Maui Economic Development Board

What Maui Economic Development Board does

Maui Economic Development Board (MEDB) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation founded in 1982 and headquartered at 1305 North Holopono Street in Kihei, Maui. It operates as a values-based regional economic development organization, with a stated emphasis on expanding and diversifying Maui County's economy while balancing environmental stewardship, cultural appropriateness, and social equity. The organization is the federally designated coordinator of Maui's Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS) report.

MEDB delivers its mission through four program pillars: business assistance (workshops, webinars, mentoring for Maui County businesses); education-to-workforce (the STEMworks K-12 STEM education program, the Ke Alahele Education Fund grant-making vehicle, and the annual Hawaii STEM Conference); community convening (focus groups, workforce surveys, CEDS); and infrastructure services (Malcolm Center meeting facility and LEED-certified Ke Ala Hele office space at Maui Research & Technology Park). It also owns and operates the AMOS Conference (Advanced Maui Optical and Space Surveillance Technologies, acquired from the U.S. Air Force in 2006), one of the country's premier space-domain-awareness technical gatherings, drawing 1,100+ attendees from 20+ countries annually. Earlier energy initiatives (JUMPSmartMaui with Japan's NEDO, launched 2013, later renamed EVOhana) were wound down in 2020.

Revenue is generated through five-tier annual membership dues (Ho'okumu up to $500; Ho'omohala up to $1,200; Malama up to $2,500; Ho'oikaika up to $6,000; Ho'okina up to $10,000); tax-deductible donations; federal, state, and private grants (including a $600,000 U.S. Department of Commerce EDA grant in November 2024); event-related fees and sponsorships; and recurring facility income from the Malcolm Center (meeting room rental at $100/hour or $575/day) and Ke Ala Hele Center office leases. Members include major Hawaii banks (First Hawaiian Bank, Bank of Hawaii), utilities (Hawaiian Electric), corporations (Boeing, Marriott), and government partners (County of Maui Mayor's Office of Economic Development; Hawaii DBEDT; U.S. DOE).

Name

Maui Economic Development Board

Legal name

Maui Economic Development Board, Inc.

Website

https://medb.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1982

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Maui Economic Development Board (MEDB) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1982 that delivers business assistance, K-12 STEM education (STEMworks, Ke Alahele Fund), community convening, and meeting/office space across Maui County, and owns the AMOS space-domain-awareness conference.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Kihei

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: MEDB offers five membership tiers: Ho'okina (up to $10,000), Ho'oikaika (up to $6,000), Malama (up to $2,500), Ho'omohala (up to $1,200), and Ho'okumu (up to $500). Members include large banks, utilities, tech startups, engineering firms, consultants, ranchers, real estate agencies, and accountants.
2. Donations and Grants: MEDB is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that receives donations to support STEM education programs including STEMworks and The Digital Bus. The organization also pursues government and private grants for specific programs.
3. Meeting Space Rental: Malcolm Center meeting space rental at $100/hour or $575/day, with a $30 non-refundable registration fee. MEDB members receive 10% discount and waived registration fee.
4. Office Space Leasing: LEED-certified commercial office space for lease at Ke Ala Hele Center in Maui Research & Technology Park. Customizable spaces starting at 1,088 square feet with one- to five-year leases.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Maui Economic Development Board (MEDB) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit economic development organization that delivers business assistance programs (mentoring, workshops, webinars), STEM education programs from kindergarten to careers (STEMworks), community convening initiatives, and the Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS) for Maui County. The organization also operates the Malcolm Center meeting facility, LEED-certified office space at Ke Ala Hele Center, and hosts major annual conferences including the AMOS Conference and Hawaii STEM Conference.

Product overview

Maui Economic Development Board (MEDB) is a non-profit economic development organization offering a portfolio of programs focused on business development, STEM education, community convening, and workforce development. Core offerings include STEMworks (K-12 STEM education with AFTERschool programs and internships), the Ke Alahele Education Fund (grant-making vehicle for STEM grants), the annual Hawaii STEM Conference, TechOhana (technology networking events), Business Assistance programs, the Malcolm Center meeting facility, and office space leasing at the LEED-certified Ke Ala Hele Center. MEDB also organizes the AMOS Conference (space surveillance technologies) and publishes the Focus Maui Nui Trends research report. The organization serves as a catalyst for economic diversification in Maui County through programs balancing environmental stewardship, cultural appropriateness, and social equity.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• STEMworks: A program of MEDB providing STEM education opportunities for students from kindergarten to careers
• TechOhana
• Ke Alahele Education Fund
• Malcolm Center
• AMOS Conference
• JUMPSmartMaui
• MPowerMaui

Products and services

• STEMworks

Quantifiable outcome

• Over $1.2 million in STEM grants awarded since 2006 through Ke Alahele Education Fund
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

17 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Hawaii STEM Conference PartnerscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Over 30 companies and organizations tabled at the interactive exhibit hall representing STEM career pathways including healthcare, engineering, computer science, aviation, ocean science, and natural resource management.
• AbraminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2026Maui-based AI startup presenting at Maui Tech 'Ohana event. Co-founders Dana and Josh Ellis shared their experience building a high-growth AI company in Hawaii's tech ecosystem.
• Bad Friend ProductionsminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2026Film production company presenting 'Infrastructure of Stories' event on moving Maui County from film industry to film economy, supported by MEDB.
• Space Generation Advisory Council (SGAC)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2018Joint initiative with AMOS Conference to present the EMER-GEN program for young professionals and students (35 and under) enthusiastic about careers in space. SGAC represents students and young professionals ages 18-35 to UN, space agencies, industry, and academia.
• County of Maui Mayor's Office of Economic DevelopmentcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2015Sponsor of MPowerMaui project - An Energy Conversation, engaging Maui residents on energy priorities and values.
• Hawaii Department of Business, Economic Development & Tourism (DBEDT) Energy OfficecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2015Sponsor of MPowerMaui project alongside County of Maui and UH Hawaii Natural Energy Institute.
• UH Hawaii Natural Energy Institute (HNEI)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2015Sponsor of MPowerMaui project. Also led Maui Smart Grid Project alongside Maui Electric Company.
• New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2013MEDB partnered with NEDO to launch JUMPSmartMaui in 2013. The program incorporated Smart Grid, renewable energy and all-electric vehicle solutions to achieve a cleaner, more sustainable future free of fossil fuels. Hitachi Ltd., Mizuho Corporate Bank, and Cyber Defense Institute were awarded the contract by NEDO to develop the program.
• Hitachi Ltd.coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAwarded contract by NEDO to develop JUMPSmartMaui program, focusing on Smart Grid technology and renewable energy solutions for Maui.
• Mizuho Corporate BankminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAwarded contract by NEDO to develop JUMPSmartMaui program as part of the international partnership initiative.
• U.S. Department of EnergycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFunded the Maui Smart Grid Project as part of a nationwide set of demonstration projects to help residents better manage and reduce energy consumption.
• Maui Electric Company (now Hawaiian Electric)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner with UH HNEI in leading the Maui Smart Grid Project to operate the electricity grid more efficiently using smart grid technologies.
• First Hawaiian BankcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerHo'okina (top tier) member of MEDB, contributing to economic development initiatives.
• Hawaiian ElectriccoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHo'okina (top tier) member and partner in energy initiatives including JUMPSmartMaui and Maui Smart Grid Project.
• Bank of HawaiicoreGTM or Marketing PartnerHo'oikaika (second tier) member. Chair of MEDB Education Committee - Sr. VP/Island Manager Curtis Tom.
• BoeingminorGTM or Marketing PartnerHo'oikaika member supporting MEDB's economic development and STEM education initiatives.
• Marriott (Wailea Beach Resort)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerHo'oikaika member and venue partner for AMOS Conference and other major events.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Maui Chamber of Commerce: County-level business and economic development organization serving Maui County. Directly comparable as a membership-driven, Maui-based body supporting local business, workforce, and advocacy — overlapping membership roster and mission with MEDB.
• High Technology Development Corporation (HTDC): Hawaii state-chartered economic development organization operating technology parks, innovation centers, and STEM/entrepreneurship programs. Closely comparable to MEDB in its combination of physical tech-park infrastructure (similar to Ke Ala Hele Center) and STEM/innovation programming.
• Enterprise Honolulu: Oahu-focused economic development organization that convenes business, government, and education leaders to diversify Hawaii's economy. Directly comparable mission, funding model (membership + grants), and program mix to MEDB, but on a different island.
• Hawaii Business Roundtable: Hawaii statewide business leadership organization focused on policy and economic issues. Comparable as a Hawaii-centric convener of business and government leaders driving economic diversification — overlapping high-tier membership with MEDB.
• Hawaii Community Foundation: Hawaii's largest grantmaking foundation, distributing philanthropic capital to community organizations including those in STEM, education, and economic development. Comparable in grantmaking function (similar to Ke Alahele) and Hawaii-specific community orientation.
• Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement: Hawaii community development organization focused on Native Hawaiian economic self-sufficiency, capacity building, and grantmaking. Comparable as a values-based Hawaii economic/community development nonprofit that channels grants and convenes stakeholders.

Broad incumbents

• Space Foundation: National nonprofit supporting space industry education, policy, and events including the Space Symposium. Comparable to MEDB as a nonprofit convener and host of premier space-industry conferences, though broader in geography and portfolio than AMOS.
• American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA): World's largest aerospace professional society hosting technical conferences and STEM programs. Comparable to MEDB in hosting space/aerospace technical conferences and operating K-12 STEM outreach, though at a much larger national scale.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/medbinc
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UC5dCs_M3L7YbZ1cJSGhk8kQ
• Facebookfacebook.com/medbinc
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/maui-economic-development-board-inc-

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Maui Economic Development Board