Tarik is a Founding Partner at Sultan Ventures, a venture firm focusing on early-stage startups. Passionate about building thriving communities that foster entrepreneurship, Tarik has spun out several initiatives to advance innovation, including XLR8UH®, a nationally-ranked (Forbes top 30) venture accelerator; XLR8HI®, Hawaii’s Entrepreneurship Center; and XLR8Youth, a redesigned accelerator program for youth. Tarik was named in 2017 as one of Hawaii Business Magazine’s 20 for the next 20, in 2019 as Pacific Business News’ Forty under 40, and the SBA’s Small Business Advocate for Innovation for the State of Hawaii, and most recently listed as one of Business Journals Influencers, the top 100 young executive “Rising Stars” across the nation.
Tarik also serves as a member or director on a number of non-profits, including a federal appointment by the U.S. Secretary of Commerce as a Member of the Hawaii Pacific Export Council (HPEC) and as a a Founding Member of the Startup Paradise initiative. Most recently, Tarik served as the Board Director and Treasurer of the Hawaii Venture Capital Association; Board Member of the Shidler College of Business Alumni Association; on the Advisory Board of the Pacific Asian Center for Entrepreneurship (PACE); and finally as the Co-Chair of Communications for the Startup Champions Network, a national network of professional ecosystem builders. Tarik holds a BS from Tulane University with a focus on Neuroscience and Cognitive Studies and an MBA from the Shidler College of Business.