Meet the Speakers @ EMW 2026

Meet the Speakers @ EMW 2026

This April 8–9 in Honolulu, 28 speakers from across the Pacific will take the stage at Hawaiʻi’s premier tech conference, East Meets West 2026, featuring the Startup World Cup Hawaiʻi Regional sponsored by Pegasus Tech Ventures.

Tim Draper – Founder, Draper Associates

Maya Rogers – President & CEO, Tetris

Guy Kawasaki – Chief Evangelist, Canva

Miki Hardisty – Co-Founder & CEO, Olelo Intelligence

Henk Rogers – Founder, Blue Planet Alliance

Chenoa Farnsworth – Managing Partner, Blue Startups

Chris Yeh – Founding Partner, Blitzscaling Ventures

Holly Liu – Co-Founder, VENN

Bill Bryant – General Partner, Threshold Ventures

Jeannie Yang – Former SVP Product / CPO, SmartNews & Smule, Inc.

Bill Reichert – General Partner, Pegasus Tech Ventures

Dan Dan Li – Founder, Popshoplive

Rayfe Gaspar-Asaoka – Partner, Geodesic Capital

Liya Safina – Lead UX Designer, AR/VR, Google

John Lim – Chief Strategy Officer, Pegasus Tech Ventures

Abigail Wen – NYT Bestselling Author & Filmmaker

Alex Fielding – CEO, Privateer

Helena Janulis – Director, Investable Oceans

David Holt – Program Director, Blue Startups

Ashley Lukens, PhD – Director, Ashley Lukens Consulting

Tey Bannerman – Human-Centred AI Advisor, McKinsey & Company

Angela Laprete – Producer, ICAN

Richard Hua – Founder & Chief EQ Officer, Epiq Leadership Group

Paʻa Sibbett – Writer & Creator, Chief of War

Brent Freeman – Founder & CEO, Alchemist of Joy

James Tokioka – Director, DBEDT

Brian Keaulana – Producer, ICAN

Trung Lam – Executive Director, HTDC

From venture capital and AI to space, ocean sustainability, and storytelling, East Meets West brings together founders, investors, operators, and builders shaping what’s next, rooted in Hawaiʻi and connected across the Pacific.

Announcing Co-Host Bill Reichert from Pegasus Tech Ventures

We’re honored to welcome Bill Reichert and Pegasus Tech Ventures as a co-host of East Meets West, featuring the Startup World Cup Hawaiʻi Regional.

Bill Reichert is a General Partner at Pegasus Tech Ventures, a $2B global VC firm investing at the frontier of AI, quantum computing, deep tech, and more.

Bill is joining East Meets West 2026 not only as a speaker, but also as a co-host and pitch competition judge for the Startup World Cup Hawaiʻi Regional.

As Chief Evangelist of Startup World Cup, Bill Reichert will help award a shot at up to $1 million in investment and a place on the global finals stage.

We’re honored to have you with the Blue Startups ʻohana. Mahalo, Bill!

Kōkua in Action: Help Kona Low Recovery

As the storm clears, and we hope you and your loved ones are safe during this Kona Low. If you need kōkua, please reach out. Our community is strongest when we show up for one another, and right now that means sharing direct, grassroots ways to support those most impacted.

Keoni DeFranco and the Purple Maia team have shared a vetted list of GoFundMe and Venmo links. They are prioritizing direct aid that goes straight to local families and individuals navigating immediate challenges. Please help spread these links across your networks.

Mahalo, Blue ʻohana, for being a community of action that shows up for each other in every season, through our highs and our lows, with grit, aloha, and purpose. When one part of our ecosystem is hurting, we all have a role to play in lifting each other up. Kōkua aku, kōkua mai.

EMW 2026: Get Your Tickets!

East Meets West is Hawaii’s premier tech conference, hosted by Blue Startups since 2014. Each year, EMW connects together founders, investors, and global thought leaders on Oahu to network, get inspired, and build collaborations across the Pacific.

East Meets West 2026 Sponsors

We’ll see you in just 2 weeks at EMW.

Mahalo nui,

Chenoa Farnsworth

Managing Partner, Blue Startups