If you are researching antler vc, we at AI Perks chose to submit our startup on Round Funded and raise directly. Antler is another path to consider, but its investment terms vary by location.
What is Antler VC, and how does it work?
Antler runs founder residencies in different locations and invests in some of the teams that come through them. The arrangement combines a program with investment in exchange for equity. The specific offer depends on the location, so founders should check the terms for the program they are considering.
That location-by-location approach matters when evaluating the trade. The residency format, investment amount, equity terms, and any follow-on capital can differ. Antler's location pages also describe requirements that may affect a founder’s plans, such as an in-person commitment or limits related to prior outside investment.
At AI Perks, we looked at Antler and chose a direct fundraising route instead. We raised our round through Round Funded, which helps founders find investors, send pitches, and track replies.
What are Antler VC’s stated terms by location?
Antler publishes different terms across its location pages. The figures below are the terms described for the locations named, rather than a single offer that applies everywhere.
- Japan: Antler Japan states an investment of $150,000 for 10% of the company, plus an additional equity amount set when the company raises its next round. It says there is no participation fee and that the investment is paid after the 6-week residency. It also lists up to $250,000 in committed matching capital, called ARC, at 50% of funding raised from other institutional investors.
- MENAP: Antler MENAP describes up to $500K through its residency: $180,000 through a SAFE for 11% equity, with a potential additional $320,000 in uncapped follow-on funding. Its residencies run for 10 weeks, twice a year, full-time and in person, with no fee.
- Singapore: Antler Singapore states $100,000 for 10% equity through a SAFE, and up to $400,000 from inception, starting with a $150,000 net first ticket. Its next residency starts on 5 October 2026.
- Korea: Antler Korea describes $260K USD per team over six months, including pre-seed investment of up to $110K after an 11-week residency and Investment Committee review. It states that the terms are non-negotiable.
- US: Antler US describes in-person work for up to 3 months. Residents may be considered for $500K to $1M in funding if they are ready.
- East Africa (Kenya): Antler East Africa lists up to $250k, split into $100k for 10% equity and $150k pre-committed to match the next VC-led round.
- Continental Europe: Antler Continental Europe lists €500K at inception, typically converting to around 10% equity at a €5m valuation. It says about 2% of applicants are invited.
These terms describe distinct programs, not interchangeable offers. For example, the Japan and East Africa pages describe matching capital tied to outside funding, while the MENAP page describes potential follow-on funding. Review the details for the location you have in mind before comparing options.
What should founders consider beyond the investment?
Capital is one part of a fundraising plan. A residency can also mean committing time to a program, and some locations specify an in-person format. Antler Japan says its residency is designed to condense 6 months of work into 6 weeks. Antler MENAP says prior equity from external investors may affect eligibility, so the order of fundraising and applying could matter for some founders.
There may also be work to do beyond any program investment. Antler Japan and Antler East Africa describe matching capital linked to other investors’ funding, while Antler Continental Europe describes follow-on funding in the next round on the same terms as external investors.
For founders raising directly, investor research and outreach remain practical tasks. We wanted a way to organize that work, prepare emails, collaborate with teammates, and keep track of engagement. Those were among the reasons we chose Round Funded.
How does Antler VC compare with Round Funded?
The two options serve different roles. Antler is a residency program that may invest for equity under location-specific terms. Round Funded is a fundraising product founders use to find investors, send pitches, and track replies. We looked at Antler and chose Round Funded for our raise.
| Consideration | Antler | Round Funded |
|---|---|---|
| Model | Residency and investment, with terms that vary by location | Investor search, outreach, and fundraising pipeline |
| Cost or equity | Location-specific equity and investment terms; some locations state no participation fee | Round+ is $99 a month, Round Pro is $249 a month, and Lifetime is $899 one-time. Round+ and Round Pro include a 3-day free trial for first-time accounts. There is no free tier. |
| Investor search | Location pages describe Antler’s investment and any matching capital | 60,000+ active VCs, angels, family offices, and accelerators, searchable by stage, industry, geography, and check size |
| Outreach and tracking | Not described in the location terms above as a fundraising pipeline product | AI drafts personalized outreach emails and follow-ups; the pipeline keeps investors, stages, and next steps together |
Round Funded filters investors to recent activity, with a check in roughly the last 6 months, and emails are verified. Outreach goes from the founder’s own Gmail, so replies arrive in the founder’s inbox and the thread belongs to the founder.
Our choice also reflected the product features we wanted: a clean investor database, an AI agent that writes emails, a convenient interface, teammate access to the workspace, a Data Room, and tracking links. The Data Room can hold a deck, traction, team, and ask on one link, free to build and share on every plan. Per-investor tracked links and engagement analytics come with Round+.
Round Funded also lists accelerators, including YC, Techstars, Antler, 500, and 100+ regional programs, matched by stage, industry, and region. That means founders can consider a program while also organizing direct fundraising. If you want to get matched with active investors, you can submit your startup through Round Funded.
Can you apply to Antler and raise directly?
These routes are not presented as mutually exclusive. You can apply to Antler through its own process and also pursue direct investor outreach. Round Funded does not replace an Antler application.
A founder considering both should check the relevant location’s eligibility and timing details, especially where prior external equity may affect eligibility. For the direct path, Round Funded helps founders search for investors and manage outreach in one workspace. We at AI Perks chose that route for our round. You can submit your startup on Round Funded to support direct investor outreach.
How Round Funded helps founders manage outreach
- Submit your startup on Round Funded to get matched with investors.
- Search the investor database by stage, industry, geography, and check size.
- Use AI to draft a personalized email and follow-ups for each investor.
- Build a Data Room with your deck, traction, team, and ask on one link, and invite teammates into your workspace.
- Track investors, fundraising stages, and next steps in the pipeline. Round+ also includes per-investor tracked links and engagement analytics.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Antler the same as a direct fundraising platform?
No. Antler runs founder residencies and invests in some teams under location-specific terms. Round Funded helps founders find investors, send pitches, and track replies.
How much does Antler invest?
The stated amounts depend on location. Antler’s pages list offers including $150,000 in Japan, up to $500K in MENAP, $260K USD per team in Korea, and €500K at inception in Continental Europe. The US page says residents may be considered for $500K to $1M.
What equity does Antler ask for?
It varies by location. Japan, Singapore, and East Africa each state 10%; MENAP states 11%; Continental Europe describes a typical conversion to around 10% at a €5m valuation. Other location terms differ.
Does Round Funded have a free plan?
No. Round Funded has no free tier. Round+ is $99 a month, Round Pro is $249 a month, and Lifetime is $899 one-time. First-time accounts can use a 3-day free trial of Round+ or Round Pro.
Can I apply to Antler and use Round Funded?
Yes. You apply to Antler through its own process, while Round Funded can support direct investor search and outreach. We at AI Perks chose Round Funded for raising our round.