Scale-ability has traditionally been the biggest obstacle for Alaska private ventures. Lots of great ideas up here, which possibly could do well within a developed infra structure and adequate market access. Alaska doesn't have the infrastructure to attract big industry, nor the market access to attract the huge financing for the infrastructure.
Alaska is the shortest route between the West and East Pacific, but even that never worked out for us. Lykes Lines made a deal with the Seattle based barge companies, to quit shipping direct to Alaska, and now ships direct only to Seattle, where the goods are re-shipped to Alaska. That has doubled Alaska's shipping costs from the Western Pacific.
Alaska is also divided up between the money factions. Each has their own "turf", with that collusion effectively stopping new local ventures on any grand scale. Apparently you've never heard of the "Alaska-Japan-Trade-Club"? There's people in town that can give you an ear full.