Piiku is a technology company.
Piiku has raised $40K across 1 funding round.
Piiku has raised $40K in total across 1 funding round.
Piiku has raised $40K in total across 1 funding round.
Piiku's investors include Entrepreneurs Roundtable Accelerator (ERA).
Piʻikū Co. is a Hawaiʻi-based 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to workforce development in the tech sector. It recruits, trains, and deploys emerging tech talent through mentorship, paid internships, and career support programs, focusing on fields like UI/UX design, graphic design, and software development to build a thriving local tech ecosystem[3][5][6]. By partnering with local companies such as Zippy’s and initiatives like Good Jobs Hawaiʻi and Blue Startups, Piʻikū addresses talent shortages and brain drain, enabling kamaʻāina (native Hawaiians and locals) to gain real-world experience without leaving the islands, with alumni securing full-time roles in tech[3][5][6].
The organization serves aspiring technologists, students, and recent graduates in Hawaiʻi, solving the problem of limited entry-level tech opportunities that force many to relocate to the mainland U.S. Its growth includes 32 alumni, 11 mentors, 21 partner companies, and programs running through late 2025, fostering a diversified local economy with tech products reflecting Hawaiian values[3][5][6].
Piʻikū Co. emerged to combat Hawaiʻi’s tech talent exodus, where few local firms provide entry-level experience, pushing aspiring designers and developers to the continental U.S.[5][6]. Founded as a non-profit by a core team including Executive Director Carlo Liquido, Program Director Kim Davidson, Operations Director May Sermonia, and Marketing & Community Director Hana Nakano, it draws on a board of tech leaders like Marissa Rowell (Director of Marketing at ʻŌlelo Programming) and advisors from companies such as Render, Notion, Lyft, GitHub, and Alaska Airlines[6].
Early traction came through partnerships like Good Jobs Hawaiʻi (supported by the University of Hawaiʻi) and Zippy’s, where interns handled real UI/UX and signage projects; one standout, Michelle Tran (Kailua High School grad), transitioned from an eight-week internship to a full-time UI/UX role, crediting Piʻikū for client management skills[5]. Pivotal moments include collaborations with Blue Startups, building a community of alumni and mentors, and expanding to 32 alumni by 2025[3][5][6].
Piʻikū stands out in tech workforce development through its hyper-local, hands-on model tailored to Hawaiʻi’s unique challenges:
Piʻikū rides the wave of Hawaiʻi’s push for a diversified economy amid tourism dependency and remote work trends post-COVID, capitalizing on timing as UH’s Strategic Plan prioritizes workforce development to retain talent[5]. Market forces like growing local tech demand (e.g., digital signage for businesses like Zippy’s) and partnerships with accelerators like Blue Startups amplify its impact, creating a pipeline for kamaʻāina in UI/UX and software roles[3][5].
It influences the ecosystem by reversing brain drain—alumni like Michelle Tran stay and build "tech products that represent our values"—while inspiring collaborations that strengthen Hawaiʻi’s tech scene against outsourcing[3][5][6].
Piʻikū is poised to scale its model with 2025 programs (e.g., Sept-Dec cohorts) and expanding partnerships, potentially doubling alumni and companies as Hawaiʻi’s tech sector matures amid remote work and AI-driven design needs[3][6]. Trends like localized AI tools and sustainable tech will shape its path, evolving its influence from talent pipeline to a full ecosystem hub that keeps more locals building Hawaiʻi’s future. This non-profit’s aloha-rooted approach positions it to anchor the islands’ tech renaissance, turning early drop-off barriers into thriving careers.
Piiku has raised $40K across 1 funding round. Most recently, it raised $40K Seed in June 2013.
| Date | Round | Lead Investors | Other Investors |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 1, 2013 | $40K Seed | Entrepreneurs Roundtable Accelerator (ERA) |