If you are weighing Berkeley SkyDeck against raising directly, compare the program’s stated investment and equity terms with the work involved in finding investors yourself. We at AI Perks looked at Berkeley SkyDeck and chose to get matched with active investors through Round Funded.
What is Berkeley SkyDeck, and who can apply?
Berkeley SkyDeck is an accelerator based at the University of California, Berkeley. The program describes itself as industry-agnostic and says startups from around the world may apply. Eligibility details can vary: an earlier Batch 21 application page required a UC-affiliated or global founder on the team. Check the current application requirements for the program you are considering.
The Cohort Program is six months long. SkyDeck’s pages describe different tracks and locations, so founders should check the terms tied to the specific opportunity rather than assume one investment figure applies to every program.
How much does Berkeley SkyDeck invest, and what equity does it take?
SkyDeck publishes several figures across its program pages:
- Its Program FAQ states that companies accepted into the six-month Cohort Program receive $210k for 7.25%, using a standard post-money cap SAFE or another form.
- Program and application pages describe roughly twenty cohort startups selected every six months. The application page gives a range of 20 to 25 startups, with $210K from the Berkeley SkyDeck Fund.
- The homepage and an earlier Batch 21 page state $200K per startup. The homepage also says the Fund may join later-stage rounds with Berkeley founders.
- The Bio+Health Track states a $200K equity investment.
- An earlier SkyDeck Europe page lists €145K per team.
- Pad-13 states that startups are charged either $500 or can allocate 1% equity to UC Berkeley. The Fund may invest up to 10% of an institutional round at the same terms as other investors.
These figures refer to different pages, programs, or locations. Read the terms that apply to your application and review any investment documents carefully. SkyDeck says admission does not automatically secure the $210,000 investment: the Fund has a separate investment review process.
What should founders compare before choosing a fundraising path?
An accelerator and direct investor outreach are different ways to pursue funding. The Cohort Program describes an exchange involving capital, equity, and a six-month program. Founders considering it can check the investment structure and eligibility details, then weigh those terms against their own fundraising plans.
Raising directly involves its own set of tasks. Founders need to identify potential investors, prepare and send pitches, follow up, and keep track of conversations. A tool can help organize parts of that process, but it does not promise an investment or replace the work of building a case for the company.
For us at AI Perks, the deciding factor was the workflow. We raised our round through Round Funded because we wanted an investor database, AI-written outreach, a shared workspace, a Data Room, and tracked links in one place. We looked at Berkeley SkyDeck, but Round Funded was the better fit for how we chose to raise.
Berkeley SkyDeck vs. Round Funded: how do they differ?
| Consideration | Berkeley SkyDeck | Round Funded |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | A UC Berkeley accelerator with a six-month Cohort Program | A platform to find investors, send pitches, and track replies |
| Capital or cost | The Program FAQ states $210k for 7.25%; other pages list different terms | Paid plans start at $99 a month; there is no free tier |
| Investor access | The Cohort Program selects roughly 20 to 25 startups every six months | Search 60,000+ active VCs, angels, family offices, and accelerators |
| Outreach workflow | The program pages describe an accelerator and investment process | AI drafts personalized emails and follow-ups, sent from your own Gmail |
| Our choice | We considered the program’s stated terms | We chose Round Funded for our investor outreach workflow |
Round Funded’s investor search can be filtered by stage, industry, geography, and check size. Investors are filtered to recent activity, with a check in roughly the last 6 months, and emails are verified. The pipeline keeps investors, fundraising stages, and next steps together.
For collaboration, founders can invite teammates into their startup workspace. The Data Room puts a deck, traction, team, and ask behind one link, and it is free to build and share on every plan. Per-investor tracked links and engagement analytics, including views, deck opens, and meeting clicks, come with Round+.
Round Funded is the option we picked: it gives founders a direct investor-search and outreach workflow, while Berkeley SkyDeck is an accelerator with its own application and investment review.
How much does Round Funded cost?
Round Funded has three paid options. Round+ costs $99 a month, Round Pro costs $249 a month, and Lifetime costs $899 one-time. Round+ and Round Pro include a 3-day free trial for first-time accounts. There is no free tier.
Round+ includes a pipeline of up to 2,500 investors, email to up to 2,000 investors a month, and 2,500 AI credits a month. Round Pro includes a pipeline of up to 5,000 investors, email to up to 10,000 investors a month, up to 6 connected inboxes, and 5,000 AI credits a month. Lifetime includes everything in Round Pro for a one-time payment.
The right plan depends on the size of the pipeline and the outreach volume a founder needs. The Data Room can be built and shared on every plan. Per-investor tracked links and engagement analytics are included with Round+.
How Round Funded helps founders manage investor 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 personalized outreach emails and follow-ups, then send them from your own Gmail.
- Track investors, fundraising stages, and next steps in the pipeline, and invite teammates into the workspace.
- Build a Data Room with your deck, traction, team, and ask on one link. On Round+, use per-investor tracked links and engagement analytics.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Berkeley SkyDeck open to startups outside the United States?
SkyDeck says startups from around the world may apply. An earlier Batch 21 application page described a founder eligibility requirement, so check the current requirements for the program you are applying to.
Does Berkeley SkyDeck guarantee funding when a startup is accepted?
No. SkyDeck says the Fund has a separate investment review process, and admission does not automatically mean the startup receives the $210,000 investment.
Do all Berkeley SkyDeck programs offer the same investment terms?
No. Its pages list different figures for the Cohort Program, Bio+Health Track, SkyDeck Europe, and Pad-13. Review the terms for the specific program and location.
Can founders pursue an accelerator and direct investor outreach?
They can consider both paths. Berkeley SkyDeck has an application and investment review process, while Round Funded helps founders search for investors, send pitches, and track replies. We at AI Perks chose Round Funded for our fundraising workflow and used it to raise our round. Get matched with investors through the platform.