Battle of business ideas: HIplan competition rewards budding entrepreneurs

KAILUA-KONA — The entrepreneurial spirit is as strong as it is varied on the Big Island, but resources to help small businesses get off the ground and create jobs in traditional and emerging industries isn’t always readily available.

The latter of which, one group is working to change.

Now in its second year, the Hawaii Island Business Plan Competition, or HIplan, is focused on fostering opportunity and generating excitement around innovation on the state’s largest island.

“HIplan is all about encouraging what we call an ‘entrepreneurial ecosystem’ here, one that promotes an entrepreneurial spirit across all of Hawaii Island – Kona to Kapoho, Kohala to Ka‘u,” said Kelly Moran, co-chairman of the competition and a Realtor, business owner and part-time teacher in the business college at the University of Hawaii at Hilo.

HIplan offers a $25,000 prize for the best business plan presented at the competition to help start or grow an existing small business. It’s a joint venture supported by UH-Hilo and the Hawaii Island Chamber of Commerce. Hosted in Hilo last year, the second installment of HIplan will convene this fall at the Natural Energy Laboratory of Hawaii Authority in Kailua-Kona.

HIplan’s other co-chairman, Jim Wyban, operated a business at NELHA for 20 years before selling it and joining Moran on the board of advisers to UH-Hilo’s college of business. Wyban said the idea for the competition came up after he noticed an oversight in the college’s strategic plan — no mention of entrepreneurship or any such training.

“I thought a business plan competition would be a way of stimulating the entrepreneurial ecosystem on Hawaii Island,” Wyban said. “In terms of an ecosystem, there’s kind of like nowhere to go. In terms of the small-business climate, there’s a lot of opportunity, the economy is booming, but people don’t really know where to turn. That’s what we’re trying to create.”

Wyban said he was blown away by the range of ideas he encountered during last year’s inaugural competition.

“The diversity was really sensational,” he said. “Almost as diverse as you can imagine.”

Everything from an ulu cooperative and a manufacturer of robot kits to a high-end kitchenware retailer offered pitches. The winner of HIplan 2016 was Ono Queens LLC, a family business led by Chris and Wendy Klepps in Puna that raises queen bees for sale around the world.

Any local business is eligible to apply, including all of the 49 entrants from last year, save for Ono Queens. The deadline for initial submissions of business plans is Sept. 10. More information about how to submit can be found at www.hiplan.biz.

After plans are reviewed, those selected to move on to round two will present 15-minute presentations to judges Oct. 14 at NELHA. From that pool, a group of finalists will be selected. The competition’s last round will consist of two-minute elevator pitches to judges Nov. 4 at NELHA.

Two launch events, one in Hilo and one at Hawaii Community College-Palamanui in Kailua-Kona, will precede the September submission date.

The specific date for the launch event in Kona has not been announced, but Wyban said restaurateur Sam Choy agreed to serve as the featured speaker and discuss his culinary entrepreneurship during the West Hawaii launch.

HIplan will add a special category this year for the best business plan cultivated by students at UH-Hilo and Hawaii Community College.

While the $25,000 prize has been secured through donations, Wyban said fundraising continues as HIplan hopes this year to offer a $10,000 prize for second place and $5,000 for third place.

Those interested in donating can contact Wyban at 938-2840. All winners sign a letter of commitment to spend prize money on starting or growing their businesses.

Email Max Dible at mdible@westhawaiitoday.com.