Maui-based tech entrepreneurs inspired a group of small business owners, entrepreneurs and even retirees, at Maui Economic Development Board’s Maui Tech ‘Ohana on July 8. Guest speakers, Dana and Josh Ellis talked story about their high-growth AI startup, Abra – the AI Guest Intelligence Platform for Hospitality that is providing a better personal experience for hotel guests.
A graduate of Boston University’s School of Hospitality Administration, Dana Ellis is the Co-Founder & Chief Hospitality Officer of Abra and a Hotel Manager at Hotel Wailea. She shared her background in hospitality management, including her experience at luxury hotels from New York to Maui and how that helped to shape the application. Her husband, co-founder and CEO, Josh discussed his career in management consulting and tech before co-founding Abra with Dana.
The two tag-teamed the presentation engaging the audience with their personal journey, explaining how Abra addresses the challenge of capturing and sharing tacit knowledge from hotel staff to deliver personalized guest experiences by integrating with multiple hotel systems and creating a unified guest memory.
Attendees showed their interest asking a number of questions about data input methods; cultural integration in Hawaii; technical implementation details; and privacy protections for guest information.
Josh & Dana Ellis presenting at Maui Tech ‘Ohana July 8
“It was a fascinating use of AI to improve the hospitality industry,” remarked Kevin Krewell, a retired technology analyst. “The goal was not to replace people but to enhance their capabilities to allow them to do a better job.”
“I think this should inspire other people looking to do startups in Hawaii,” Kevin added. “There’s a network of people within the whole Hawaiian chain – the idea that all of Hawaii should connect better as a technology island, a technology platform to share more back and forth between the various islands.”
Presented by the Maui Economic Development Board (MEDB) and supported by the County of Maui, Maui Tech ‘Ohana offers a talk-story format and provides an informal networking opportunity open to anyone interested in Maui County’s technology sector.
“It’s nice to see people being successful using AI – a small company here on Maui with a global reach,” concluded Jen Rix, who attended with her husband Marc, an AI coach and trainer.
Learn more about Maui Tech ‘Ohana at https://www.mauitechohana.com