John F. Scarpa Entrepreneurial Pathway

John F. Scarpa Entrepreneurial Pathway

Our mission is to foster an entrepreneurial culture that empowers the next generation of leaders with the skills and confidence to innovate and create meaningful solutions for tomorrow's world. Led from the College of Business, the Entrepreneurial Pathway is designed to serve all students, faculty, and staff.


The John F. Scarpa Entrepreneurial Pathway includes a variety of events and resources to spark and promote entrepreneurial thinking across Hawai'i Pacific University: 

  • Competitions such as HPU Startup Challenge x Hult Prize and the HPU Makerspace Competition designed to motivate and educate all participants. Mixers and other events will be a part of these competitions to help students meet potential teammates and bounce ideas.
  • Appetite for Entrepreneurship - Lunch and Learn with Founders series - founders speak to our community over an intimate meal.
  • An Entrepreneur-in-Residence program: bringing seasoned entrepreneurs to HPU, offering students in-person or virtual access to expertise, advice, and insights into the challenges and opportunities of evaluating and testing entrepreneurial ideas through office hours and 1-on-1 meetings.

    • Other: entrepreneurs in the spotlight - 'Ohana highlighting our campus and alumni founders

  • Scarpa Faculty Change Maker Fellowships support faculty as they create multi-disciplinary and co-curricular opportunities for students.
  • Alumni Entrepreneur Award: an award that recognizes the entrepreneurial success and the spirit of innovation among HPU alumni.
  • Scarpa Entrepreneurial Pathway Board, a working board designed to serve as a strategic body that guides the development and implementation of initiatives to foster innovation, mentorship, and entrepreneurial success.

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Register for the Scarpa Mailing List
Learn more about the HPU Startup Challenge
Learn more about the HPU Makerspace Competition

Past Events

  • HPU Club Carnival and Resource Fair
  • University 1000 COB Pilots
  • Appetite for Entrepreneurship with Chris Hissom, Co-Founder of SurfUp - September 18
  • "Internal Analysis" from Dr. Sarah Xiaoshu Bei's "Strategic and Entrepreneurial Thinking" Class - September 19

  • Faculty Development Workshop - Active Learning - October 3

  • Appetite for Entrepreneurship with Forrest Ching, Co-Founder of Hapa Drink Company - October 6

  • Scarpa Faculty Change Maker Fellowship Application Deadline - October 18

  • HPU Startup Challenge: Idea Sprint Social with Chris Gooch & Giovanna Scholbi - October 22

  • Appetite for Entrepreneurship with Rebecca Teresia, Founder of Sisu Media - October 28

  • Faculty Grant Winners Announced
  • University 1000 COB sessions: New Ventures in Sustainability - November 3-4
  • Residential Honors Pilot - Community Engaged Entrepreneurial Problem Solving - November 4 & 18
  • HPU Startup Challenge Meetup - November 19
  • Deadline for Alumni Award Nominations - November 21

  • HPU Startup Challenge Meetups - December 8-18
  • Entries due for HPU Startup Challenge Qualifiers - Semifinals
  • Discuss implementation of pilot courses

  • HPU Startup Challenge Workshop #1 with Rumpa Giri - January 15
  • HPU Startup Challenge Workshop #2 - January 21
  • HPU Startup Challenge Workshop #3 with Jill Castilla - January 28
  • Appetite for Entrepreneurship with Jill Castilla - January 28
  • Pilot new courses and programs

  • HPU Startup Challenge Workshop #4 - February 4
  • HPU Startup Challenge Workshop #5 with Forrest Ching & Suki Chan - February 11

  • Kickoff Makerspace Competition - March 16
  • BUS 1000A Guest Speaker: Eric Yeaman - March 16
  • MGMT 2000A Guest Speaker: Mary Lou Song - March 19
  • Appetite for Entrepreneurship with Mary Lou Song - March 19
  • Appetite for Entrepreneurship with Erik Enecker - March 23

Upcoming Events

  • Demo Day for Scarpa Fellows Course Pilot - Grant Writing Competition - May 4 & 6
  • Exhibitor and HPU Students Volunteer at Women Entrepreneurs Conference - May 18
  • Call for proposals: Scarpa Faculty Change Maker Fellowships incentivize and support faculty as they create multi-disciplinary and co-curricular opportunities for students.

  • MBA Capstone & Business Plan Competition - Summer 2026
  • Entrepreneurship Camp for High School Students - July 13-17

  • Offer Small Business Management Course - Fall 2026

Pathway & Community Events

Pathway News

  • HPU Team Competes at Hult Prize Nationals West in Tucson
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  • Hawai‘i Pacific University Presents the John F. Scarpa Entrepreneurial Pathway Inaugural Alumni Entrepreneur Award
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  • HPU Students, Faculty and Staff Attend 2026 East Meets West Conference
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  • HPU Students Deliver at the Second Annual John F. Scarpa Entrepreneurial Pathway Makerspace Competition
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  • HPU Announces Inaugural 'Scarpa Faculty Change Makers' Fellows
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  • HPU's Winner of the 'Scarpa Entrepreneurial Pathway Startup Challenge' Wins $10K and Advances to Compete for $1M Hult Prize
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  • HPU Receives $700K Gift to Launch the 'John F. Scarpa Entrepreneurial Pathway'
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Entrepreneur Spotlight

  • Jill Castilla's Journey Back to HPU
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  • HPU Alumna Rebecca Teresia Celebrates the Worldwide Release of 'Shaka, A Story of Aloha'
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  • Leadership in Motion with HPU Alumnus Paul Gene
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  • HPU Alumnus Jeremiah Sarmiento Shares Insights on Family Business, Cohort Learning, and the Secret to Entrepreneurial Success
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  • HPU Alum Opens Second 'Hearthly' Burger Restaurant in New Jersey
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  • The Accidental Entrepreneur
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  • HPU Alumnus Forrest Ching Finds Success in Tech and Tea
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  • Hawaii College Student Turns Dorm-Room Dream Into Swimwear Line
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  • HPU Launches 'Appetite for Entrepreneurship' Series
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