The Startup Catalyst

In this episode of The Startup Catalyst Podcast, we welcome Sean Ho`okano-Briel, CEO and Cofounder of ed tech platform Comprendio.

Sean is a consummate teacher, and he’s got some really great nuggets in this show. We talk about launching Comprend.io, tools and sales processes they’re trying out, his love for Hawaii and respect for the ocean, and you will get some great insights into Sean’s mental models and frameworks for approaching problems and opportunities.

If you’d like to get updates on new episodes right when the come out then sign up for the newsletter. Just head over to www.sultanventures.com and scroll down to the footer where you can input your email.

Please share this episode, subscribe, rate and review on iTunes!

This is the Startup Catalyst Podcast brought to you by Sultan Ventures, I am your host Luke Tucker signing off, tune in next Thursday for another bomb-diggity episode where we chat with Chenoa Farnsworth, Managing Director at Blue Startups and Hawaii Angels

Today’s episode is a unique one as we recently attended the Hawaii Venture Capital Association’s "State of the Startup Investment Industry in Hawaii" Luncheon, where a distinguished panel discussed the latest developments of the venture industry both locally and nationally.

Panelists include:

* Vijoy Chattergy -- Chief Investment Officer at the Hawaii Employees' Retirement System

* Tim Dick -- General Partner at Startup Capital Ventures

* Omar Sultan -- Director of Investments at Upside Fund & XLR8UH, Partner at Sultan Ventures

* Steve Markowitz -- Angel Investor, MyPoints Founder, Beestripe founder

Moderated by:

* Meli James -- President, HVCA

The first 30 minutes or so is comprised of 2 presentations: 1 by Steve Markowitz, where he provides a debrief of the Angel Capital Association conference he attended a few weeks ago in Philadelphia. There may be a cannabis reference or two in there as well.

Second up is Tim Dick’s annual “state of the VC industry” talk which he has giv

Peter is an active angel investor, he was Corporate Vice President, New Ventures at Coinstar where he helped grew the company from $150 million to $1.3 billion in revenue including investing in the Redbox platform. So next time you rent that DVD at Safeway you can thank Peter. Peter is a teacher in entrepreneurship and new venture strategy and is active in the entrepreneurial community as an advisor, mentor and investor.

We really get into some nitty gritty in this interview, with fascinating stories beginning to end. We talk about ad agencies in New York, his Russian studies at Cornell, of course Coinstar and Redbox, as well as Hawaii startups.

Susan has had an amazing career spanning California and Hawaii, impacting startup companies and young entrepreneurs in incredible ways. We chat about her experience turning around a publishing company in the late 90s (and then getting fired), the huge win of TRUSTe, and her work with UH entrepreneurs at the Pacific Asian Center for Entrepreneurship. Also, learn what her favorite golf course in Hawaii is and even her golf handicap.

Rechung is a staple in the startup and tech ecosystem in Hawaii's "Startup Paradise". He is an accomplished entrepreneur, incredible builder of communities, and a straight up genuine and generous dude. Learn about how Rechung started Box Jelly, how he builds communities, and why he gives back.

Adventureman, investor, and master brewer; Steve Haumschild shares his experiences in life and business. From living in a tent in the woods to working on a volcano in Hawaii, to launching a successful brewery; we cover it all! This is a fun episode where we enjoy some Moku imperial IPA (listen to learn what its original name was going to be), and chat startups, adventures, and life journeys.

Hawaii native and Silicon Valley veteran, Meli James, discusses her experiences going from Cornell to startups in San Francisco and her work in Hawaii's Startup Paradise. Meli is the President of the Hawaii Venture Capital Association. Born and raised in Honolulu, Meli lived in Silicon Valley for over 10 years. In 2015 she was recognized by Hawaii Business Magazine as one of its 20 to Watch for the Next 20. She has recently been recognized by Entrepreneur Magazine as one of 5 Women to Watch in 2016.

SV Partner and Founder chats financials, startups and investing. Tarik Co-founded Sultan Ventures and XLR8UH and along with his brother Omar is the recipient of the 2014 Hawaii Venture Capital Association’s (HVCA) Investors of the Year. Tarik serves as the Chair of Startup Hawaii, the regional chapter of Up Global (formerly Startup America) as a Board Member and Treasurer of the HVCA, a non-profit which seeks to foster entrepreneurial development through networking, education, and access to venture capital; and has been federally appointed by the U.S. Secretary of Commerce as a Member of the Hawaii Pacific Export Council, a non-profit organization of local leaders and experienced international business professionals who provide assistance to local businesses expanding in international markets. Tarik has worked with, advised, and led several startups, most recently as Interim CFO of Ibis Networks, a venture backed cleantech startup focused on reducing energy consumption. Tarik holds a B