MEET THE DRAPERSat East Meets West 2026 |
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Aloha from Blue Startups! We are excited to share that Meet The Drapers will be filming live at East Meets West 2026. The hit global startup show, where founders pitch to the legendary Draper family and millions of viewers worldwide, will spotlight Hawai‘i’s innovation scene on an international stage. This is a rare opportunity for local and Asia-Pacific founders to gain exposure, connect with top-tier investors, and share their stories with a global audience. We can’t wait to welcome the Draper family to Oahu and bring this world-class platform to our community at EMW. |
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Tim Draper Joins East Meets West 2026We’re honored to welcome Tim Draper, global investor and innovation advocate, to EMW 2026 as a Keynote Speaker. Tim is one of the most recognized venture capitalists in the world. As the founder of Draper Associates, DFJ, and the Draper Venture Network, his investments include iconic companies such as Tesla, SpaceX, Coinbase, Skype, and Robinhood. At EMW 2026, Tim will share his global vision for entrepreneurship, decentralization, and the future of innovation. He’ll also join the live filming of Meet The Drapers, giving founders the opportunity to pitch directly to the Draper family and gain visibility with millions of viewers worldwide. This is more than a keynote — it’s a moment for Hawai‘i’s startup ecosystem — to be seen, heard, and elevated at the global level. |
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Last Day for “Blue” Special |
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From Friday, November 28 through Monday, December 1, every ticket purchased for East Meets West 2026 will include a $50 donation to the Paubox Kahikina Scholarship, founded by Hoala Greevy whose mission is to encourage Native Hawaiians to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM). Here’s how “Blue” Special works:
If you’re thinking about joining us at East Meets West 2026 (April 8–9, 2026 in Hawaii), this is the best time to do it. Join us for a world-class experience and make an immediate impact at the same time. Lock your EMW and help fund a student’s path into STEM in Hawaii. Get your Super Early Bird ticket for East Meets West 2026 today! |
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We’re thrilled to announce that Landng (Cohort 15) has been named one of the Top 25 Hottest Startups in Travel 2026 by PhocusWire. Congratulations to the Landng team for this well-earned spotlight. Landng helps brands create interactive consumer journeys with maps—an alternative to AR/VR that connects consumers to brand stories in real life. Brands then access Landng’s “Google Analytics for the real world,” an O2O (online-to-offline) attribution API tracking online conversions and foot traffic to retail locations. Trusted by L’Oréal Group and Marriott International | Backed by Techstars & Station F. |
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Community |
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Join the upcoming Elev X! Ignite Batch 15 Webinars to learn how NEC X can help you validate, prototype, and scale your startup idea with hands-on support, access to NEC’s deep tech resources, and up to $250K in funding. Webinar Dates: Nov 12 | Nov 19 | Dec 3 | Dec 10, 2025 Each session is a 45-minute online info session designed to help you prepare a strong application. If you’re ready to validate your idea, find your first customers, and build alongside NEC’s experts… this is your moment! Register for the webinar & learn more: https://elev-x.secure- |
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Big News: Meet The Drapers Filming Live at EMW 2026
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