Hawai‘i is not peripheral to the space economy. Situated in the mission critical Indopacific, Hawaii is operationally significant.

From space domain awareness and optical sensing to geospatial intelligence, autonomy, energy systems, and communications, Hawai‘i sits at the heart of Pacific operations, national security priorities, and real-world test environments.

Maui, in particular, offers:

• Proximity to key space and defense missions

• Access to national decision-makers through the AMOS conference

• A collaborative ecosystem where industry, government, and nonprofits work closely

• A growing technical workforce rooted in place

BusinessSPACE exists to turn these advantages into durable companies that can scale, not just promising ideas.

BusinessSPACE is designed for companies that:

• Are based in Hawai‘i or committed to building long-term operations here

• Work in space, defense, dual-use, or space-adjacent sectors

• Have a technical capability/expertise and are ready to pursue real customers

• Want honest, constructive feedback

• Are willing to iterate, pivot, and sharpen their focus

You do not need:

• A fully formed business yet

• A perfect pitch deck

• Venture capital already in hand

• A large team. Single Founder companies are welcome.

You do need:

• A serious founder/entrepreneurial mindset

• A willingness to engage with customers and customer discovery

• Openness to learning what won’t work as quickly as what will

What You Get

BusinessSPACE participants gain access to practical, hands-on support designed to help technical founders move faster and with fewer missteps.

• Strategic Business Support

  One-on-one advising tailored to technical founders navigating complex space, defense, and dual-use markets.

• Federal Pathways

  Guidance on SBIR/STTR proposal development, government procurement, and mission alignment—grounded in real solicitation dynamics.

• Customer & Partner Access

  Targeted introductions to industry, government, and ecosystem partners where alignment makes sense.

• Workforce Integration Support

  Connections to Hawai‘i’s talent pipeline through the MEDB STEMworks Internship Program. Each BusinessSPACE company is eligible for up to five interns at no cost to the company.

• Credibility & Visibility

  Opportunities to engage with national forums, conferences, and decision-makers. MEDB provides limited travel support to select conferences, including AMOS and Space Industry Days.

• Non-Equity Seed Funding

  Each BusinessSPACE company receives a $3,000 business assistance allowance (subject to increase or decrease depending on funding availability), with additional reimbursements available for eligible startup costs such as business registration, accounting software, CPA services, and IP consulting.

• Access to MEDB Nexus

  Workspace, convening space, and connection to MEDB’s broader innovation environment at MEDB Nexus.

• Alumni Network

  Ongoing access to BusinessSPACE alumni events, peer learning, and ecosystem connections beyond the formal program period.

This is practical business support, not performative mentorship.

Outcomes & Traction

What We’re Seeing

Early BusinessSPACE cohorts have demonstrated strong momentum, including:

• Federal proposals submitted and awarded

• New revenue generated

• Jobs created locally

• Interns placed into space-sector roles

• Companies maturing from concept to contract-ready

Beyond the numbers, participants leave with sharper positioning, clearer customer understanding, and a stronger foundation for sustainable growth in space markets.

This is free program that is supported by Federal, State, County, and Private funding streams. There is no cost to participate. This program may suggest some elective travel opportunities that would be out of pocket, but essential conference attendance such as at AMOS will be fully covered.

MEDB also will not take any equity in your company. We are here to help.

Ready to Build Something That Matters?

If you’re a founder building space or space-adjacent technology in Hawai‘i and you want support that’s grounded, honest, and mission-aware, we’d love to hear from you.

Contact Katie Taladay, Director of STEM Talent and Ecosystem Development at katie@medb.org

Apply to BusinessSPACE Cohort 4

Learn More About MEDB