Entrepreneurs Invited to Participate in $25K Business Plan Competition

Entrepreneurs seeking a jump start to their business might be interested in a new competition being spearheaded by two long-time Big Island businessmen.

Dr. Jim Wyban and Kelly Moran, President and Founder of Hilo Brokers, have collectively decided to co-chair the upcoming “Best Big Island Business Plan” competition.

The competition will be hosted by the University of Hawai’i at Hilo in the Fall.

A total of $25,000 in seed money is available to winners from sponsors, including the Natural Energy Lab, the Hawai’i Island Chamber of Commerce, and the Ulupono Initiative.

Businesses from any sector can apply.

“As long as it’s Big Island-based, it qualifies,” explains Moran, who also noted, “there’s so much talent out there, and this is a great opportunity to fast-forward someone’s killer concept.”

The competition is much more than a business jump-start, according to Dr, Wyban and Moran. The pair believes that by encouraging businesses to come forth with their ideas, a better entrepreneurial ecosystem can be developed on the island.

“Good ideas can’t thrive in isolation,” said Dr. Wyban. “It takes peers, mentors and even competitors to push a venture to its full potential.”

Dr. Wyban is an aquaculture pioneer. He helped to develop pathogen-free shrimp varieties that helped to quadruple global production before selling his technology to a multinational corporation.

Moran is a 30-year real estate veteran who has overseen more than $500 million worth of transactions in his career.

Entries are currently being accepted.

To download entry forms and learn more, visit the BBIBP website.