Blue Startups
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Blue Startups is a venture accelerator based in Honolulu, Hawaiʻi, United States. Founded in 2012 by entrepreneur Henk Rogers, his daughter Maya Rogers, and venture capitalist Chenoa Farnsworth, the accelerator supports early-stage technology companies with mentorship, investment, and access to global networks.[1] It is frequently cited as one of the "Top 20 Accelerators in the U.S.".[2]
Maya Rogers
Chenoa Farnsworth
| |
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Venture Accelerator |
| Founded | September 1, 2012 |
| Founder | Henk Rogers Maya Rogers Chenoa Farnsworth |
| Headquarters | , |
| Services | Assisting in business growth |
| Website | bluestartups |
History
Blue Startups was launched in 2012 to help diversify Hawaiʻi’s economy beyond tourism and defense.[3] Henk Rogers, best known for bringing Tetris to Nintendo, teamed with Chenoa Farnsworth, a longtime investor in Hawaiʻi, and Maya Rogers to create the accelerator.[1]
The accelerator has been recognized in TechCrunch accelerator rankings and receives public-private support from the State of Hawaiʻi through the Hawaiʻi Technology Development Corporation.[2]
Program
Blue Startups runs a cohort program of 12 weeks for up to 10 companies per session.[1] Founders receive seed funding, co-working space, mentorship, investor introductions, and access to a network of more than 250 mentors across Asia and the U.S.[1]
Each cohort culminates in Demo Days in Honolulu and Silicon Valley, where startups pitch to investors.[1] The accelerator also runs cultural immersion activities, workshops, and investor mixers.[3]
Focus
The accelerator is sector-agnostic but emphasizes:
- Software and internet companies
- Travel and tourism technology
- Gaming and creative media
- Startups expanding between Asia and the United States
Blue Startups has a goal of 50% gender diversity in its cohorts.[3]
Notable alumni
Since its founding, Blue Startups has invested in dozens of companies. Notable alumni include:
- Volta Charging, an electric vehicle charging company that went public on the New York Stock Exchange in 2021.[4][5]
- Flowater, water refill stations with advanced purification.[6]
- dataplor, the leading provider of global location intelligence.[7]
- Instant Teams, a staffing platform for military spouses.[8]
Collectively, portfolio companies have raised more than US$500 million in follow-on funding.[1]