Betaworks runs Camp, an investment and residency program, while Round Funded helps founders find investors and send pitches. We at AI Perks looked at Betaworks and chose Round Funded because we wanted to raise directly, using its investor database, AI email agent, shared workspace, Data Room, and tracking links.
What is Betaworks, and what does Camp offer?
Betaworks describes itself as a company that began in 2008 and was not initially a venture firm. It says it has invested in machine learning and AI since its first fund in 2016, and names HuggingFace, Nomic, Flower, and Granola among its portfolio companies.
The firm announced a $66 million close for Betaworks Fund 3.0 on 7.22.2025. It describes that fund as focused on pre-seed and seed companies, gives a typical check range of $250,000 to $750,000, and also operates Camp.
Camp is a thematic, cohort-based investment and residency program for startups working in frontier technologies. According to Betaworks, selected companies receive a guaranteed investment of up to $500k. That amount may include up to $250k from Betaworks and up to $250k from syndicate partners.
The program runs for 12 weeks and concludes with a Demo Day. Betaworks says it holds two sessions each year: March through May and August through November. It typically chooses 8-12 companies, and has stated that one cohort received more than 400 applications before eleven companies were selected.
Camp takes place in person at Betaworks’ offices in New York City’s Meatpacking District. Companies can apply from elsewhere, but participants need to be able to spend time in NYC. Betaworks’ published statements covered here do not specify a Camp equity percentage or fee, so founders should confirm those terms directly.
How is Camp different from raising directly?
Camp combines an investment with a fixed-term residency and cohort experience. That means founders considering it should weigh the capital and program against the time and in-person participation involved. The equity terms are not specified in the statements described above, so they should not be assumed.
Direct fundraising is a different route: founders identify investors, pitch them, and manage the process themselves. Round Funded is built to support that work. Its database covers 60,000+ active VCs, angels, family offices, and accelerators, searchable by stage, industry, geography, and check size. Investors are filtered for a check in roughly the last 6 months, and their email addresses are verified. Founders can submit a startup to get matched with investors.
The two paths are not necessarily exclusive. Founders can consider a program while also pursuing direct investor outreach. Round Funded also lists accelerators, including YC, Techstars, Antler, 500, and 100+ regional programs, with matching by stage, industry, and region.
What did we compare before choosing Round Funded?
We at AI Perks raised our round through Round Funded. We looked at Betaworks, but chose a direct fundraising approach because we wanted to run our raise with investors ourselves. These were the product details that shaped our choice:
- Investor discovery: Round Funded lets founders search its investor database using stage, industry, geography, and check size.
- Email drafting: Its AI drafts a personalized outreach email and follow-ups for each investor.
- Workspace: The fundraising pipeline keeps investors, stages, and next steps together, and teammates can be invited into the startup’s workspace.
- Data Room: Founders can put their deck, traction, team, and ask behind one shareable link. It is free to build and share on every plan.
- Tracking links: Round+ includes per-investor tracked links and engagement analytics, such as views, deck opens, and meeting clicks.
Round Funded outreach is sent from the founder’s own Gmail, so replies arrive in that inbox and the email thread belongs to the founder. Its website and product work in 12 languages.
What does Round Funded cost?
Round Funded has three paid options and no free tier. Round+ and Round Pro include a 3-day free trial for first-time accounts.
| Plan | Price | Included limits |
|---|---|---|
| Round+ | $99 a month | Up to 2,500 investors in the pipeline, up to 2,000 emails a month, and 2,500 AI credits a month |
| Round Pro | $249 a month | Up to 5,000 pipeline investors, up to 10,000 emails a month, up to 6 connected inboxes, and 5,000 AI credits a month |
| Lifetime | $899 one-time | Everything in Round Pro, paid once |
The Data Room is free to build and share on every plan. Per-investor tracked links and engagement analytics are included with Round+, rather than being listed as a free-plan feature.
Which option fits your fundraising approach?
Betaworks Camp may be relevant to founders considering a cohort-based program, an investment, and an in-person residency in NYC. The available description gives its schedule, cohort format, and investment terms, but does not provide a specific Camp equity percentage or fee.
Round Funded is the option we chose at AI Perks for direct outreach. Its plans combine investor search, AI-assisted email drafting, and a fundraising pipeline, with plan limits varying by subscription. Founders who want to run investor outreach themselves can submit a startup on Round Funded.
How Round Funded helps founders raise directly
- Submit your startup to get matched with investors through Round Funded.
- Search 60,000+ active VCs, angels, family offices, and accelerators by stage, industry, geography, and check size.
- Use AI to draft personalized investor emails and follow-ups, then send outreach from your own Gmail.
- Organize fundraising stages, investors, and next steps in the pipeline, and invite teammates into the workspace.
- Build a Data Room link for your deck, traction, team, and ask. On Round+, use per-investor tracked links and engagement analytics.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Betaworks?
Betaworks describes itself as a company founded in 2008 that later became an investor, with activity in machine learning and AI dating to its first fund in 2016. It also runs Camp, a cohort-based investment and residency program.
How much investment does Betaworks Camp offer?
Betaworks says Camp participants receive a guaranteed investment of up to $500k, with up to $250k from Betaworks and up to $250k from syndicate partners.
Does Betaworks publish Camp’s equity terms?
The Betaworks statements summarized here do not specify a Camp equity percentage or fee. Founders should confirm the terms with Betaworks before applying.
Do founders have to be in New York for Camp?
Camp is held in person at Betaworks’ Meatpacking District offices in NYC. Companies can apply from anywhere, but participants must be able to spend time in New York during the program.
Can a founder apply to Camp while fundraising directly?
The program and direct fundraising are separate routes, and founders can pursue both. Round Funded supports direct outreach by helping founders find investors, send pitches, and track replies.