COHORT 1 · FALL 2026 · HILO, HAWAIʻI ISLAND
Hawaiʻi Business Gym
Stronger Businesses. Stronger Hawaiʻi.
You know AI could help your business — you just don't know where to start. Bring one real problem, and in six weeks we'll help you find where AI fits and build the fix with you.
Most business owners know something could work better, even if they haven’t had time to step back and figure out what to fix first. Hawaiʻi Business Gym gives you the structure, support, and practical tools to work on one real business challenge and leave with measurable progress.
The six-week cohort runs October 5–November 13, 2026, culminating in Showcase Day on November 19 at UH Hilo.
Funded in part by the Hawaiʻi Technology Development Corporation (HTDC)
6
Local Businesses
6
Weeks
100%
Hawaiʻi Island Businesses
Nov 19
Showcase Day
THE PROGRAM
Bring one challenge. Leave with one measurable improvement.
Letʻs work together to help Hawaiʻi Island businesses use practical tools to free up time, strengthen operations, and keep serving their communities.
BRING A CHALLENGE
Start with one real business issue.
It may be a manual process, recurring bottleneck, missed follow-up, scheduling issue, inventory problem, or growth opportunity that keeps getting delayed.
BUILD A SOLUTION
Work on it with structure and support.
Through guided workshops, coaching, peer discussion, and practical tools, participants move from idea to action.
MEASURE THE RESULTS
Leave with progress participants can explain and continue.
Track what changed, document the improvement, and share the before-and-after story at Showcase Day.
“Each session combines practical learning, guided working time, peer discussion, and implementation support.”
OUR APPROACH
We start with your problem, not a tool. Using proven improvement methods, we find the real root cause and target the highest-impact fix — then build it with practical AI and automation. You leave with a measurable result your team keeps using.
You can build an AI app in a day. Making it stick in your business takes longer — that's what the Gym is for.
OUTCOMES
What You'll Leave With
By the end of Hawaiʻi Business Gym, each participating business will leave with more than ideas. You will work on one real challenge during the cohort and leave with a working fix your team keeps using.
01
A Mapped Challenge
A clear view of the workflow, bottleneck, handoff, or decision point creating friction.
02
One Prioritized Improvement
A focused project selected for practical impact, instead of a long list of things to fix.
03
A Working Fix
A workflow, tracking tool, follow-up process, or automation built with you during the cohort — running in your business, not sitting in a plan.
04
A Before-and-After Measure
A simple way to show progress, such as time saved, fewer errors, faster follow-up, better visibility, or improved customer experience.
05
A Next-Step Roadmap
A short plan for what to continue, improve, or explore after the cohort ends.
Participants will also have the opportunity to share their progress and lessons learned at Showcase Day on November 19, from 3 to 5 p.m. at the Rose and Raymond Tseng Terrace at UH Hilo.
WHO THIS IS FOR
Built for Hawaiʻi Island business owners who are ready to bring a real challenge and make practical progress.
Hawaiʻi Business Gym is designed for Hawaiʻi Island business owners and operators who want to strengthen how their business runs.
This program is a good fit if you:
- Have a real business challenge you want to improve
- Feel stretched by manual work, bottlenecks, missed follow-ups, or growth constraints
- Want practical support, not just general advice
- Are open to using process improvement, technology, or automation where it makes sense
- Can commit time during the cohort to work on one meaningful improvement
You do not need to have the solution figured out before you apply. The program is designed to help you clarify the challenge, choose what to focus on, and make measurable progress.
This program is best for businesses that can participate actively. Each session includes practical learning, guided working time, and follow-through between sessions.
PROGRAM TIMELINE
Six weeks. One real improvement. One public showcase.
Apply
June 23, 2026
Rolling review begins
Select
Late Summer / Sept 2026
Six businesses chosen
Learn + Build
Oct 5–Oct 30
Weekly hands-on cohort sessions
Implement
Nov 2–13
Test and refine one improvement
Showcase
November 19, 2026
Share results with the community
Apply
June 23, 2026
Rolling review begins
Select
Late Summer / Sept 2026
Six businesses chosen
Learn + Build
Oct 5–Oct 30
Weekly hands-on cohort sessions
Implement
Nov 2–13
Test and refine one improvement
Showcase
November 19, 2026
Share results with the community
Cohort 1 is limited to six businesses. Apply early.
Ready to bring your challenge?
Applications open June 23, 2026. Cohort 1 is limited to six businesses, and applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis. Early applications will receive priority consideration.
Tuition starts at just $300 for the entire six weeks — coaching, practical tools, implementation support, and Showcase Day included. Thanks to HTDC funding and local sponsors, we're able to keep it this accessible, and need-based scholarships are available.
APPLY FOR COHORT 1
Tell us about your business.
A few quick questions — it takes about five minutes. We review applications on a rolling basis.
Tuition starts at just $300 for the full six-week cohort, with need-based scholarships available so cost doesn't keep anyone out.
BECOME A SPONSOR
Help Strengthen Hawaiʻi Island Businesses
Sponsoring Hawaiʻi Business Gym helps local businesses build the operational strength they need to grow, hire, retain talent, and adapt to a changing economy. Your support helps make the program accessible while funding the hands-on coaching, tools, implementation support, and Showcase Day that turn ideas into measurable progress.
This is more than event sponsorship. It is an investment in practical business transformation, local capacity-building, and a stronger Hawaiʻi Island economy.
Sponsors help fund:
- Hands-on coaching and facilitation
- Practical tools and templates businesses can keep using
- Implementation support during the cohort
- Measurement and documentation of business improvements
- Showcase Day, where businesses share results with peers, partners, and the community
Help fund practical business transformation for Hawaiʻi Island.
Become a SponsorInterested in partnering, sponsoring, or supporting the cohort? Let’s talk.
Presented by Kealani Solutions and funded in part by the Hawaiʻi Technology Development Corporation, Hawaiʻi Business Gym helps Hawaiʻi Island businesses turn real operational challenges into practical, measurable improvements.
Learn more about HTDC