Christian Hissom (seen at left, second row) at the September 18 Appetite for Entrepreneurship lunch-and-learn event with Adam Burke (right, top row), Dean Amy Nguyen-Chyung (left, bottom row) and HPU students.
HPU launched its new Appetite for Entrepreneurship lunch-and-learn series on September 18, 2025, with SurfUp co-founder, Crown Bioscience Director of Business Development Christian Hissom. Hosted by the Dean of the College of Business, the series was created to bring founders to campus for small-group, over-lunch conversations that allow sharing of entrepreneurial tips as well as sparking new ideas. The series is part of HPU’s new John F. Scarpa Entrepreneurial Pathway, which will also host larger events such as the upcoming HPU Startup Challenge Idea Sprint Social
Students and faculty shared a delicious lunch at Waterfront Plaza with Hissom, who covered how a love for surfing started his entrepreneurial journey. Attending the first lunch were current HPU students Giovanna Scholbi, who just started her own handmade sustainable swimwear business, Cheeki Swimwear, Isaiah Cousin a College of Business student who was excited to have more student events, and Carolina Marsibilio who found the discussion about entrepreneurship inspiring. Also joining was Professor Adam Burke who taught ANTH 3100, “The Anthropology of Polynesian Surfing,” in Spring 2025.
Hissom earned his bachelor's degrees in physiology and neuroscience from UCSD, as well as his MBA from UCSD's Rady School of Management, where he and Nguyen-Chyung met. Surfup was founded by Hissom and classmates in the "Lab to Market" capstone course to provides people in need of a surfboard with the opportunity to rent a surfboard in seconds.
Nguyen-Chyung frequently showed the progression of prototypes developed by Surfup as a reminder of the iterative process of testing out demand for a new product. Over a year ago, Hissom moved to Honolulu for his day job, and is working with a local partner to bring Surfup to Waikiki. In his biotech career, he focuses on moving new treatments from bench to bedside—turning research into real impact for patients. He is currently an entrepreneur-in residence at HPU.
Who’s next in the Appetite for Entrepreneurship series?
Rebecca Teresia, MBA
A Finnish-born actor and producer, and double HPU alumna, Teresia leads SISU Media Productions with extensive experience in business, television, and film.
Learn more about Teresia here.
Space is limited! The event will be held at Waterfront Plaza (location details provided upon confirmation), and additional events in the series are forthcoming.
Other Upcoming Scarpa Events:
October 22, 2025
HPU Startup Challenge Idea Sprint Social
Aloha Tower Marketplace, MPR3, from 4:30 p.m. to 6 p.m.
