Empower Your Dreams 2023 Winners
LY Logistics
Team members: Yulin Wang, Shangru Ye, Qing Li
LY Logistics is a third-party logistics company that ships directly from China to Hawaii, reducing costs and shipping time by bypassing the mainland. Founded by three students from China with logistics experience, LY addresses common issues like high costs, damaged packaging, and poor customer service. By focusing on this niche route, they deliver affordable, reliable service and have identified over 200 potential customers in a $280 million market.
Weyes
Team members: Timothy Samad, Giovanni Boenari
Weyes offers at-home eye checkup services and trendy eyeglasses, making eye care more accessible and efficient. Customers book through WhatsApp, receive in-home exams, choose frames, and get their glasses delivered in 2–3 days. With just one optometrist, WISE served 136 customers and earned over $2,000 in net profit, showing strong demand in Indonesia’s 80-million eyeglass-wearer market. After testing, they plan to relaunch post-college and scale operations across major cities like South Tangerang and Jakarta.
Ikaika Basalt
Team members: Bilguun Batbayar, Shota Omija, Alexa Utahia
Ikaika Basalt offers a sustainable alternative to steel rebar by using basalt rock, which is 3x stronger, 4x lighter, rustproof, and more eco-friendly. Our basalt rebar has an 80% lower carbon footprint and is more affordable than steel, breaking the belief that sustainability is expensive. We educate customers, take orders, and ship directly from manufacturers to reduce costs.
Te Nii Island Resort
Team member: Beetoo Ieru
Te Nii Island Resort is a luxury eco-resort venture founded by Beto from Kiribati, aiming to provide world-class accommodations on Christmas Island. Inspired by the need to create reliable local jobs and keep families together, the resort will feature overwater bungalows, excursions, dining, and a unique Kiribati spa. Targeting West Coast U.S. travelers seeking new, distraction-free destinations, Teni Island Resort blends cultural authenticity with sustainable tourism, supporting both community development and unforgettable guest experiences.
Memory Dotz
Team member: Taylor Hoffenback
Memory Dotz creates personalized QR codes for gravestones that link to memorial websites with videos, photos, and messages, helping loved ones stay connected beyond death. Inspired by a personal experience of loss, founder Taylor Hoffenbeck aims to transform remembrance through technology. With a universal market, since everyone experiences loss, Memory Dots provides both emotional value and scalable business potential. The company also offers colorful 3D-printed Memory Dots for home use, keeping memories close every day.