Mana Up

Mana Up was raising a new fund to expand its investment capacity beyond the accelerator model. I co-authored the financial model that underpinned the fund's pitch to limited partners — building projections, scenario analyses, and return models that translated the accelerator's track record into a credible investment thesis. This wasn't a classroom exercise; the model was presented directly to prospective LPs and shaped the fund's actual structure. I also conducted market research to identify high-potential sectors and companies, contributing directly to what became the fund's largest portfolio to date.

Mana Up's annual showcase is part demo day, part trade show, part celebration of Hawai'i's entrepreneurial community — over 1,000 attendees including investors, retail buyers, press, and the general public. I managed logistics and on-site operations for the entire event: vendor coordination, floor layout, run-of-show timing, day-of troubleshooting, and guest experience. The event is Mana Up's single highest-visibility moment of the year, and execution quality directly impacts brand perception among the investors and buyers who fund the next cohort.

Most internships are observation. This one was ownership. I was writing models that went into LP decks, not reviewing someone else's work. I was running day-of operations for a 1,000-person event, not stuffing gift bags. Mana Up operates with a small team and a high-trust culture — they gave me real responsibility because the work required it, and I delivered.

The financial model I co-authored was used in the fund's LP fundraise. The showcase ran smoothly to an audience of over 1,000 — Mana Up's largest to date — with positive coverage from local and national press. The market research I conducted shaped portfolio construction decisions for the fund's first investments. Beyond the deliverables, this experience is where I first understood that design, strategy, and execution are the same discipline at different scales.