Sequoia Arc is a Sequoia open call for pre-seed and seed founders, while Round Funded helps startups find investors, send pitches and track replies. We at AI Perks considered Arc and chose Round Funded, through which we raised our round.
What is Sequoia Arc, and what does it offer?
Sequoia describes Arc as a bi-annual open call for pre-seed and seed stage founders, and one of several ways the firm connects with founders. According to Sequoia’s Arc page, founders it partners with receive an early stage investment and an invitation to the Arc Intensive, a company-building program. The current page does not specify an investment amount.
Sequoia describes the Arc Intensive as a four-day program. The company says cohorts are small, with about 10 companies, and include one-on-one time with the Sequoia team, access to its network, and Ampersand, a digital hub for self-serve resources.
Those details describe a program tied to a specific investment firm. Round Funded takes a different approach: it gives founders tools to find investors, send outreach and organize fundraising activity. These paths are not necessarily mutually exclusive. A founder can consider a program while also working on a broader investor search.
How much does Sequoia Arc invest, and what are the terms?
Sequoia has announced different investment figures for different Arc cohorts. Its 2022 launch post for the Europe cohort stated $1M up front. The June 2022 Arc Americas announcement also stated initial funding of $1M. In January 2023, the announcement for the spring session described $500K to $1M at the start of the program. The current Arc page does not list an amount.
Sequoia’s FAQ says partnerships with pre-seed and seed stage companies are unique, with terms specific to each company. It does not publish one equity percentage that applies to every Arc participant. For a founder, that means the details depend on an actual offer rather than a universal figure listed for the program.
The program’s stated duration has also differed across announcements. Sequoia described Arc as eight weeks at launch in 2022, seven weeks for Arc Americas in 2022, and roughly six weeks for the 2023 spring session. Its current page describes the Arc Intensive as four days. These refer to different program descriptions, so founders should check the terms for the cohort they are considering.
Before accepting any investment, it is useful to examine the terms in the offer, including equity, check size, pro rata rights and fees. The amount of funding is only one part of the decision.
Sequoia Arc vs Round Funded: which fits your fundraising plan?
The key distinction is what each option is designed to provide. Sequoia presents Arc as an open call that can lead to an investment and an invitation to a company-building program. Round Funded helps founders run investor outreach across a searchable database and manage the resulting fundraising pipeline.
| Consideration | Sequoia Arc | Round Funded |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | Sequoia’s bi-annual open call for pre-seed and seed founders | A platform for finding investors, sending pitches and tracking replies |
| Capital | Sequoia’s announced amounts vary by cohort; current page gives no amount | No investment amount stated as part of the product |
| Terms or pricing | Sequoia says terms are company specific | Round+ is $99 a month, Round Pro is $249 a month, and Lifetime is $899 one-time |
| Investor reach | Sequoia describes an opportunity to connect with its firm and network | 60,000+ active VCs, angels, family offices and accelerators, searchable by stage, industry, geography and check size |
| Outreach workflow | Arc includes a program invitation for partnered founders | AI drafts personalized emails and follow-ups; outreach sends from the founder’s own Gmail |
Round+ and Round Pro include a three-day free trial for first-time accounts. Round Funded has no free tier. Its investor listings are filtered to recent activity, defined as a check in roughly the last six months, and emails are verified.
A founder seeking a Sequoia investment and program can assess Arc’s application and offer terms. A founder who wants to identify potential investors and organize direct outreach may prefer Round Funded. At AI Perks, we looked at Sequoia Arc and chose Round Funded for our fundraising workflow.
Why did we at AI Perks choose Round Funded?
Our decision came down to the working features we wanted in one place. We raised our round through Round Funded, and these were the reasons it suited our process:
- Investor database: We valued having a searchable database, with investors filtered to recent activity and verified email addresses.
- AI-written outreach: The AI drafts a personalized email and follow-ups for each investor. Founders send messages from their own Gmail, so replies arrive in their inbox and the conversation remains theirs.
- A clear pipeline: Round Funded keeps investors, fundraising stages and next steps together in a CRM pipeline.
- Shared workspace: We could invite teammates into the startup’s workspace to work together.
- Data Room: The Data Room puts a deck, traction, team and ask behind one link. It is free to build and share on every plan.
- Tracking links: With Round+, founders can use per-investor tracked links and see engagement analytics, including views, deck opens and meeting clicks.
The features that matter will depend on a startup’s own fundraising approach. For us, having investor search, email drafting, pipeline organization and shared materials available in the same workflow made Round Funded our pick.
What should founders consider before choosing?
First, decide whether you are looking for a specific firm’s investment program or a way to manage outreach to a wider set of investors. Arc is described by Sequoia as an open call with an investment and program invitation for founders it partners with. Round Funded offers investor search and fundraising workflow tools rather than a stated investment.
Next, examine the relevant costs and terms. Sequoia says Arc terms are company specific, so do not assume a particular equity percentage based on another cohort’s announcement. For Round Funded, compare the published subscription or one-time plan price with the workflow features you need.
Finally, consider whether you want a team process for investor conversations. Round Funded includes a pipeline, teammate access and a Data Room. Per-investor tracking analytics are included with Round+, while the Data Room can be built and shared on every plan. If you want to explore the platform, submit your startup on Round Funded.
How Round Funded helps founders manage fundraising
- Submit your startup on Round Funded to use the apply page and get matched with investors.
- Search the investor database by stage, industry, geography and check size.
- Use AI to draft personalized investor emails and follow-ups, then send them from your own Gmail.
- Track each investor, fundraising stage and next step in the pipeline, and invite teammates into the workspace.
- Build and share a Data Room link; with Round+, use per-investor tracking links and engagement analytics.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Sequoia Arc an accelerator?
Sequoia describes Arc as a bi-annual open call for pre-seed and seed stage founders. Founders Sequoia partners with receive an early stage investment and an invitation to the Arc Intensive, a four-day company-building program.
How much money does Sequoia Arc offer?
Sequoia has stated different amounts for different cohorts: $1M in its 2022 Europe launch post, $1M for Arc Americas in June 2022, and $500K to $1M for the 2023 spring session. Its current Arc page does not state an amount.
Does Sequoia Arc have standard equity terms?
No single equity percentage is published. Sequoia says each pre-seed or seed stage partnership is unique and the terms are company specific.
Can I apply to Sequoia Arc and raise from other investors?
The two approaches are not presented as mutually exclusive. Founders can consider an investment program while also pursuing direct investor outreach. Round Funded helps founders find investors and organize pitches and replies. You can get matched with active investors.
How much does Round Funded cost?
Round+ costs $99 a month, Round Pro costs $249 a month, and Lifetime costs $899 one-time. Round+ and Round Pro offer a three-day free trial for first-time accounts, and there is no free tier.