Blue Startups
 | |
| 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 |
Blue Startups is a venture accelerator based in Honolulu, Hawaiʻi, United States. Founded in 2012 by entrepreneur Henk Rogers, 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]
History
[edit]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
[edit]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
[edit]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
[edit]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]
Events and community
[edit]Blue Startups hosts the annual East Meets West Conference, launched in 2015, which brings together investors and entrepreneurs from Asia, Hawaiʻi, and North America.[1] It also participates in Honolulu Tech Week and organizes local mentorship and networking events.[9]
Leadership
[edit]- Chenoa Farnsworth – Co-founder and Managing Partner, venture capitalist.[3]
- Henk Rogers – Co-founder, entrepreneur, and clean energy advocate.[1]
- Maya Rogers – Co-founder, CEO at the Tetris Company.[1]
References
[edit]- ^ a b c d e f g h i "Blue Startups". Blue Startups. Retrieved 24 September 2025.
- ^ a b "Accelerator & Small Business Training Programs". Hawaiʻi Technology Development Corporation. Retrieved 24 September 2025.
- ^ a b c d "3 Women-led Accelerators Are Funding the Next Generation of Hawaii Entrepreneurs". Hawaiʻi Business. 2019. Retrieved 24 September 2025.
- ^ "Volta goes public! Officially VLTA on NYSE". Blue Startups Blog. 2021. Retrieved 24 September 2025.
- ^ "Volta Charging". Wikipedia. Retrieved 24 September 2025.
- ^ "FloWater just raised $15 million to put bottled water out of business". Techcrunch. 2019. Retrieved 24 September 2025.
- ^ "Cohort 10 Alumni dataplor Raises $20.5M Series B to Fuel Global Expansion". Blue Startups. 2025. Retrieved 24 September 2025.
- ^ "Instant Teams connects military spouses with remote work". Military Times. 2021. Retrieved 24 September 2025.
- ^ "New tech projects happening with Blue Startups Accelerator". HI Now Daily. 2024. Retrieved 24 September 2025.