East Meets West 2026
About the Event
East Meets West Featuring Startup World Cup Hawaii (EMW) is Hawai‘i’s premier startup and venture conference, where Asia meets the U.S., and founders meet investors.
Hosted by Blue Startups, EMW brings together global investors, founders, and thought leaders from both sides of the Pacific for two days of insight, connection, and aloha.
Hosted by:
Chenoa Farnsworth
Maya Rogers
David Holt
Bill Reichert
Event Details
Summit and Conference April 8–9, 2026
Conference Only April 9, 2026
Day 1 Summit: Ko‘olau Ballrooms, Kāne‘ohe
Day 2 Conference: Sheraton Waikiki, Honolulu
9:00 AM – 5:00 PM (each day)
Tickets Now on Sale
About East Meets West
For over a decade, EMW has connected innovators across the Pacific.
Expect global venture leaders, startup founders, and ecosystem builders in one vibrant, collaborative setting.
The vibe: Big ideas, real connections, and the aloha spirit.
2026 Highlights
Meet the Drapers Live: Selected founders pitch on stage to the Draper family. Global TV exposure. Real investor feedback.
Startup World Cup Qualifier: Official EMW pitch competition. Winners advance to the global finals.
Tim Draper Keynote: Global perspective on venture capital, innovation, and the future of entrepreneurship.
2026 Focus
Founder Showcase: Top startups from East and West pitch live for investments
Investor–Founder Roundtables: Small-group sessions curated by sector
Sunset Mixer: Oceanfront networking with live music and cocktails
Cross-Cultural Keynotes: Lessons from building in Hawaii
EMW 2026 Speakers
Expect insights from global leaders in venture and innovation, including:
Tim Draper, Legendary Venture Capitalist
Alex Fielding, Founder & CEO, Privateer Space
Guy Kawasaki, Chief Evangelist, Canva
Chris Yeh, Founding Partner, Blitzscaling Ventures
Holly Liu, Co-Founder, VENN
Henk Rogers, Founder, Blue Planet Alliance
Pa'a Sibbett, Writer and Creator, Chief of War
Angela Laprete, Producer, ICAN
Tey Bannerman, Human-Centered AI Strategist, McKinsey
Rich Hua, Founder, EPIQ Leadership
…and many more!
The Setting
This year’s EMW blends the energy of innovation with the beauty of Hawai‘i — from the lush Ko‘olau Ballrooms to the oceanfront Sheraton Waikiki.
Day 1: Ko‘olau Ballrooms, Kāne‘ohe, HI
Day 2: Sheraton Waikiki, Honolulu, HI
Each day offers unique spaces for connection — from keynote stages to breakout lounges to ocean-view networking.
VIP Experiences
(Available to Conference + Summit attendees)
EMW 2026 takes relationship-building beyond the stage with curated VIP sessions designed to connect global leaders through authentic Hawaiian experiences and meaningful conversation.
Summit Day Hawaii Wellness Adventure
Private Executive Lunch & Roundtables
Affinity Dinners (Evening in Honolulu)
Investor–Founder Networking
From Our Community
“East Meets West is so important because it creates a more collaborative environment — not just focusing on Hawaii, but the connectivity to other places that can give you leverage and momentum.”
— Steve Case, Chairman & CEO, Revolution
“East Meets West provides a trusted platform for critical information and data sharing, filtering out the noise, and focusing on what’s important.”
— Peter Fukunaga, Sr. VP, Investments, Servco Pacific Inc.
Hosted By
Blue Startups
A Top 20 Accelerator in the U.S. (TechCrunch) helping scalable technology companies compete on a global stage. Founded by Henk Rogers, Maya Rogers, and Chenoa Farnsworth, Blue Startups serves as a nexus for entrepreneurship between Asia and North America.
Join Us
Come for the connections. Leave with new partners, big ideas, and a little more aloha.