Startup World Cup Expands to Hawaii, Bridging Asia and U.S. Startup Ecosystems
Event summary
- Startup World Cup and Blue Startups co-hosting 'East Meets West' event in Hawaii on April 9, 2026.
- $1 million investment prize for Hawaii Regional winner to compete in San Francisco Grand Finale.
- Tim Draper of Draper Associates speaking at the event; Meet the Drapers filming live.
- Pegasus Tech Ventures managing the competition with $2 billion in AUM.
The big picture
Pegasus Tech Ventures is expanding its Startup World Cup platform to Hawaii, creating a new bridge between Asian and U.S. startup ecosystems. With $2 billion in assets under management, Pegasus aims to leverage this event to strengthen cross-border venture capital flows. The inclusion of Tim Draper and Meet the Drapers adds high-profile visibility to Hawaii's emerging role as an innovation hub.
What we're watching
- Cross-Pacific Synergy
- How the Hawaii event will impact startup-investor connections between Asia and the U.S.
- Prize Competition Dynamics
- Whether the $1 million prize will attract top-tier startups from both regions.
- Ecosystem Growth
- The pace at which Hawaii's innovation ecosystem develops following this event.
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