Fellows mentioned in this story: Meli James
From Pacific Inno:
Since the earliest days of Mana Up, co-founder Meli James has said that her goal with the organization is to help grow 100 Hawai‘i product companies that each make $10 million or more in annual revenue.
Now, Mana Up’s accelerator program is about to hit a big milestone. Its 10th cohort is set to launch next month, and when the businesses graduate from the program, Mana Up will have 105 alumni companies.
“We're a tenth of the way there — our companies last year generated $105 million in total revenue,” James said. “We have so much more to do, but it’s working.”
Cohort 10 of Mana Up is comprised of 10 product businesses that were selected from a pool of 198 applicants — the largest number to date. The businesses span industries including food and beverage, fashion and home goods. The founders come from throughout the state, with five from O‘ahu, two each from Hawai‘i Island and Kaua‘i, and one from Maui.
Continue reading at bizjournals.com.
The Hawai‘i Leadership Forum will open applications for the tenth cohort of its Omidyar Fellows program on Monday, June 2, 2025. The program is an enduring commitment that stresses leadership immersion with ʻāina in addition to strong relationships and networks, allowing Fellows to lead with purpose, mobilize communities, and amplify positive change across Hawai‘i.