XLR8UH. Kyle Chang is the Co-founder of HealthTechApps, Inc. Susan, Omar and Kyle join Jay Fidell on ThinkTech…Read More
Hawaii start-ups swim with legislative sharks
March 8, 2017
Some “Hawaii Start-Ups” swam with the sharks at the State Capitol. Just like the hit ABC show “Shark Tank”, local entrepreneur’s pitched their innovative ideas. On the show “Shark Tank” start-ups hope to catch the eye of a billionaire investor. At the State Capitol, new companies wanted instead to connect with lawmakers. “This is really to…Read More
20 FOR THE NEXT 20 2017: HAWAII’S PEOPLE TO WATCH
As a New Orleans college student in 2005, Tarik Sultan was on track for a career in medicine or research, like many in his family, when Hurricane Katrina hit. With the city in ruins, he had no idea how to help. “I looked around, and the people making the most impact were those with…Read More
Furikake Puff Maker Eyes Mainland Costcos
March 6, 2017
By Kathryn Mykleseth March 6, 2017 After 21 years of business in Hawaii, a family-run bakery and restaurant chain is working to sell some of its products on the mainland. Matcha macarons, the Big Boy deli sandwich and braised-duck dip panini are some of the items on La Tour Cafe’s menu familiar to its Hawaii…Read More
Lean Startup Methodology Touted at MEDB Workshop
February 27, 2017
The old adage, “if you build it they will come” flew out the door during Maui Economic Development Board’s “Business Model Canvas & Lean Startup Overview” workshop held on February 15th. In its place, came the advice to all entrepreneurs and small business owners, “Best to not build anything until you figure out first what…Read More
#StartupsEverywhere: Tarik Sultan Interview
February 8, 2017
#StartupsEverywhere Profile: Tarik Sultan, Founder and Managing Partner of Sultan Ventures, Honolulu, HI This profile is part of #StartupsEverywhere, an ongoing series highlighting startup leaders in ecosystems across the country. This interview has been edited for length, content, and clarity. Tarik Sultan is the Founder and Managing Partner of Sultan Ventures, an investment firm, and…Read More
THE FUTURE OF FARMING
January 25, 2017
Hawaii’s advantages and disadvantages make it a good place to experiment with ag technology and innovations. Imagine a world in which robots, drones and artificial intelligence plant, monitor, harvest, and deliver your food. This may sound like science fiction, but it is, in fact, the emerging reality in farming. “We’re seeing robots that can plant,…Read More
Two Workshops Kick Off MEDB’s Startup Weekend Maui Series
January 22, 2017
The Maui Economic Development Board will offer two workshops in February as part of its 2017 Startup Weekend Maui Series. Entrepreneurs interested in jump-starting their new business or fine-tuning their existing business are encouraged to attend either or both of these sessions. Workshops will be held at MEDB’s Malcolm Center, located at 1305 N. Holopono…Read More
State of Startup Paradise
January 5, 2017
The number of startups in Hawaii has increased from 18 in 2013 to 145 in 2016 and total capital (revenue and funding raised) jumped from $28 million in 2013 to over $252 million in 2016, according to a “snapshot report” compiled by Sultan Ventures, a Honolulu-based boutique venture firm focusing on early-stage startups. The report is…Read More
Hawaii’s Startup Scene
December 30, 2016
“To get Honolulu on par with vibrant startup communities, we need more companies emerging from Hawai‘i’s centers of excellence and more engagement from the corporate leaders.” —Tim Dick, Startup Capital Ventures Hawai‘i’s venture community has set its sights on leveraging the state’s unique cultural environment and transnational ties to attract and retain both entrepreneurs with…Read More
Hawaii Governor Will Propose $10 Million of State Budget Be Used to Help Build Innovation Sector
December 13, 2016
(TNS) — Hawaii Gov. David Ige has pledged to propose $10 million of the state budget be used to help build the innovation sector. Ige said he would request the funds be used for the state-run HI Growth Initiative, which was created to attract private investment to innovation in Hawaii. “It really is about how…Read More
The Startup Catalyst Podcast: Wrapping Up a Fantastic Season
October 27, 2016
One thousand six hundred ninety. That is the amount of interview minutes we’ve recorded and published in our 30 total episodes (including bonus shows). That’s over 2.7 gigabytes worth of conversation, laughter, and yes, even some emotional moments. It’s been a fantastic ride, and this content is and always will be available for free, accessible…Read More
And the Winners of UberPITCH Are…
September 20, 2016
A week ago, we held Hawaii’s first #UberPITCH event to promote and support our Startup Paradise ecosystem. Sultan Ventures was honored to partner with Uber on this great initiative and bring it to Oahu and Maui. The event took place over the course of 4 hours where roughly a dozen investors heard dozens of pitches….Read More
Maui investors looking for uber-good ideas
September 9, 2016
The only thing standing between a few Maui entrepreneurs and startup funding might be one 15-minute car ride. On Tuesday, aspiring business owners will get the chance to pitch their best ideas to 12 investors – nine on Oahu and three on Maui – during free, 15-minute rides through a new project called UberPITCH. Created…Read More
UberPITCH in Hawaii
September 7, 2016
UBER PITCH IN HAWAII Every day Uber helps connect thousands of people to a reliable ride across Oahu and Maui. But that’s not all our technology can do. This month, we’re connecting riders with local industry experts from Sultan Ventures to create a unique mentorship opportunity at the tap of a button. SUBMIT YOUR…Read More
Your Investor is Arriving In a Startup Paradise Uber Near You
The elevator pitch is that 30-second window entrepreneurs have to grab the attention of listeners and excite potential investors. The future of one’s company can hinge on the success or failure of your elevator pitch. We coach our startups that you should “always be pitching”. Honing, improving, updating, tailoring for your audience. Well get ready…Read More
InnovateHER
August 30, 2016
The number of women in the workforce is close to surpassing that of men, yet the number of female venture capital partners dropped to a paltry six percent in 2014, down from 10 percent in 1999. To buck the trend, the U.S Small Business Association created the InnovateHER Challenge, a national competition designed to highlight…Read More
Podcast Bonus Special Recap: Week of Blue Startups Cohort 7 Demo Day
July 18, 2016
Last week we interviewed three different CEO’s from Blue Startups Cohort 7. The podcasts are available on iTunes, Soundcloud, or your podcast catcher of choice. Check out the 3 interviews below! Also, if you happen to be in The Bay Area this Friday, stop by the 500 Startups Mountain View Office. See the team’s pitch…Read More
The Startup Catalyst™ Podcast: 45-Days in Review
June 30, 2016
Reflecting back upon the approximately 1 and 1/2 months of the podcast, it’s been a wild ride! With about 10 guests under our belts, I thought it would be a good opportunity to share some thoughts and statistics of the past 6+ weeks. We’ve been fortunate to welcome over 10 amazing people on to the…Read More
Summer is No Time to Coast!
It’s officially summer. While so many of our thoughts zoom in on vacation plans, small business owners and entrepreneurs are staying busy, focusing on customer service, marketing, improving products and services to keep things heated up! There’s plenty of ideas and support from resources of SBA and business and community partners. Read on! ACCESS TO CAPITAL…Read More
Garbage to Garden wins $100K Greenlight Maine prize
June 24, 2016
Garbage to Garden, the Portland-based company offering curbside composting, bested the competition Friday night to win the inaugural Greenlight Maine competition and its $100,000 top prize. The company, founded by Tyler Frank in 2012, has reached deep penetration in the greater Portland region. Currently, the company claims one in seven households in Portland are a customer. Garbage to Garden also…Read More
HVCA's State of the Startup Investment Industry in Hawaii
June 7, 2016
Each year, Hawaii Venture Capital Association has a “State of the Startup Investment Industry” talk with panel discussion and investor presentations reviewing and forecasting developments both locally and nationally. This year we were fortunate to attend and record the proceedings! We’ve included the audio from the event in a bonus episode of The Startup Catalyst…Read More
Startup venture accelerator XLR8UH announces fourth cohort
June 2, 2016
The University of Hawaiʻi selected 12 teams as finalists for the fourth cohort of its XLR8UH startup venture accelerator. The pioneering enterprises in this round include: paddleboards for the disabled, organic cookies using locally sourced ingredients, an app for concussion patients and an online platform for students to search for scholarships. These teams have the…Read More
MEDB offers free “Entrepreneurs’ Toolkit Bootcamp” workshop for Lanai residents
June 1, 2016
MEDB’s Innovation Series helps build foundations for business success KIHEI, Maui, Hawaii – June 1, 2016 – Lanai residents interested in starting a business or renewing their existing one are encouraged to attend a FREE two-day workshop, “Entrepreneurs’ Toolkit Bootcamp,” on June 25 and 26. Presented by Maui Economic Development Board (MEDB) as part of…Read More
Sultan Ventures Continues Commitment To Startup Weekend
May 18, 2016
This past weekend, Sultan Ventures Partner Omar Sultan participated as a judge in the Maui Startup Weekend Event hosted by the Maui Economic Development Board held at the Maui Tech Park. “Our company has been involved in every Startup Weekend in Hawai‘i since the beginning, because we think it’s a great entry point for local…Read More
We've Launched a Podcast! Introducing The Startup Catalyst™ Podcast Show
May 12, 2016
We’re very excited to announce the launch of our very own startup podcast. We will be interviewing entrepreneurs and investors in Hawaii and around the globe! At Sultan Ventures, we believe in learning from others and the show is all about knowledge transfer — what inputs, experiences, tools & practices or lucky draws catalyzed an investor’s…Read More
Civil Geeks: Boosting UH Entrepreneurs
May 6, 2016
A program helps turn ideas born at the University of Hawaii into new businesses Water recycling toilets, cancer treatments inspired by marine sponges, and a new way to measure the charge left in your cell phone batteries were among the innovative ideas featured at this week’s UH Tech Showcase downtown. These showcase events are designed to…Read More
What is Slack and Why It is So Important for Your Business
April 26, 2016
I had the opportunity to present at the Digital Marketing Summit with a Dash of SaaS Conference in Honolulu today. In addition to hosting a Startup Panel with XLR8UH Portfolio Companies Comprendio and MeetingSift, as well as Brian Rabben from Blue Startups, I prepared a presentation on the importance of Slack. Slack is the fastest…Read More
The Best of the Launch NY LaunchHour Twitter Chat
April 21, 2016
Yesterday, I was invited to participate in the Launch NY LaunchHour Twitter chat with fellow Vilcap community members. We had a wonderful and vibrant conversation addressing some serious questions facing entrepreneurs and investors everywhere. The top tweets are embedded for each answer based upon favorites or retweets. At Sultan Ventures, we really see efforts like…Read More
It Takes a Village … And a HUI – Midweek Article
March 18, 2016
We are very fortunate to have Christina O’Connor from Midweek write a story on the recent Vilcap announcement that we are joining with a group of innovators here in the state of Hawaii that was selected as part of the Village Capital’s Inaugural Community Initiative. See article pdf posted below and check out midweek.com or…Read More
Sultan Ventures Is Everywhere In Hawaii’s Tech Scene
March 11, 2016
Thanks to our friends at Civil Beat for covering us in a recent article. Thank you to Jason Rushin for the piece! See the full article on Civil Beat’s website. Civil Bytes: Sultan Ventures Is Everywhere In Hawaii’s Tech Scene Some excerpts: – – Sultan Ventures taking a leading role in getting tech-friendly bills through…Read More
Sultan Ventures Leads Hawaii HUI To Be Part Of Inaugural VilCap Communities
March 4, 2016
We are honored to be a part of the VilCap Communities Program! See press release excerpt below and check out the Pacific Business News article covering the exciting news. – – Sultan Ventures, a boutique venture firm based in Honolulu, has once again put Hawaii’s Startup Paradise on the nation’s map. Selected from a singularly…Read More
XLR8UH Awarded $1M from Economic Development Association and University of Hawaii
February 26, 2016
XLR8UH, the University of Hawaii’s proof of concept center and venture accelerator, has received a $500,000 grant from the federal Economic Development Administration to strengthen its commercialization projects across the state. Matching funds are provided by the University proving their commitment to innovation and entrepreneurship accomplished by XLR8UH, which Sultan Ventures co-founded and manages. The…Read More
XLR8UH receives $500K federal grant
February 18, 2016
XLR8UH, the University of Hawaii’s proof of concept center and venture accelerator, has received a $500,000 grant from the federal Economic Development Administration to strengthen its commercialization projects across the state. The grant was part of the 2015 Regional Innovation Strategies Program that aids commercialization, entrepreneurship and job creation projects at a grassroots level. About…Read More
UH accelerator awarded $500,000 to expand statewide outreach
February 17, 2016
The University of Hawaiʻi’s proof of concept center/venture accelerator XLR8UH was recently awarded a $500,000 grant from the Economic Development Administration (EDA) to expand its successful commercialization efforts statewide, including underserved rural communities on the neighbor islands. “We are pleased that the EDA recognized the value and promise of our XLR8UH program,” said Vassilis…Read More
Proto HUB Honolulu Now Being Hosted at Sultan Ventures Offices Downtown
February 3, 2016
Sultan Ventures is proud to host the Proto HUB members in its downtown Honolulu Headquarters. Members have access to 1,500 square feet of co-working space as well as break-out rooms and a 12-member conference room. Guests are treated to spanning views of downtown Honolulu, and impressive ocean views of Aloha Tower and Honolulu Harbor. The…Read More
XLR8UH Recognized by SBA as one of the Nation’s most Innovative Accelerators
August 4, 2015
We are incredibly proud to have XLR8UH recognized by the U.S. Small Business Association as an innovative accelerator program. See excerpt of the press release below: XLR8UH has been recognized as one of the nation’s most elite accelerators by the U.S. Small Business Association (SBA). XLR8UH was selected from applicants across the nation to receive $50,000 in…Read More
Talk Story – Omar & Tarik Sultan
June 1, 2015
Hawaii Business Magazine Featured SV Partners Omar and Tarik Sultan in the May 2015 issue. See original article on the Hawaii Business Magazine website, and full copy included below: The Sultan brothers are a major new force in Hawaii’s venture capital and startup communities. Their two platforms are Sultan Ventures, a Hawaii-based venture capital firm,…Read More
Hawaii-based Sultan Ventures hires three executives as it expands
March 6, 2015
Hawaii-based Sultan Ventures, a boutique venture firm focusing on early-stage startups and investments, has hired executives to head three areas — new ventures, strategic partnerships and investor relations. Meli James will head the new ventures department and will focus on spinning out existing portfolio projects and launching new companies and initiatives. She is the president…Read More
Hawaii’s Startup Paradise Demo Day gives companies a chance to pitch investors
December 4, 2013
Hundreds of entrepreneurs, investors and companies that support startup businesses will gather at the Sheraton Waikiki on Wednesday for the 2013 Hawaii VC Summit and Startup Paradise Demo Day, hosted by Sultan Ventures and the Hawaii Strategic Development Corp. The full-day event will include a crowdfunding workshop, a “Startup Paradise” panel discussion, lunch with keynote…Read More