SUMMER STARTUP LAUNCHPAD
SUMMER STARTUP LAUNCHPAD IS A FREE, 6-WEEK INTENSIVE PROGRAM THAT PROVIDES EDUCATION AND MENTORSHIP TO HELP STUDENT ENTREPRENEURS TEST THEIR IDEAS THROUGH CUSTOMER DISCOVERY AND BUILDING MINIMUM VIABLE PRODUCTS.
EACH INDIVIDUAL WILL RECEIVE $2,000 CASH AWARDS.
TEAMS WILL BE ELIGIBLE FOR AN ADDITIONAL $4,500.
The 2025 Summer Startup Launchpad is scheduled for May 27 through July 3, 2025. Scroll down for a full schedule with mandatory in-person meeting dates. Applicants must submit the online application form to be considered. The deadline to apply is April 25, 2025.
SUMMER STARTUP LAUNCHPAD IS A FREE, 6-WEEK INTENSIVE PROGRAM THAT PROVIDES EDUCATION AND MENTORSHIP TO HELP STUDENT ENTREPRENEURS TEST THEIR IDEAS THROUGH CUSTOMER DISCOVERY AND BUILDING MINIMUM VIABLE PRODUCTS.
EACH INDIVIDUAL WILL RECEIVE $2,000 CASH AWARDS.
TEAMS WILL BE ELIGIBLE FOR AN ADDITIONAL $4,500.
The 2025 Summer Startup Launchpad is scheduled for May 27 through July 3, 2025. Scroll down for a full schedule with mandatory in-person meeting dates. Applicants must submit the online application form to be considered. The deadline to apply is April 25, 2025.
GUIDELINES AND RULES
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To identify entrepreneurial-minded students at the University of Hawaii who wish to explore being an entrepreneur, and have the passion and commitment to pursue and take action on a business idea;
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To teach entrepreneurship based on a lean methodology of building a startup;
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To provide an experiential learning environment that is hands-on and realistic;
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To provide supplemental training in the form of mentorship from community experts;
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To imbue traits of an entrepreneur through weekly lessons, including being tenacious, diligent, collaborative, passionate, creative, and flexible to change;
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To grow student entrepreneurs, who have the confidence and ability to start businesses in Hawaii.
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This program runs for 6 weeks, and includes mandatory meeting dates.
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Participants will receive mentorship from business experts with varying backgrounds and areas of knowledge.
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Participants must be able to attend in person at UH Manoa campus.
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Participants may receive monetary awards, dependent on the program’s budget and each participant’s performance. Only current and classified UH students may receive the funding.
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Participants may be individual OR a teams of 2 to a maximum of 4 people.
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If participating as a team, at least one person on the team must be a classified UH student, who is currently enrolled in a degree-seeking program, with a valid UH identification number. If the team includes non-UH students, the UH student must play a major role in the team, including giving the weekly oral presentation.
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Each participant must commit to a minimum of 30 hours per week.
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Mandatory meeting days for the 2025 program are twice a week.
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Participants must be able to attend in person on mandatory meeting days.
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Participants must schedule their own weekly meetings with mentors.
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All entries must be for new ideas or existing companies less than one year old.
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Participants that participated in a previous year may enter again, but not with the same business idea.
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Participants must complete an exit survey, and provide update reports, as requested by PACE and the program sponsor.
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Interested students must apply by filling out an online application
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Qualified applicants will be notified for an interview.
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The application deadline for the 2025 program is April 25.
2025 WEEKLY SCHEDULE
Schedule subject to change.
Teams will meet in-person twice a week, and work on their company goals during the days between.
| WEEK | DATE & TIME | ACTIVITIES | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Week 1 | Tuesday, May 27
Thursday, May 29 |
Introductions and Discussion
Progress Updates |
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| Week 2 | Tuesday, June 3
Thursday, June 5 |
Discussion
Progress Updates |
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| Week 3 | Tuesday, June 10
Thursday, June 12 |
Discussion
Progress Updates |
|
| Week 4 | Tuesday, June 17
Thursday, June 19 |
Discussion
Progress Updates |
|
| Week 5 | Tuesday, June 24
Thursday, June 26 | Discussion
Progress Updates | |
| Week 6 | Tuesday, July 1
Thursday, July 3 | Discussion
Final presentations |
MEET YOUR INSTRUCTOR JEFF HUI
2025 MENTORS
phone: (808) 956-5083
fax: (808) 956-5107
email: pace@hawaii.edu
phone: (808) 956-5083
fax: (808) 956-5107
email: pace@hawaii.edu
University of Hawaiʻi
An Equal Employment Opportunity Institution.
© 2025 Shidler College of Business. All rights reserved.
2404 Maile Way, Room E-402, Honolulu, HI 96822
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Intranet • Credits
Jeff Hui will be serving as the instructor for the 2025 Summer Startup Launchpad program. Jeff is an entrepreneur and startup consultant with a proven track record of more than 20 years in driving growth for businesses of all sizes through effective sales and marketing strategies. He is the Founder and CEO of Jumpstart AI, a generative AI agency. Previously, he advised on member engagement and marketing strategy for Cityblock Health, Galileo Health and McKinsey and Company. Additionally, he’s headed Growth teams for companies including Revolut, Facebook, and Instagram. He earned a MBA from Columbia Business School and B.S. degrees in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science from the University of California at Berkeley.