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SUMMER STARTUP LAUNCHPAD

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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.

APPLY HERE
Launchpad team photo

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.

APPLY HERE

GUIDELINES AND RULES

  • 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;
  • To teach entrepreneurship based on a lean methodology of building a startup;
  • To provide an experiential learning environment that is hands-on and realistic;
  • To provide supplemental training in the form of mentorship from community experts;
  • To imbue traits of an entrepreneur through weekly lessons, including being tenacious, diligent, collaborative, passionate, creative, and flexible to change;
  • To grow student entrepreneurs, who have the confidence and ability to start businesses in Hawaii.
  • This program runs for 6 weeks, and includes mandatory meeting dates.
  • Participants will receive mentorship from business experts with varying backgrounds and areas of knowledge.
  • Participants must be able to attend in person at UH Manoa campus.
  • 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.
  • Participants may be individual OR a teams of 2 to a maximum of 4 people.
  • 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.
  • Each participant must commit to a minimum of 30 hours per week.
  • Mandatory meeting days for the 2025 program are twice a week.
  • Participants must be able to attend in person on mandatory meeting days.
  • Participants must schedule their own weekly meetings with mentors.
  • All entries must be for new ideas or existing companies less than one year old.
  • Participants that participated in a previous year may enter again, but not with the same business idea.
  • Participants must complete an exit survey, and provide update reports, as requested by PACE and the program sponsor.
  • Interested students must apply by filling out an online application
  • Qualified applicants will be notified for an interview.
  • 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
Week 2 Tuesday, June 3


Thursday, June 5
Discussion


Progress Updates
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

Jeff Hui headshot

2025 MENTORS

Ilias Beshimov

SUMMER STARTUP LAUNCHPAD TEAMS

2024 Teams
2023 Teams
2022 Teams
2021 Teams
2020 Teams
2019 Teams
2018 Teams
2017 Teams
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phone: (808) 956-5083
fax: (808) 956-5107
email: pace@hawaii.edu
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phone: (808) 956-5083
fax: (808) 956-5107
email: pace@hawaii.edu
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GCEC Award PNG
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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
Website by Blue Logic Labs
Intranet • Credits
uhm logo@2x
University of Hawaiʻi
An Equal Employment Opportunity Institution.
© 2025 Shidler College of Business. All rights reserved.
Website by Blue Logic Labs
2404 Maile Way, Room E-402, Honolulu, HI 96822
Intranet • Credits