Mana Up
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2018
- HeadquartersHonolulu, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingServices
Mana Up firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Mana Up
- Legal name
- Mana Up
- Website
- https://manauphawaii.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2018
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Mana Up industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Startup Accelerator and CPG Brand Incubation
- NAICS
- Professional and Management Development Training (611430)
- SIC
- Retail-Retail Stores, Nec (5990), Retail-Catalog & Mail-Order Houses (5961)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Accelerators & Incubators (Investor-Operated) (FSANAAAM)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Business Planning, Pitching & Competitions (Pitch Decks, Demo Days) (EDAMAHAB), Product & Innovation Summits (Roadmap, Launch Readiness, Innovation Days) (THAHAMAG), Merchandising & Onsite Retail (Concert Merch, Pop-ups) (MPAGAAAJ)
Keywords
Where Mana Up is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Honolulu
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
Mana Up business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain
Revenue model
- Accelerator Program: Revenue generated from the accelerator program, likely through program fees or value-capture from cohort company growth. The specific revenue model is not publicly disclosed.
- Retail Sales: Revenue from product sales through House of Mana Up physical retail stores and e-commerce platforms (manauphawaii.com, houseofmanaup.com, Instacart). Products from cohort companies are sold through these channels with Mana Up taking a margin.
- Corporate Gifting: Corporate gifting program where businesses purchase curated Hawai'i gift sets. Susan Havens leads this division, providing bespoke gifting experiences for corporate clients.
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels6 records
Mana Up product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Mana Up runs a 6-month cohort-based business accelerator that provides leadership development, scaling operations, and revenue growth programming to Hawai'i-based consumer product founders. The accelerator is paired with House of Mana Up, a physical and e-commerce retail platform that sells products from cohort alumni, plus a Corporate Gifting service that curates Hawai'i-themed gift sets for business clients, and signature Showcase events that provide media exposure and direct-to-consumer sales opportunities.
Product overview
Mana Up is a Hawaiʻi economic development initiative that operates as a business accelerator supporting local consumer brands. The core offering is the 6-month Mana Up Accelerator program, which is complemented by House of Mana Up—a retail and e-commerce sub-brand with physical stores and global sales channels—and a Corporate Gifting service. The company also hosts the annual Mana Up Showcase event. Together, these products form an integrated ecosystem: the accelerator develops companies, while the retail platform and events provide market access and revenue channels for alumni companies.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Mana Up Accelerator A 6-month cohort-based accelerator program for Hawaii-based founders focused on leadership development, scaling operations, and increasing revenue. The program includes workshops, executive mentorship across finance, HR, CPG, retail, and tech, retail and global market access, and a strong community of collaboration. Cohort 11 was most recently announced, with applications open for Cohort 12.
- House of Mana Up Retail and e-commerce platform for Hawaii-based brands, featuring a physical store at Royal Hawaiian Center in Honolulu and an online storefront (houseofmanaup.com) with US shipping, plus distribution via Instacart. Sells products from Mana Up cohort alumni and provides global sales opportunities through events like Aloha Market in Tokyo, New York City, and Los Angeles.
- Corporate Gifting Program B2B corporate and client gifting program that curates bespoke gift boxes featuring products from Hawaii-based companies, celebrating local makers and connecting brands with a sense of place. Led by Director of Client and Corporate Gifting Susan Havens, with bespoke offerings for corporate events, client appreciation, and employee gifts.
Quantifiable outcome
- 105 companies supported with $105M in combined alumni revenue (2024)
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Mana Up
Customer profileNamed customers2 records
Segments2 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Mana Up technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Mana Up partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered supporting, core and minor.
- Pono PacificsupportingPono Pacific is mentioned as a community and sustainability partner in Hawaiian Airlines' Kahu'ewai Hawai'i Investment Plan, alongside Mana Up. They focus on environmental sustainability initiatives in Hawai'i.
- Hawaiian AirlinescoreHawaiian Airlines is listed as a partner on Mana Up's website, with their logo prominently displayed. In the context of Hawaiian Airlines' $600M Kahu'ewai Hawai'i Investment Plan (2025-2029), Mana Up is mentioned as a community partner for sustainability and expansion initiatives, indicating a mutual partnership focused on supporting Hawai'i's local business ecosystem.
- Bank of HawaiicoreBank of Hawaii is listed as a partner on Mana Up's website, supporting the initiative to scale Hawai'i's brands globally. As a major Hawai'i-based financial institution, BOH provides strategic support for local economic development initiatives.
- ALTREScoreALTRES is designated as the HR Partner for Mana Up, branded as 'Grow with ALTRES.' ALTRES is a Hawai'i-based staffing and HR services company providing human resources support, resources, and potentially discounted services for cohort companies.
- King's HawaiiansupportingKing's Hawaiian is listed as a partner on Mana Up's website, supporting the initiative to scale Hawai'i's brands. As a well-known Hawai'i-founded food brand, King's Hawaiian brings industry expertise and brand credibility to the ecosystem.
- iShoppessupportingiShoppes is listed as a partner, potentially providing retail distribution or marketplace opportunities for Hawai'i brands through their platform.
- Hawaii Technology Development Corporation (HTDC)coreHTDC is a state agency supporting technology and innovation in Hawai'i. Their partnership with Mana Up aligns with their mission to expand technology-based industries and entrepreneurship in the islands.
- Ulupono InitiativesupportingUlupono Initiative is listed as a partner, supporting Hawai'i-based businesses and sustainable economic development in the islands.
- FoodlandcoreFoodland is Hawai'i's largest locally-owned grocery chain. As a partner, they provide retail distribution channels for Mana Up cohort companies to reach local consumers through their stores statewide.
- MatsonsupportingMatson is a major shipping and logistics company serving Hawai'i and the Pacific. Their partnership supports the supply chain and logistics needs of Hawai'i-based product companies.
- Young BrotherssupportingYoung Brothers is a Hawai'i-based shipping company. Their partnership supports logistics and transportation needs for Mana Up companies shipping products inter-island.
- AmpaireminorAmpaire is mentioned as a sustainability partner in Hawaiian Airlines' investment plan. They are an electric aviation company developing hybrid-electric aircraft for regional flights.
Scale indicators8 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Mana Up competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- SOSV: Multi-stage venture fund operating a network of vertical accelerators (HAX hardware, IndieBio biotech, etc.). Comparable accelerator-as-platform model with deep vertical expertise — but SOSV is investor-operated and far larger, capturing equity upside that Mana Up's program does not.
- MassChallenge: Global non-equity accelerator running multiple industry verticals including consumer goods. Comparable in that it is a cohort-based, non-equity (or low-equity) accelerator with curriculum, mentorship, and demo-day structures — but operates globally and at significantly larger scale than Mana Up.
- Plug and Play Tech Center: Global innovation platform and accelerator with retail/CPG verticals. Comparable in operating cohort-style programs that connect startups to corporate partners — but Plug and Play is a much larger incumbent with deep corporate relationships across many verticals.
- Founder Institute: Global pre-seed accelerator running cohort-based programs with structured curriculum, mentorship, and demo days. Similar format and founder-development focus to Mana Up, but operates in 100+ cities worldwide and follows an equity-style fee structure.
- Techstars: One of the world's largest accelerator networks with vertical-specific programs including consumer goods. Comparable cohort-based accelerator model with mentorship, demo days, and partner network — but tech/equity-heavy, global, and far better capitalized than Mana Up.
Emerging players
- 1776: Startup community and accelerator co-founded by Mana Up co-founder Brittany Heyd. 1776 focuses on regulated industries and global founders, sharing Mana Up's cohort/curriculum model and Heyd's direct lineage, but operates at much larger scale across multiple U.S. cities.
- KitchenTown: Food and CPG business incubator providing production space, curriculum, and retail/distribution support for emerging food brands. Comparable in serving early-stage consumer product founders with a structured program plus physical retail component, though it focuses on food specifically versus Mana Up's broader consumer-product remit.
Direct peers
- XLR8UH: University of Hawai'i-affiliated startup accelerator also led by Meli James earlier in her career. It shares Mana Up's Honolulu base and cohort-based model but focuses on tech/IP rather than consumer products, making it a close format peer with adjacent verticals.
- Blue Startups: Hawai'i's leading tech-focused accelerator, explicitly referenced in Mana Up co-founder Meli James's background. Both programs operate as cohort-based accelerators based in Honolulu serving Hawai'i entrepreneurs, making Blue Startups the most directly comparable peer in the same geography and category.
Others
- EatWell Wholesale: Distribution and retail partner focused on local and emerging food brands, including into mainstream retail. Comparable as an adjacent ecosystem enabler helping local product companies reach national retail buyers — a function Mana Up aspires to play in Hawai'i.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Mana Up social profiles
Digital presenceMana Up financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Mana Up leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles11 records
Mana Up subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries1 record
Mana Up funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Mana Up M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments80 records
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Mana Up
What does Mana Up do?
Mana Up runs a 6-month cohort-based business accelerator that provides leadership development, scaling operations, and revenue growth programming to Hawai'i-based consumer product founders. The accelerator is paired with House of Mana Up, a physical and e-commerce retail platform that sells products from cohort alumni, plus a Corporate Gifting service that curates Hawai'i-themed gift sets for business clients, and signature Showcase events that provide media exposure and direct-to-consumer sales opportunities.
Is Mana Up a public or private company?
Mana Up is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Mana Up founded?
Mana Up was founded in 2018. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Mana Up based?
Mana Up is headquartered in Honolulu, United States, in the North America region.
How does Mana Up make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Accelerator Program is the primary driver. The others are retail Sales and corporate Gifting.
Who are Mana Up's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are SOSV, MassChallenge, Plug and Play Tech Center, Founder Institute and Techstars. Emerging players are 1776 and KitchenTown. Direct peers are XLR8UH and Blue Startups. EatWell Wholesale is listed as an others.
Does Mana Up have an API?
No public API is recorded for Mana Up.
What industry is Mana Up in?
Mana Up's product category is Startup Accelerator and CPG Brand Incubation. Its primary akta.pro industry code is FSANAAAM, Accelerators & Incubators (Investor-Operated), with a secondary code of EDAMAHAB, Business Planning, Pitching & Competitions (Pitch Decks, Demo Days). Its NAICS code is 611430 and its SIC code is 5990.