Blue Startups

100k

Investment per company

13

Week intensive program

10

Companies per session

140+

International Mentors

Cohort 11 Program Recap

Program Details: What We Offer

We are focused on recruiting capital efficient and scalable technology companies, including software, travel tech, and sustainable solutions. Blue Startups is an intensive mentor-driven program. Lean product development and go-to-market strategies are emphasized throughout the program and access to our extended international network is encouraged:

Up to 10 Companies per Session

13-week on-site, 17-weeks total program time

A network of more than 140 mentors reaching from Asia to Silicon Valley

One-on-one assigned lead mentor based on sector experience

Cohort working space in the heart of downtown Honolulu’s business district

One week of intensive networking and pitching in the Bay Area

Startup Paradise demo day in Honolulu, and Investor Demo day in the Bay Area

Top-tier global partners provide free and reduced services to our companies

GAN membership provides access to over $1 million in free perks offered by 600+ world-class vendors

Benja

Benja is a multi-channel commerce platform.

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dataPlor

dataPlor helps global companies succeed in emerging markets by providing hand-collected data.

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Meet Some of Our Companies
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Investment: What’s the Deal

Blue Startups invests up to $100,000 in each company that comes through the program.

  • $25,000 up-front investment, space, education, perks, mentorship and business development services.
  • Up to $75,000 in follow on funding per company, based on milestones met during program.

 

What Are We Looking For?

  • Technology-based companies that can scale quickly and have global market potential.
  • Sectors:
    • Software/Gaming – Founders are owners of Tetris; with decades of experience in the software and gaming industries.
    • Travel Technology – Hawaii is a global tourism hub with access to all major international brands and decision makers.
    • Sustainability – Hawaii is at the forefront of sustainability issues; making positive impact on people and planet.
  • Founders:
    • Hawaii connected – Founders living in or from Hawaii are preferred.
    • Female Founders – Teams with at least one female founder are preferred.
    • East-West – Teams that are interested in expanding from East (Asia) to West (North America) and vice-versa

Curriculum

The curriculum will be tailored to individual company needs to the extent possible. Phase I and Phase II will each be followed by a two-week break. A general outline of the program follows:

Phase I – 6 Weeks

“Customer and Company”

This phase is focused on finding the right customer-product fit. Sessions will be focused on customer discovery through lean startup methodology. There will also be time for teams to meet as many mentors as possible via “mentor dating” and networking mixers.

Phase II – 6 Weeks

“Product and Market”

Teams will then focus on refining product. This is the time to leverage the knowledge gained in the first 6 weeks. Teams work with their lead mentors and technical experts. Growth hacking and marketing strategies will be explored and tested in this phase. Phase II culminates in our Startup Paradise Demo Day in Honolulu with introductions to local investors and corporate partners.

Phase III – 1 Week

“Traction and Pitch”

Sessions will be held to coach teams on pitching and teams will practice repeatedly with staff, peers, and mentors. One-week program in San Francisco culminates the program with Bay Area mentor connections and San Francisco Investor Day.

Are You Ready to Take Your Startup to the Next Level?

Apply Now

Meet Our Partners

Partner

Hawaii Technology Development Corporation

HTDC is a dynamic state agency responsible for diversifying Hawaii’s economy by developing a flourishing technology industry that provides quality, high-paying jobs for Hawaii residents. HTDC aims to accelerate the growth of Hawaii’s technology industry by providing capital, building infrastructure and developing talent to foster innovation and diversify Hawaii’s economy. HTDC is attached to the state Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism (DBEDT).

Partner

Ulupono Initiative is a Hawaii-Focused impact investing firm working to improve the quality of life for island residents in four key areas: locally produced food; clean, renewable energy; and better management of water and waste.

Ulupono aims to play a catalytic role with its investments, providing capital and guidance that will take a solid plan further, faster. As a for-profit investment firm, Ulupono typically focuses each year on several investments of $1 million to $3 million in key mission projects. Ulupono works closely with their investees to help them achieve their goals, seeking a governance role where appropriate.

Partner
Blue Planet Software, Inc., the sole agent for The Tetris Company, Inc., is as passionate about providing the Tetris® brand with consistency and identity as its millions of players are passionate about the game.

Blue Planet Software was founded in 1995 by Henk Rogers to manage the Tetris brand. Maya Rogers is the current President and Chief Executive Officer.

Partner

Hawaii Angels provides a forum for members to review investment presentations and share opinions about these opportunities. This forum also allows for networking with professionals of various backgrounds, and exploring new opportunities in Hawaii.

The Hawaii Angels process is proven and well-suited to Hawaii’s start-up scene. Since its founding in February 2002, the member angels have invested more than $30 million in nearly 60 companies.

Partner

Schlissel & Associates, LLC provides tax and accounting services to Blue Startups and its portfolio companies.

Exclusive Perks

These companies partner directly with Blue Startups to offer free and reduced services to our companies

Clerky
DLA Piper
Facebook
Fenwick and West LLP
First Republic Bank
Founder Suite
HubSpot
Indinero
InVision
Ladder
M and T Consulting
PayPal
PubNub
SendGrid
Socedo
SoftLayer
Talkdesk
TriNet
VirtualForce
Voiq
Zenefits

Let’s go global together.

Stay tuned with our journey, and thrive with our accelerator program.

Apply Now

Still Have Questions?

Do I have to be on-site in Hawaii / in the Blue Startups office?

We do expect at least 2 founders to be here in Hawaii and in the office for the duration of the program. The remainder of the team can reside elsewhere but this is not ideal. Ideally your core team (3-4 people) will participate and be in the office.

What is my time commitment to the program?

We expect all teams to work on-site at the Blue Startups space in downtown Honolulu. At a minimum you should be here at least 5 hours a day. All teams are also expected to participate in all planned activities including workshops, mentor meetings, peer-to-peer meetings and social events. Failure to participate will impact your team’s ability to participate in Demo Day at the conclusion of the program.

What are my obligations to Blue Startups ongoing?

We expect all companies to keep us apprised of major developments as they evolve. At a minimum we expect quarterly financial reports and company updates including details on subsequent financing rounds and valuations. We also encourage graduates to stay closely connected with us as alumni – continuing to visit the program on a regular basis to offer advice to our cohorts and build a vibrant entrepreneurial community in the space. We may have space available for co-working arrangements following graduation.

Blue Startups is focused on helping companies compete on a global scale. With an extensive global network, Blue Startups is a nexus of entrepreneurial activity in Hawaii, and between Asia and North America.

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In Partnership With

HTDC

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