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Starve Ups
Starve Ups is Oregon's first startup scalerator, a zero-equity peer collective that has helped 222 companies raise $582.5M since 2000.
Starve Ups
Starve Ups launched in Portland in October 2000 when founders from seven Oregon-based startups — AssetExchange, CoolerEmail, eROI (now Thesis), Rumblefish, VIA, Versation, and wired.MD — formed a mutual-support network for first-time founders. It now operates three chapters across Portland, Eugene (est. 2013), and Bend (est. 2018). The group describes its model as a 'scalerator,' extending from incorporation and MVP builds through market scaling and eventual exit, with post-exit members often becoming angel investors in successive classes. The firm's deployment is not a fund; instead, Starve Ups facilitates direct peer-to-peer capital introductions and strategic-partner access across 20 industries. Membership companies include Arcimoto, which completed a 2017 IPO on NASDAQ; Jive Software, which went public in 2011 and was later acquired; Sightbox, acquired by Johnson & Johnson Vision; and Opal, an enterprise collaboration platform. Geographic focus is exclusively Oregon, spanning consumer goods (Sock It to Me, Riff Cold Brewed), SaaS (GreenRope, Tali), digital health (Madorra, InVivo Biosciences), and industrial tech (Agilyx, converting waste plastic to crude oil). Since inception, member companies have achieved 35 exits — acquisitions and three IPOs — returning over $1.42B in shareholder value. The scalerator charges zero equity and zero fees, distinguishing it from accelerators like Y Combinator or Techstars. Strategic partners include legal, real estate, banking (Chris Solomon at an unnamed institution), and wealth management firms, creating a de facto infrastructure layer for Oregon startups. In 2018, it expanded to Bend, broadening its founder base to 357 peer mentors across three chapters. Starve Ups operates as a private membership entity rather than an investment adviser — it manages no pooled capital and exercises no investment discretion over member companies. This structure eliminates regulatory filing obligations and aligns incentives purely toward founder outcomes rather than AUM growth or management fees, making it an unconventional fixture in institutional allocator mapping.
General information
Firm type
Private Equity
Year founded
2000
AUM
Undisclosed
Location
Region
North America
Country
United States
City
Portland
Corporate office
Portland, Oregon, United States
Additional offices
Eugene, Oregon · Bend, Oregon
Sector focus
Frequently asked questions
How does Starve Ups source and select companies?
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.
Does Starve Ups take equity or charge fees to member companies?
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.
How does Starve Ups generate revenue or sustain operations?
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.
How is Starve Ups structurally different from a typical VC firm or accelerator?
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.
What is Starve Ups' track record on exits?
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.
Which sectors does Starve Ups explicitly avoid?
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.
Who makes operational decisions at Starve Ups?
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.
Profile maintained by Altss using OSINT (open-source intelligence), regulatory filings, licensed data partners, and verified direct submissions. Read the methodology. Last updated: . Continuous refresh with full update cycles at least every 30 days.
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