From UH News.
Quang Loc Lam and Thi Hai Au La from the winning BlueMed team with Shidler Dean Vance Roley, American Savings Bank President and CEO Ann Teranishi and PACE Executive Director Sandra Fujiyama (Photo credit: Paula Ota)
The University of Hawaiʻi Venture Competition marked its 25th anniversary this year with record prize money, standout student startups and a celebration of entrepreneurship across the UH System. Hosted by the Pacific Asian Center for Entrepreneurship (PACE) in UH Mānoa’s Shidler College of Business, the milestone event, supported by title sponsor American Savings Bank, featured 13 semifinalist teams representing more than 20 academic disciplines and two campuses.
“This milestone year highlights the incredible talent and innovation emerging from our students across the UH System,” PACE Executive Director Sandra Fujiyama said. “It’s inspiring to see how far the competition has come in 25 years—and even more exciting to imagine where these future entrepreneurs will go next.”
At the finals held on May 9th at the Waiʻalae Country Club, BlueMed claimed first place and a $25,000 prize, sponsored by American Savings Bank, for its AI-powered app that helps aquaculture farmers quickly diagnose diseases in shrimp and fish by analyzing uploaded images and symptoms. Farmers can also order medicine, feed and supplements directly through the platform, streamlining access to critical supplies. The team, led by Quang Loc Lam (business administration) and Thi Hai Au La (microbiology), aims to boost aquaculture health through accessible, tech-driven solutions.
“The UH Venture Competition has been an incredible journey for our BlueMed team,” Lam said. “It gave us the opportunity to refine our business idea, receive valuable coaching and feedback from experienced mentors, and present our work to a panel of judges. More than just a competition, it was a transformative experience that helped us grow as entrepreneurs and prepare for the real-world challenges of building a business. We’re deeply grateful for the support and learning this program provided.”
Second place and $10,000, sponsored by Sharon Weiner, went to WellNETS, which developed a radar-based system that monitors seniors’ vital signs such as heart rate and breathing without requiring wearable devices. It delivers real-time data and alerts to caregivers, supporting safer, more independent living for seniors.
Grow Guam, a lifestyle fashion brand that blends modern design with Chamorro cultural motifs to create meaningful apparel and accessories, took third and earned $5,000, sponsored by HiBEAM. The brand aims to empower young women to express pride in their heritage while promoting sustainability.
Pacific Carbon, which works with local communities to measure and verify carbon sequestration from coastal restoration efforts in Hawaiʻi, was also among the top four. The verified efforts are packaged into carbon credits and sold to buyers seeking socially responsible environmental offsets.
In addition to cash prizes, this year’s student entrepreneurs received valuable in-kind services to help grow their ventures. These included legal services provided by Vantage Counsel, marketing services by Pineapple Tweed, coworking membership from Hub Coworking Hawaiʻi and website services by Blue Logic Labs.
This year’s panel of judges featured prominent stakeholders in the industry, including Chenoa Farnsworth, managing partner at BlueStartups; Donavan Kealoha, managing director at Startup Capital Ventures x SBI Fund; and Tony Mizuno, executive vice president at American Savings Bank. Farnsworth and Kealoha are PACE alumni and past winners of the competition.
Student Entrepreneur of the Year
At the event, the PACE Student Entrepreneur of the Year was presented to UH Mānoa computer science major and PACE Leader Roma Amor Malasarte. A dedicated contributor to PACE programs, Malasarte led key initiatives, collaborated on real-world business challenges and helped strengthen community ties through events and mentorship. She also championed cross-campus collaboration by building partnerships between PACE and her department, including co-leading an entrepreneurship event with UH’s women-in-tech group, SWITCH.