Hawaii grown dragon fruit is made into craft cider. Click here to watch video and learn more.

For years, the landscape of startup business in America was influenced by strict rules on who could and could not invest in new companies. The guidelines set by the SEC were clear—only sophisticated investors, whose net worth and annual earnings placed them in the country’s wealthiest ten percent, were allowed to invest. This rule meant three things for everyday people and the companies that impacted their communities. First, startup businesses (if they wanted to get funded) were often tailored to the tastes and preferences of the wealthy. Second, everyday people didn’t have a say in which companies were capitalized and allowed to flourish. And third, when start-ups made it big, the profits went to a select few, rather than to the community of people buying its products, hosting the business in their town or city, and ultimately managing externalities linked to its operations.

This was the paradigm until May of this year, when Obama signed the JOBS act—opening the ability to invest in emerging businesses to anyone, regardless of their net worth. While it will take time to begin seeing the true impact of the new act, some forward thinkers have already launched platforms designed to connect grass roots investors with like-minded startups using the new act to raise money. WeFunder.com is one such platform, and Hawaii Cider Company is one of the first businesses to go live on their system. 

Hawaii Cider Co. is a Hawaii-based startup whose aim is to turn the state’s abundance of responsibly grown fruit into affordable craft cider. The company was started by a successful team of beverage entrepreneurs who previously grew an organic beverage brand (Hawaiian Ola) into a thriving business with over 16 SKUs and distribution to Whole Foods, 7-Eleven, CVS, and most grocery stores throughout the Hawaiian Islands.

With their sights now set on the cider market, the team is enthusiastic about raising seed capital through a network of committed stakeholders—especially residents living in Hawaii. “We’re excited about making this a community owned venture,” says Chris Whidden, Brand Manager. “The model makes sense and is open to everyone,” adding that “if the company is successful, we think the benefits of that win should be shared with the people who supported the project, not only as investors, but also as fans and shoppers who buy our products in stores.”

Since launching the campaign this summer, Hawaii Cider Co has raised over $500K of their $1M goal through the WeFunder platform. To learn more about the project and how to get involved, visit the links below!

About Hawaii Cider Co.:
Hawaii Cider is Hawaii’s first locally sourced and locally produced cider company. The team is comprised of the seasoned beverage industry team that brought you the Hawaiian Ola Beverage Company, as well as brew master Sebastian Bach, who has won over 35 awards for his decade of innovative brewing. Hawaii Cider Company supports farmers growing responsibly farmed tropical fruits, and is passionate about creating great tasting ciders that offer shoppers a local alternative to imported ciders.

Invest: www.wefunder.com/hawaiicider

Hawaiian Cider Company

Hawaiian Cider Company

Hawaiian Ola is a mission-focused food and beverage company sharing organic Hawaiian Noni with the world.

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