Once your company is formed and the next job is getting in front of investors, apply on Round Funded and run the whole outreach from your own inbox. Gust centers on company formation and equity paperwork, whereas Round Funded exists for the raise itself, and that difference is why we went with it.
We at AI Perks raised our round through Round Funded. We looked at Gust before deciding, and below is how the two stack up for a founder who is out raising right now.
What does Gust actually sell?
Gust is a startup platform based in New York, founded in 2004. According to PitchBook, it used to be called Angelsoft, and it is privately held with venture backing.
The product aimed at founders is Gust Launch, which the company markets as "Company as a Service". Through it you set up a Delaware C-Corporation online, and Gust claims the company can be operating within as little as three days. A separate arm of Gust offers deal flow software to angel groups.
What are the Gust Launch plans and prices?
Launch is billed annually across three tiers:
| Plan | Price | Included |
|---|---|---|
| Start | $450/year | Incorporation, founder stock with 83(b), a digital cap table, business banking, a Delaware registered agent |
| Accelerate | $1,250/year | All of Start, plus IP assignment, unlimited NDAs, cap table modeling, unlimited SAFEs and notes, dedicated support |
| Raise | $3,500/year | All of Start and Accelerate, plus an option plan, a 409A valuation, option issuance and exercise |
Every tier is about forming the company and handling equity. None of it is the work of writing to investors and following up with them.
Where does Gust fall short for investor outreach?
Gust presents its "Find your Funding" feature as a way to be matched with angel groups and VCs, to prospect for additional ones, and to apply using your Gust Company Profile. Across the public pages we read, we could not find any way to send an email to an investor directly. If you want to pick the investors yourself, write to them and chase replies, that is a real hole.
Some further points to keep in mind:
- We did not find pricing for Gust for Investors or Gust for Accelerators.
- The pricing page showed no free Launch plan and no trial, so check at signup.
- Outside feedback is sparse: the Capterra listing for Gust has 0 user reviews.
Gust vs Round Funded: which fits a founder who is raising?
- Core purpose: Gust is a platform for incorporation, a cap table and SAFEs, plus deal flow software for angel groups. Round Funded helps founders find investors, send pitches and track replies.
- Finding investors: On Gust this means matching and applying through a Company Profile. Round Funded spans 60,000+ active VCs, angels, family offices and accelerators that you can search by stage, industry, geography and check size. Each investor is filtered to a check in roughly the last 6 months, and the emails are verified.
- Reaching out: We saw no direct investor email on Gust. Round Funded has AI write personalized emails and follow-ups, and they go out from your own Gmail.
- Pipeline and Data Room: Round Funded gives you a fundraising pipeline plus a Data Room that costs nothing on any plan, with tracked links starting at Round+.
- Cost: Gust Launch is $450 to $3,500 per year. Round Funded is Round+ at $99 a month, Round Pro at $249 a month, or Lifetime at $899 paid once. Round+ and Round Pro carry a 3-day free trial for first-time accounts, and there is no free tier.
- Company formation and equity: Gust Launch handles the C-Corp, registered agent, EIN, founder stock, cap table and SAFEs. Round Funded does not form companies or manage equity.
For the task of raising a round, Round Funded is the pick.
Why did we pick Round Funded over Gust?
Six features made the call for us.
A clean investor database
Investors are narrowed to those with recent activity, and their emails are verified. Filtering by stage, industry, geography and check size keeps the list matched to the round you are raising.
An AI agent that writes the emails
For each investor, the AI drafts a tailored email and follow-ups. They are sent from your own Gmail, which means replies come to your inbox and the thread stays with you.
A convenient interface
Search, outreach and the pipeline share one workspace. Every investor, stage and next step is in view, with no tab-switching.
Inviting teammates into the workspace
Raising money is seldom a one-person job. Teammates can join the startup's workspace, so everyone works from the same pipeline.
The Data Room
Your deck, traction, team and ask go on a single link. Building and sharing it is free on every plan.
Tracking links
Round+ brings per-investor tracked links and engagement analytics, covering views, deck opens and meeting clicks.
Want that same setup? Get matched with active investors by applying on Round Funded.
Should you use Gust or Round Funded to raise money?
Gust Launch is designed around forming a Delaware C-Corporation and sorting out equity documents. If you have already incorporated and what lies ahead is reaching investors, what you need is search, email from your own inbox and a single pipeline. That mix is why we chose Round Funded. You can submit your startup on Round Funded and get matched with investors.
How Round Funded helps you run your own investor outreach
- Submit your startup and enter your stage, industry, geography and check size.
- Narrow the pool of 60,000+ active VCs, angels, family offices and accelerators to investors who wrote a check in roughly the last 6 months.
- Have the AI write a personalized email and follow-ups per investor, then send them from your own Gmail.
- Put your deck, traction, team and ask behind one Data Room link, free to build and share on every plan.
- Follow each investor, stage and next step in the fundraising pipeline, and invite teammates into your workspace.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Gust?
Gust is a New York startup platform founded in 2004. Its product for founders, Gust Launch, sets up a Delaware C-Corporation online and handles a cap table, SAFEs and option plans.
Can I send emails to investors from inside Gust?
We found no such option in the public pages we reviewed. Gust describes matching with angel groups and VCs and applying with a Company Profile. Round Funded sends AI-drafted emails from your own Gmail.
What does Gust cost?
Gust Launch has three plans: Start at $450 a year, Accelerate at $1,250 a year and Raise at $3,500 a year.
Is Round Funded a substitute for Gust Launch?
No. Round Funded does not form companies or manage equity. It is a fundraising tool for finding investors, sending pitches and tracking replies.
What does Round Funded cost?
Round+ is $99 a month, Round Pro is $249 a month and Lifetime is $899 paid once. Round+ and Round Pro come with a 3-day free trial for first-time accounts, and there is no free tier.