About
Hawaiʻi Technology Development Corporation (HTDC) is the state's primary economic development agency focused on technology sector growth, created in 1983 to diversify Hawaiʻi's economy and create high-paying jobs for island residents. HTDC operates multiple investment and support programs including Blue Startups, a top 20 global accelerator program co-founded by Henk Rogers (known for bringing Tetris to Nintendo), Chenoa Farnsworth, and Maya Rogers. The organization provides a comprehensive ecosystem of support to technology and innovation companies through mentorship, business expertise, product testing, peer review, and pitch development. In 2024, HTDC granted $1.9 million across nine accelerator and small business training programs following an intensive selection process. Beyond acceleration, HTDC manages several capital programs including HI-CAP, which helps Hawaii small businesses access capital through seeded venture capital funds, collateral support for loans, and direct lending via community development financial institutions. The organization also administers the SBIR matching grant program, the longest-running state-funded SBIR matching program in the United States since 1988, and operates INNOVATE Hawaiʻi as the state's Manufacturing Extension Partnership Center to enhance productivity and technical performance of small and medium-sized manufacturers. HTDC's investment thesis emphasizes supporting entrepreneurs through early-stage development, providing structured training, modest seed investments, and connections to the broader innovation ecosystem including partnerships with the Hawaiʻi Tech Bridge and Navy innovation initiatives. The organization serves as both a direct investor and catalyst for private capital deployment in Hawaiʻi-based technology companies, with a geographic focus exclusively on the Hawaiian islands.