Starve Ups was founded in October 2000 by a group of first time founders, from seven Oregon-based startup companies, as Oregon's first startup accelerator. In attendance were the founders of what became the startups knowns as AssetExchange (acquired), CoolerEmail (acquired), eROI (now Thesis), Rumblefish (acquired), VIA (acquired), Versation (acquired), and wired.MD (acquired).

Starve Ups Eugene was founded in December of 2013 by a group of founders, from ten Oregon-based startup companies including: Arcimoto (Initial Public Offering), BT Biotech, Dyscover.me, Dune Sciences, Light Dance, Manage My Co-op (acquired), MxResearch, NemaMetrix (now InVivo Biosciences), Organik, and Red Duck Foods (acquired).

Starve Ups Bend was founded in April 2018 by a group of founders, from nine Oregon-based startup companies including: FIDO, Bird Seed (acquired), Covered 360, Ella & Oak, Genesi, Mason-re, Riff Cold Brewed Coffee, Rugged Thread, and Sekse Fit.