EPISODE 04: RECHUNG FUJIHIRA
How he started Box Jelly: Hawaii’s first co-working space, tips on building community, and why he gives back
Rechung Fujihira is Co-Founder and CEO of Box Jelly, Hawaii’s first co-working space. He was also Co-Founder of Blue Startups, Hawaii’s first venture-accelerator and has helped to build various pillars of the startup community in Honolulu.
He has been named the Hawaii Venture Capital Association’s Young Entrepreneur of the Year, Pacific Edge Magazine’s Young Professional of the Year and one of the 20 people to watch for the next 20 years by Hawaii Business Magazine.
LINKS AND RESOURCES
Books Referenced:
Built to Sell by John Warrillow
Cashflow Quadrant by Robert T. Kiyosaki
The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up by Marie Kondo
Blogs Mentioned:
Common Sense with Dan Carlin
Comments section of AVC by Fred Wilson
Entrepreneurs / Investors Rechung admires:
God Father of co-working: Tony Bacigalupo
Shows he likes:
House of Cards on Netflix
Money and Violence on Youtube
SHOW NOTES
3:45 – Selling CD’s and other odd jobs
5:25 – Meeting his first mentor Duke
7:24 – Traveling abroad to Japan
9:45 – Going to China and seeing first co-working space
10:45 – “Chit-Chats” at Shin don way
12:20 – Working with Tony and going to Chaminade classes even though he graduated
15:30 – Getting started on Box Jelly
17:25 – Partnerships with private companies doing educational programs
18:15 – Story behind the name: Box Jelly
18:55 – Struggles with initial testing of proof of concept: popup at Fishcake
22:45 – Marketing and Mission
24:30 – Coming out of his shell and learning to network
28:25 – The startup community
31:38 – Building co-working spaces attached to schools
33:34 – Rechung’s vision for Box Jelly in the next 5-10 years
39:30 – What the Box Jelly does, Rocket ship analogy
40:47 – Tips about community building
43:05 – Moon Collective, own and run by Benjamin King
46:12 – How Hawaii’s startup scene has evolved since Box Jelly’s been open
49:25 – Why Hawaii?
51:08 – Why give back?
55:05 – Rapid Fire Q&A: Favorite thing about Hawaii, Favorite Blogs/Podcast, Best book, Entrepreneurs he admires, last Netflix show he binge watched, what he’s most proud of in his career
1:01:02 – Tips for Entrepreneurs