# Darren Kimura

> Darren T. Kimura is a Hilo-born entrepreneur, inventor, investor, and operator who moved from energy efficiency and MicroCSP solar technology to network software, edge computing, and enterprise AI. As president and CEO of AISquared, he focuses on getting AI out of demonstrations and into secure, governed workflows where people already work.

- **Role:** President and Chief Executive Officer at AISquared
- **Organizations:** AISquared, ZEDEDA, Sway Ventures, LiveAction, Enerdigm Ventures, Sopogy, Energy Industries Corporation, Energy Laboratories, Nalu Communications, Japan Innovation Campus, Blue Planet Foundation
- **From:** Hilo, United States
- **Nationality:** American
- **Education:** Bachelor of Business Administration; studies in computer science and business management, University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa, Electrical engineering studies, Portland State University, Computer science studies; Stanford Graduate School of Business alumnus, Stanford University, PhD studies in progress, Claremont Graduate University
- **Known for:** Invented MicroCSP, a distributed concentrated solar power technology., Led the design and construction of Holaniku at Keahole Point, an early MicroCSP solar thermal plant using 1,000 collectors., Received the U.S. Small Business Administration Young Entrepreneur of the Year award in 2002.

## Career timeline

- **High school** — Started an early business bringing paintball to Hawaii.
- **1994** — Founded the energy-efficiency business that became Energy Industries Corporation.
- **College years** — Launched Nalu Communications, an internet service provider, while working in the University of Hawaiʻi information and computer sciences department.
- **2002** — Founded Sopogy and developed MicroCSP solar thermal technology.
- **2009** — Led the design and construction of Holaniku at Keahole Point, described as the first MicroCSP solar thermal plant.
- **2013** — Left Sopogy after a leadership handover.
- **2013-2019** — Served in board and operating leadership at LiveAction, including as CEO, as the network software company raised institutional capital and expanded through acquisitions.
- **2019-2021** — Worked as a partner at Sway Ventures.
- **2021-2024** — Served as president and COO of edge orchestration company ZEDEDA during its Series B and Series C financings and international deployment growth.
- **2024** — Joined AISquared as president and COO.
- **2025-03** — Appointed president and CEO of AISquared.
- **2026-05** — Presented AISquared's seven-layer AI Controls Framework at AI conferences and received an AI Infrastructure Visionary of the Year award from AINext.

## Achievements

- Invented MicroCSP, a distributed concentrated solar power technology.
- Led the design and construction of Holaniku at Keahole Point, an early MicroCSP solar thermal plant using 1,000 collectors.
- Received the U.S. Small Business Administration Young Entrepreneur of the Year award in 2002.
- Received a Green Entrepreneur of the Year award in 2007 and a Blue Planet Foundation award in 2009.
- Received the Hawaii Venture Capital Association Deal of the Year award in 2012.
- Led operating growth and financing activity at LiveAction and ZEDEDA.
- Named AI Infrastructure Visionary of the Year by the AINext Awards in 2026.
- Developed and presented a seven-layer AI Controls Framework for enterprise deployment.

## Latest updates

- **2026-07** — Continued public commentary on AI headlines and enterprise deployment through broadcast and online appearances.
- **2026-05** — Received the AINext AI Infrastructure Visionary of the Year award; AISquared also received awards for enterprise AI platform and deployment solutions and AI infrastructure technology.
- **2026-05** — Delivered a keynote on a seven-layer AI Controls Framework at the AINext Awards & Conference in Las Vegas.
- **2026-04** — Presented work on operationalizing AI in secure enterprises and discussed a controls framework informed by more than 100 interviews.
- **2025-09** — Discussed his entrepreneurial journey and human-centered approach on the Humans & AI Show.
- **2025-03** — Became president and CEO of AISquared.

## Links

- Website: https://darrentkimura.com/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/darrenkimura/
- Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/darrentkimura
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/darrenkimura/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/darrenkimura

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Profile page: https://yespress.io/darren-kimura
Published by YesPress — https://yespress.io
Last updated: 2026-08-18