HIplan: Big Island Coffee Roasters Wins $25,000 Grand Prize in 2018 Business Plan Competition

Coffee farmers who developed a new way to enjoy coffee are savoring the sweet taste of success after creating a buzz among the judges of a countywide entrepreneurial competition.
 
Big Island Coffee Roasters was named the 2018 winners of the HIplan Hawaii Island Business Plan Competition at the conclusion of the final round of the program held Saturday, Oct. 26 at UH-Hilo. The husband and wife team of Kelleigh Stewart and Brandon von Damitz edged out seven finalists to take home top honors for their newly created Espresso Bites, an edible espresso bar. Each 1.5-ounce bar, which resembles the texture of a chocolate bar, is made entirely of coffee and contains the equivalent of three espresso shots. Pieces of the bar can be melted in a cup of hot water to drink as you would regular coffee, eaten as a snack bar, or chopped up and added to sweet and savory dishes. In development for two years, the bars feature locally grown Ka’u coffee and contain five all-natural ingredients.
 
Hawaii Electrical Maintenance Services, owned by Benson Medina, won $5,000 worth of free advertising with Pacific Media Group, the official media sponsor of the competition.
 
Two UHHilo students and their four high school teammates each won partial tuition scholarships for the Fall 2019 and Spring 2020 semesters at the university for their business plan called Student Corner, which is a project-based educational concept.
 
“This is the highest quality of competitors we’ve had in the finals in the three years of competition,” says Jason Ueki, executive director of HIplan.
 
The judges were also impressed by the quality of local businesses that had advanced to the final round. Other business finalists included Lawai'a Fresh Fish Company, Mauna Kea Cacao, Pau Hana Pet Resort, SRFly, Uncle Tilo’s Water Catchment, and Upcycle Hawaii.
 
“I think the competition is great and allows businesses to focus on solving problems to grow their business,” says Karl Fooks, president of Hawaii Strategic Development Corporation. “All eight business plans were fantastic in the way they were laid out.”
 
“I have to agree,” adds fellow judge Jane Sawyer, Hawaii district director of the Small Business Administration. “The HIplan competition has really come a long way and the business plans people have submitted are very innovative with fun new ways of doing things on the Big Island.”
 
HIplan’s business plan competition was developed as a collaborative effort to help spur the growth of local businesses on island. The competition encourages contestants to develop and/or polish their business plans with the goal of launching new or expanding existing businesses on Hawaii Island. The University of Hawaii at Hilo, NELHA, Hawaii Island Chamber of Commerce, Hawaii Technology Development Center, Ulupono Initiative, Hawaii Strategic Development Corporation, Pacific Media Group, and the County of Hawaii are sponsors of HIplan.
 
“The Hawaii Island Chamber of Commerce is pleased to continue our support of HIplan,” notes Chamber board president Gordon Takaki. “Having been one of the original supporters, three years ago we are excited to see the program’s continued success.”
 
“This year, HIplan is distributing $60,000 worth of prizes.” declared Jim Wyban, Co-founder and President of HIplan. “We’re building an entrepreneur ecosystem on Hawaii Island to help entrepreneurs realize their goals.”
 
Thirty-one local businesses submitted business plans during Round one of the competition in early September. Fifteen entrepreneurs advanced to the semi finals held Oct. 6 during which the semi-finalists presented 12-minute presentations to a panel of judges. After the semi-finals, eight businesses were selected as finalists and were judged on their written business plan, a two-minute elevator pitch, and a 12-minute presentation to a panel of judges. The semi-finals and finals had completely different sets of judges.
 
In addition to Sawyer and Fooks, the judges for the final round included Howard Dicus, business reporter, Hawaii News Now; Meli James, Co-founder, Mana Up; Shiraz Dole, program manager, Blue Startups; Steve Sakoman, founder, Sakoman Inc.; and Murray Clay, managing partner, Ulupono Initiative. Greg Taketa, CPA, of Taketa, Iwata, Hara and Associates was responsible for tabulating the judges’ scores during each round of the competition.
 
In addition to the business plan competition, HIplan holds monthly entrepreneur networking meet ups in East and West Hawaii, fostering a community of entrepreneurship. HIplan also partners with the Small Business Development Center, offering classes in Hilo and Kona on how to write a business plan and how to pitch a business to investors. For more information on HIplan and the Hawaii Island Business Plan Competition, go to www.HIplan.biz or contact Jason Ueki, HIplan executive director at 808 494-4031, or Jason@HIplan.biz.
 
Photo Caption: Big Island Coffee Roasters, winners of the 2018 HIplan Competition Grand Prize of $25,000.  Left to right are Jason Ueki (Executive Director of HIplan), Kelleigh Stewart and Brandon von Damitz (Big Island Coffee Roasters) and Jim Wyban (Founder of HIplan).