Keoni DeFranco is an O’ahu based activist & creative with operational experience across tech & healthcare.
Keoni is a Kānaka Maoli (Native Hawaiian) activist focused on increasing land, water, food, spiritual & human rights for all indigenous peoples around the world.
He is currently the Managing Director of Mālama Venture Studio, developing a portfolio of startups at the intersection of innovative technology and Native Hawaiian culture, with a focus on local job creation & Waiwai (community wealth).
He is an organizer with O’ahu Water Protectors & Ka’ohewai, fighting to defuel & decommission Red Hill Fuel Facility, which has leaked millions of gallons of petroleum into O’ahu’s sole source aquifer.
He is also a representative to the United Nations for IAAI, a NGO focused on climate change. He has spent time on the front lines of battles for justice such as Standing Rock and Mauna Kea.
Malama Venture Studio (Purple Mai’a)
Managing Director
Sept 2021–Present
Malama Venture Studio is an O’ahu based organization that focuses on entrepreneurship and design programs rooted in indigenous innovation and the values of Hawai’i. Mālama operates Mālama Design Studio, an accelerator for Native Hawaiian owned small business. We are developing & supporting a portfolio of innovative companies to achieve a sustainable Hawaiʻi.
We aim to strengthen Hawaiʻi’s economy through socially & environmentally regenerative businesses, & aid in the creation of living-wage jobs for Kanaka ʻoiwi in Hawaiʻi.
Current projects include:
Ka Mahina Project: Hina Circles
A new approach to mental healthcare harnessing traditional Hawaiian knowledge & telehealth services.
Mālama Design Studio
A network of kanaka maoli creators offering graphic design, website design, UI/UX, branding, strategy, in person or virtual event management & social media management
Kia’i Report
Action Alerts on Hawai’i Land, Water, Food, Spiritual & Human Rights
‘Aina Back
A campaign to return Kanaka ‘Oiwi back to their Kuleana Lands
Noa
An innovative approach to Kava (coming soon)
Life Biosciences
CEO (LifeLua LLC)
Oct 2018 – Oct 2019
Life Biosciences is the first & largest biotech company addressing the eight pathways of age-related decline in totality. LifeLua was tasked with designing a Machine Learning platform to increase the speed of the drug discovery process. Led product development & developed revenue model.
Acquired by Dr. First Oct 2019.
Lua
Founder & CEO
Feb 2010–Oct 2018
Lua Technologies was a secure, mobile-first messaging & video conferencing SaaS platform for Healthcare & Fortune 500 companies.
Founded company, designed product & led fundraising process.
Set and implemented company vision. Hired and led leadership, sales, engineering, product, business development and marketing teams.
Managed sales pipeline, self-prospected & closed large enterprise accounts. Led a national team of sales representatives. Worked with C-Suite to develop and deploy secure mobile enterprise strategies.
Clients included Apple, LiveNation, Cisco, NFL & NBA Teams, SXSW
Acquired by Life Biosciences in Oct 2018.
