Ben Godsey He knows how important entrepreneurs are HawaiiEconomy. as president and General manager ProService Hawaii, one HawaiiThe largest staffing provider, it counts more than 2,000 local small businesses as clients—many of them entrepreneurs.
That’s one reason why Godise and his wife, Yvonne Chan, are investing in the university. HawaiiResidence for Creative Student Entrepreneurs (rise up) with a $250,000 grant to build a Live Work-Study Institute for student entrepreneurs to dream big and turn those dreams into successful businesses.
“Hawaii It’s run by small businesses — and small business is innovation, whether it’s a new business, or a business that’s been around for 50 or 100 years,” Godsey said. “Entrepreneurship and small business Hawaii A more livable place.”
70 million dollars rise up The project, which is expected to open in the fall of 2023, is being built on the former Atherton site. YMCAFrom across UH Manoa Campus, a public-private partnership between the university; UH Foundations and hunting companies, without spending taxpayer dollars. of rise up Programs are hosted by the Pacific Asia Entrepreneurship Center (PACE) as if UH Manoa Shidler College of Business.
all of them rise up Residents are encouraged to participate PACE programs, plays an important role in the success of the center rise up facility, said Godsey, who is also the chairman PACE board of directors.
“There’s something interesting about it rise up The project, he said, means that with the new building will come new opportunities for improved programs and advanced teaching and learning. “It’s going to be really wonderful.”
A clean maker space that changes the game
A special feature rise up There are 374 residents in the six-story, 114,000-square-foot building rise up The building will have access PACEClassroom and collaboration spaces, meeting spaces, makerspaces and prototyping labs with high-tech equipment without having to leave the building. Godsey and Chan’s gift is named after the cleaner’s position rise upWhere students can build and test their products.
“This project will truly be a game changer in the entrepreneurship community,” said Shidler and PACE Students Rose WongFounder and owner of Kolohe, A Hawaii A brand exclusive to the custom jewelry bar on the shop floor. “A facility like this would definitely speed up my business.”
of rise up Space will be ideal for student entrepreneurs like Wong, who started high school at age 16 and worked to raise it. PACE program while a student UH. Kolohe today has two stores in Waikiki and a successful e-commerce website.
“The impact this institution will have on future students will be enormous,” she said. Encouraging creativity and innovation in today’s workplace environment can have a positive impact on society in many ways.
A self-supporting view
More than $3.7 million has been raised for the project so far. Funds needed for construction and equipping buildings and provides first jobs and scholarships. In addition to Gozzi and Chan, matching gifts were made by Rich and Eileen Wacker, Hawaii Electric Industries, American Savings Bank, Island Insurance Foundation, First Bank of Hawaii and Walter. A. Dodds Jr.
“By raising funds for this, we have the opportunity to enhance the startup component of the programming at the facility,” Godsey said. “I think it’s going to be a big home run. It will be a real cornerstone that will make a difference to both the university and the community and something we can be very proud of and attract people to. UH Who will be entrepreneurs and support our community.
