The founders of our 8 cohort teams — ​Cloudstone Innovations, Inc, HI-Spectral, LLC, MorphOptic, ​Nalu Scientific, LLC, Pendulum Systems, Inc, Sea Dragon Energy, Inc, SkyFi, Waiea Water Distributors LLC– will showcase their technology solutions and collaborations with government stakeholders, including prototyping efforts, proofs of concept, and real-world demonstrations. This event will bring together 75+ representatives across government, academic, industry, commercial, and the venture capital communities.

From groundbreaking air-to-water-systems and jet fuel extraction from seawater to AI supply chain management at the edge and space surveillance and data analytics solutions, this cohort is building disruptive technologies for government applications with strong commercial potential.

Panelists

Quest Accelerator Demo Day promises an impressive lineup of guest speakers, including Keno Knieriem, Co-Founder of Honokea and a distinguished alumnus of Punahou School and the United States Naval Academy. Knieriem’s entrepreneurial ventures include Treehouse Coworking, The Boardroom, and The Garden, earning him the title of Entrepreneur of the Year 2022 by Hawai‘i Pacific Business News.

Joining him is Josh Lospinoso, Co-Founder/CEO of Shift5, a seasoned US Army Cyber Officer and graduate of the United States Military Academy at West Point and Rhodes Scholar. Lospinoso’s track record includes co-founding RedOwl Analytics, which was acquired by Raytheon/Forcepoint in 2017, and successfully raising over $100 million in venture capital for Shift5.

Also joining the event, Richard Wells, Managing Director at Insight Partners, boasting over two decades of experience in investing and advising high-growth technology companies, with a focus on cybersecurity and defense technology. Notably, he has played a pivotal role in supporting companies like Shift5 in the defense market.

Rounding out the lineup is Edward Barnabas, Chief Technologist at Booz Allen Hamilton’s Honolulu headquarters, renowned for his innovative solutions in AI, cybersecurity, and digital transformation for U.S. government clients across the Asia-Pacific region. Barnabas is also a staunch advocate for regional innovation agendas and contributes actively to STEM advocacy efforts.

Together, these esteemed speakers promise to bring valuable insights and expertise to the Quest Accelerator Demo Day, offering inspiration and guidance to emerging entrepreneurs and innovators.

Agenda

09:30 – 10:00 AM Check-in and Networking
10:00 – 10:15 AM Founder Panel
10:15 – 10:55 AM Cohort Presentations
10:55- 11:45 PM Technology Demonstrations
11:45- 12:05 PM Investor Panel
12:05 – 12:45 PM Cohort Presentations
12:45 – 2:00 PM Networking / Pau Hana