Think and Act Globally, Attend and Learn Locally

Innovators and investors from around the world are gathering in Honolulu this January for the second annual East Meets West Conference.

“Local entrepreneurs will be able to learn from technology companies that have conquered global markets,” says Chenoa Farnsworth, managing director of Blue Startups, organizers of the conference. “They will discuss how to enter new markets, attract foreign investment and stay competitive in an increasingly interconnected global marketplace.”

The conference will also be valuable for local investors, Farnsworth says. “Investors will discuss the complexities and best practices of cross-culture and cross-border investing. They will also explore the latest trends in early-stage investing from Silicon Valley to Asia,” she says.

One highlight of the event will be the regional finals of the Mobile Challenge Asia Pacific. The participants will be three ventures each from eight Asian countries and three from Hawaii. The top three companies from the competition will showcase their ideas at the Mobile World Congress in February in Barcelona, Spain, the world’s top conference for the mobile industry.

Speakers at East Meets West include Casey Lau of Softlayer (Hong Kong), Dave McClure of 500 Startups (Silicon Valley), Cyril Ebersweiler of HAX (Shanghai), Jeff Char of J-Seed Ventures (Tokyo) and Henk Rogers of Tetris and Blue Startups (Honolulu). A Startup Paradise Showcase will feature 10 Hawaii startups.

“We are cultivating strong partnerships with our colleagues from the investment and startup worlds in Asia,” Farnsworth says. “Hawaii has an important role to play bringing together East and West in our unique business environment ripe with innovation and inspiration.”