Hawaii, aside from its exceptional tourist spots and breathtaking views, is also known as a hub for food and tourism startups.

From the cities to the forests, beaches to the mountains, there are tons of business ideas one could generate to facilitate the visitors.

But, you might be thinking, are there any angel investors that fund startups at early or late stage?

Well, to your surprise, there are dozens of angel investors and VC firms in Hawaii that fund startups. So, let’s wait no longer and jump onto the list of the top 6 angel investors in Hawaii.

undefined

Top 6 Angel Investors in Hawaii

When discussing the startup environment in Hawaii, we often remember Honolulu as the only state with active investors.

However, the following list contains many investment firms and individuals that fund startups all across Hawaii.

David Nikzad

LinkedIn: David Nikzad - Orthogonal Thinker | LinkedIn

Investor Type: Individual Investor

Investment Interests: Software, Blockchain, and Tech.

Investment Stage: Early and Seed

David Nikzad, also known as the Founder of Reinmkr Satsang Ventures, funds startups as an individual investor. Investing for almost 5 years now, David Nikzad takes an interest in funding startups that can generate around 5-6x ROI.

Like most other angels, David Nikzad also funds startups through fundraisers. He also provides funding to startups through his networks and attends networking events to interact with deserving ventures.

The investment range of David Nizkad ranges from $200,000 to $1M. Some of their recent portfolio companies are:

FOBO: FOBO is a mobile-based dating app. Users can browse through other member profiles, chat over the app, participate in group conversations, and attend events listed on the app. 

Contango Digital Assets: Contango Digital Assets is a web3 venture capital fund hyper-focused on infrastructure and dev tooling solutions. The firm invests in venture-stage protocols, applications, and founders.

Dynasty Studios: Dynasty Studios is a game company creating next-generation games. 

Elemental Accelerators

Website: elementalexcelerator.com

Investor Type: VC Firm

Investment Interests: Agriculture, CleanTech, Energy Efficiency, Renewable Energy, Sustainability, Transportation, Venture Capital, and Water Solutions.

Investment Stage: Seed

Also known as the most active Huwaii-based VC firm, Elemental Accelerator is dedicated to boosting the startup ecosystem in Hawaii. The network was founded in 2012 by Dawn Lippert and Jill Sims. Since its inception, Elemental Accelerators has funded more than 150 startups, with most of them at the seed stage.

During the screening tests, the investors at Elemental Accelerators look for startups that have the potential to generate massive ROI. They usually fund those startups that already have 4-5 years of experience and can become a future brand if they get the investment as well as the required guidance.

Aside from the investment stage, they also host many networking events as well as public workshops.

The investment range of Elemental Accelerators ranges from $500,000 to $4M. Notable portfolio companies are:

Allume Energy: Allume Energy is a renewable technology company unlocking rooftop solar for the multi-dwelling market.

Amber Kinetics: Amber Kinetics manufactures flywheel energy storage systems (FESS). Long-duration flywheels result in safe, economical, and reliable energy storage.

Ampaire: A company that develops electric aircraft to help reduce aviation’s contribution to climate change.

Amply Power: A company that provides charging-as-a-service to de-risk and accelerate the adoption of electric buses, trucks, and passenger vehicles.

Doug Schatz

LinkedIn: Doug Schatz - CodeHunter | LinkedIn

Investor Type: Individual Investor

Investment Interests: Tech, consumer products

Investment Stage: Early and Seed

Even with a background in the music industry, Doug Schatz has been funding startups as an individual since 2015. Ever since his first investment, Doug has always shown a deep interest in tech-based startups that have the potential to thrive.

He usually funds companies that are making a name in the market because of their services or products. 

Similarly, Schatz has also arranged many startup events and invited many mentors to guide his portfolio companies.

The investment range of Doug Schatz isn't publically revaled. Looking at his previous investments, he usually invests around $500,000. Some notable names in his portfolio companies are:

Ampt: Ampt is a privately held company that serves the global solar market to provide system-level optimization that lowers the cost and increases the energy production of large-scale PV systems. The company has secured $40 million in funding.

Solayer: Solayer GmbH is a surface technology company specializing in thin film deposition and surface treatment.

Advanced Energy Industries: Advanced Energy Industries is a global leader in reliable power conversion solutions used in thin-film plasma manufacturing processes and solar energy generation.

Hawaii Angels

Website: Hawaii Angels 

Investor Type: Investment Network

Investment Interests: Tech, automotive, healthcare, consumer products.

Investment Stage: Early and Seed

Founded in 2002, Hawaii Angels is one of the most prominent investment networks in Hawaii. Headquartered in Honolulu, the network consists of some of the most experienced investors who fund startups related to tech and automotive.

With more than 100 startups in their portfolio, Hawaii Angels still conducts around 3 pitching competitions each year, focusing on companies that can generate profitability.

Usually, the network focuses on startups that will produce a positive impact on their related industry and provide unique solutions. The investors also question their startups regarding their growth plan and market competiton.

Similarly, Hawaii Angels also focuses on startup growth and arranges numerous startup events. Recently, they have arranged the FounderHer accelerator and Mentor Hawaii Program to boost the startup growth.

The investment range of Hawaii Angels ranges from $300,000 to $2.5M. Some of their portfolio companies are:

Kiana Analytics: Kiana Analytics is a company that offers surface technology services using thin-film coating and layer modification. 

Neural Analytics: Neural Analytics is a medical robotics company developing and commercializing technologies to measure and track brain health. 

Selly Automotive: Selly Automotive is a CRM solution that helps independent auto dealerships with lead management, customer follow-up, and deal prioritization.

Ibis Networks: Ibis Networks is a leading provider of energy management solutions for the enterprise. It has raised a total of $2.6 million in funding over 2 rounds.

Pierre Omidyar

LinkedIn:  Pierre Omidyar - Honolulu Civil Beat | LinkedIn

Investor Type: Individual Investor

Investment Interests: Tech

Investment Stage: Seed

Investing for almost a decade, Pierre Omidyar is also a well-known angel investor who has made huge investments in Hawaii. He also serves as the co-founder of Omidyar Group and the Chairman of Imaginable Futures Services. 

Although Omidyar mostly funds startups through the Omidyar Network, he also makes individual investments. When selecting ventures, Pierre Omidyar funds startups that are related to tech or media. 

Unlike many other angel investors, Pierre Omidyar is known for attending startup events and interacting with many early-stage or seed-stage businesses.

The investment range of Pierre Omidyar ranges from $200,000 to $1M. Some of his famous investments that have faced quick growth are:

Quikr: Quikr is an online marketplace and classified advertising company. The company had a revenue of ₹1.9 billion2 and had raised a total of $440.8 million in funding.

HealthKart: HealthKart is an online health and fitness store for men and women. It offers a comprehensive range of products dedicated to the vegan community. It has a revenue of $29 million and has raised a total of $274.8 million in funding.

Koa Capital Partners

Website: Koa Capital Partners | Hawaii Private Investment

Investor Type: VC Firm

Investment Interests: Cleaning, Software, Cloud, and Innovative Solutions

Investment Stage: Seed

Founded in 2014, Koa Capital Partners is a VC firm that funds Hawaii-based startups. The network is headquartered in Honolulu and funds seed-staged startups.

They invest in businesses with profitability greater than 10% over a 3-year period with revenues greater than $5M. The investors have a strict focus on B2B businesses that may or may not have a consumer-direct revenue stream.

While Koa Capital Partners only has 10 investments in their portfolio, it should be understood that they make seed-stage investments and carefully invest in startups. 

The investment range of Koa Capital Partners ranges from $500,000 to $3M. Some of their recent investments are:

Team Clean: Team Clean, Inc. is a minority and woman-owned commercial janitorial services company.  They provide services to local hospitality, restaurant, retail, and commercial business communities in O’ahu, Hawai’i, and Maui. 

People Who Clean: People Who Clean is a company that provides cleaning services for homes and commercial establishments. They serve Maui, Oahu, the Big Island of Hawaii, Kauai, Molokai, and Lanai. 

Maui Brewing Co: Maui Brewing Company is Hawaii’s largest independent craft brewery. They focus on producing high-quality, innovative craft beverages. 

DRFortress: DRFortress is the only carrier-neutral data center and cloud services provider operating in Hawaii. 

Wrap Up

Even with this list coming to an end, there are still many investors in Hawaii that can fund startups. 

However, remember that this list featured some of the most active and top-ranked investors. When pitching, don’t forget to read some great examples of a successful pitch deck.

Also, conduct in-depth research for each individual investor and VC firm from their official sites.

Frequently Asked Questions