HVCA Announces 2016 'Deal of the Year' Awards
The 16th Annual Hawaii Venture Capital Association Deal of the Year Awards were presented last night at the Waialae Country Club. I was there to support my friend and Smart Yields cofounder Vincent Kimura, who was nominated for — and won! — the award for Cleantech/Agtech Entrepreneur of the Year.
While the categories can change from year to year, the "Deal of the Year" award has been the centerpiece of the HVCA recognition program since the first awards were given out.
"Since 2000, HVCA has honored the entrepreneurs whose ingenuity, spirit of innovation and discipline have benefited us all," notes the association. "They are visionaries. They are people of passion. And they have the ambition, drive and talent to take an idea and create a market where none existed before."
I posted the winners as they were announced on Twitter, and here they are for the record.
2016 Startup Paradise Champion of the Year
Sen. Glenn Wakai WINNER!
2016 People's Choice Startup of the Year
2016 Life Sciences Entrepreneur of the Year
Elliot Parks of Hawaii Biotech, Inc. WINNER!
Dr. Jeff Yu of Kineticor
Aaron Rose of Bio-Logic
2016 Student Entrepreneur of the Year
Traven Watase of Scholar's App WINNER!
Buddy, Koko & Kyndra Leong of Menehunes
Haelee Tallett of Ocean Creations
2016 Tech Entrepreneurs of the Year
Dan Nash & Sean Briel of Comprendio WINNER!
Laurens Laudowicz of Juicies
Dan Leuck of Contix
2016 Cleantech/Ag Entrepreneur of the Year
Vincent Kimura of Smart Yields WINNER!
Dennis Furukawa of RealGreen Power
Bobby Farias & Jack Beuttell of Kunoa Cattle
2016 Social Impact Entrepreneur of the Year
Samantha Kimsey of Computational Thinkers WINNER!
Franco Arango of Fresher
Ane Bakutis of Kealopiko
2016 Entrepreneur of the Year
Garrett W. Marrero of Maui Brewing Co. WINNER!
Brandon Bennett, Carey Bennett & Alan Solidum of AreaMetrics
Tina Fitch, Mark Quezada & Tiffany Quezada of Hobnob
2016 Investor of the Year
Richard Wacker of American Savings Bank WINNER!
2016 Deal of the Year
Tad Glauthier of STEM WINNER!