Startups are selected from hundreds of applicants who receive an initial investment of $25,000, training, and office space in exchange for a 3% to 10% equity stake.

The company has been met with good recognition for its involvement in assisting startups and its participation in improving the Hawaiian technological scene.

It appeared at number 17 on a list of the "top 20 US accelerators" and was cited as an example of companies that are "mentoring an expanding network of Internet, software, mobile, and e-commerce firms.

"[citation needed] Henk, Maya Rogers and Chenoa Farnsworth co-founded Blue Startups on September 1, 2012 to provide tools and assistance to help companies and the Hawaiian business industry.

The company has a network of over 120 mentors from the Hawaii, Silicon Valley, and Asia areas including Don Dodge, Don Kosak, Eric Nakagawa, Faruq Ahmad, Marvin Liao, Peter Kay, Rob Bertholf, Steve Sue, Steven Baker, Tina Fitch and more.

[8] Blue Startups hosted a "digital lifestyle conference" from November 6–7, 2014, which was done to allow investors from Silicon Valley and Asia to "meet for deal making, learning and networking.

"[9] The company took part in the 15th annual holiday tech fair, which was hosted at the Japanese Cultural Center in Honolulu by the High Technology Development Corporation on December 29, 2014.

[11][12] The state of Hawaii requires matching funds, so Blue Startups has received approximately the same amount in private investments.

[12] Blue Startups runs an annual cohort program which focuses on developing "capital-efficient and scalable-technology companies."

[12] The majority of the three-month-long program offered by Blue Startups takes place in Hawaii, on the island of Oahu, with a one-week follow-up in Silicon Valley, California.

[4] Each company that participates in a cohort receives a seed investment, office space, a 3-month program consisting of entrepreneurial training, and more.

Teams are expected to work in the Blue Startups' space in downtown Honolulu for a minimum of five hours a day during the length of the cohort.

[17] By the end of the third cohort in October 2014, the 23 graduating companies raised over $6 million of follow-on investments from private investors.

[20] The company that is selected by Blue Startups during the Spring event will be given mentorship by Michael Troy, who works in the tourism industry.

[18] Business owner Arben Kryeziu seemed to have an "adamant" desire to fund companies that came out of Blue Startups' cohort programs, as noted by author Evan Nagle.