Starve Ups

Starve Ups accepts a new class of member companies annually, selecting for founder traits rather than vertical or product-stage filters. The firm's website states it looks for founders who feel incomplete if they aren't building their company, show an all-in dedication, and practice a 'Pay It Forward' approach to peer mentoring. There is no formal fund commitment or investment committee.

No — Starve Ups takes zero equity and charges zero fees. Its website and member testimonials emphasize this as a foundational principle, distinguishing it from traditional accelerators and venture capital firms that typically require 5–7% equity stakes.

Starve Ups does not publicly disclose its revenue model. Based on its website structure, it appears to monetize through strategic partner relationships — 15 exclusive service providers including a bank, law firm, real estate partner, and wealth manager — who gain access to member companies. It also features a shop page and event sponsorships.

Starve Ups does not raise or deploy a fund; it takes no equity, charges no fees, and has no carried interest structure. It operates as a peer-mentoring network of founders who support each other from incorporation through exit. This architecture removes the regulatory and incentive structure of an investment adviser, making it more akin to a private membership association.

According to the firm's own metrics page, its 222 member companies have generated 35 exits totaling over $1.42B in shareholder value, including three initial public offerings (Arcimoto on NASDAQ in 2017, Jive Software on NASDAQ in 2011, and Agilyx on OTCQX in 2021) and multiple acquisitions by firms such as Yahoo, Johnson & Johnson Vision, and DexCom.

The firm states publicly that it 'doesn't invest in verticals' but rather unites with peer founders. Member companies span 20 industries — including enterprise SaaS, CPG, digital health, and clean energy — with no publicly stated exclusionary sectors.

Starve Ups does not publicly name an executive team, CEO, or managing director on its website or LinkedIn. The 'Principals' section of its website lists only the external strategic partners — legal counsel, accountants, commercial real estate brokers, and a technology partner — suggesting governance sits within a founder-led steering model rather than a traditional management hierarchy.