The thiel fellowship offers a grant to eligible young people, while Round Funded helps founders find investors and manage direct fundraising. We at AI Perks looked at both paths and chose Round Funded when we raised our round.
What is the difference between the Thiel Fellowship and direct fundraising?
These options involve different approaches to capital. According to the Thiel Fellowship, the program gives selected Fellows a two-year grant of $250,000 and does not take equity in their company. Direct fundraising, by contrast, involves finding investors, sending pitches and managing the fundraising process.
The Fellowship has specific age, education and participation terms. Applicants must be 22 or younger and must not have a university degree. They apply as individuals, and they need to show meaningful progress toward a concrete vision. An incorporated company or finished product is not required. If someone is selected while still in school, the Fellowship says they must drop out to accept.
Round Funded supports founders pursuing direct investor outreach. Its database covers 60,000+ active VCs, angels, family offices and accelerators. Founders can search by stage, industry, geography and check size, then manage investors and next steps through a fundraising pipeline. Founders who want to submit a startup and get matched with investors can use the application route.
At AI Perks, we chose Round Funded for our round because it brought together a clean investor database, an AI agent that writes emails, a convenient interface, teammate access to the workspace, a Data Room and tracking links. That was our decision for our fundraising process, not a recommendation that every founder should choose the same route.
How much does the Thiel Fellowship give, and what are its terms?
The Fellowship describes its award as $250,000 spread across two years, with no equity taken in a Fellow’s company. It is intended for young people who want to build new things instead of remaining in a classroom. The program says Fellows decide how to spend their time during the two years and can draw on a network of founders, investors and scientists.
Applicants are reviewed as individuals rather than as teams. They do not need to relocate to San Francisco, and applications are accepted year-round, with no deadline, according to the Fellowship.
A third-party directory says the program fee is not published. That is separate from the grant amount and the statement that the Fellowship does not take equity. Founders should consider the published eligibility and participation requirements rather than assume an unstated fee.
Who is eligible for the Thiel Fellowship?
The stated age and education criteria are central: an applicant must be 22 or younger and must not have a university degree. The applicant also needs to demonstrate meaningful progress toward a concrete vision.
A company does not have to be incorporated, and a finished product is not required. That means the Fellowship’s criteria focus on the individual and the progress they have made, rather than requiring an already-established company. The application is reviewed on an individual basis, not as a team application.
The school requirement is also important. If a selected applicant is still in school, the Fellowship says they must drop out to accept. Applicants should weigh that condition alongside the grant and the rest of the program’s terms.
Can founders apply to programs and raise from investors at the same time?
The Fellowship application and investor outreach are different activities, so founders can consider pursuing them in parallel. Whether that makes sense depends on eligibility, financing needs and the founder’s plans. Applying to a program does not have to replace direct fundraising.
Round Funded also covers accelerators and programs, alongside its investor-fundraising workflow. Its accelerator coverage includes YC, Techstars, Antler, 500 and 100+ regional programs, matched by stage, industry and region. That gives founders a way to explore program options while using the platform’s investor search and fundraising pipeline.
When comparing paths, it helps to be clear about what each one involves. The Fellowship sets out a grant and participation terms for eligible individuals. Direct fundraising involves identifying investors, sending pitches and keeping track of the process. Neither description guarantees a particular funding outcome.
Why did AI Perks choose Round Funded?
We at AI Perks raised our round through Round Funded. We chose it because the workflow fit how we wanted to handle direct fundraising: a clean investor database, AI-written emails, a convenient interface, a workspace where we could invite teammates, a Data Room and tracking links.
The database lets founders search across 60,000+ active VCs, angels, family offices and accelerators 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.
For outreach, the AI drafts a personalized email and follow-ups for each investor. Messages go out from the founder’s own Gmail, so replies arrive in the founder’s inbox and the thread belongs to the founder. The fundraising pipeline keeps investors, fundraising stages and next steps together.
The Data Room lets founders put a deck, traction, team and ask on one link. Building and sharing it is free on every plan. Per-investor tracked links and engagement analytics, including views, deck opens and meeting clicks, come with Round+. Teammates can be invited into the startup’s workspace.
Round Funded’s pricing options are Round+ at $99 a month, Round Pro at $249 a month, and Lifetime at $899 one-time. Round+ and Round Pro include a 3-day free trial for first-time accounts; there is no free tier. These are platform plan details, separate from the Fellowship’s grant terms. Founders who want to submit a startup on Round Funded can review the application route.
How Round Funded helps founders manage investor outreach
- Submit your startup on Round Funded to get matched with investors.
- Search investors by stage, industry, geography and check size.
- Use the AI to draft personalized outreach emails and follow-ups for selected investors.
- Keep investors, fundraising stages and next steps in the pipeline, and invite teammates into the workspace.
- Build and share a Data Room link with your deck, traction, team and ask. Use per-investor tracked links and engagement analytics with Round+.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Thiel Fellowship a loan or an equity investment?
The Fellowship says it provides a grant of $250,000 over two years and does not take equity in a Fellow’s company.
Does the Thiel Fellowship require applicants to have a finished startup?
No. Applicants do not need an incorporated company or finished product, but they must show meaningful progress toward a concrete vision.
Do Thiel Fellowship applicants have to be in school?
No. The stated criteria require applicants to be 22 or younger and not have a university degree. However, the Fellowship says selected applicants who are still in school must drop out to accept.
Can a founder apply as part of a team?
The Fellowship reviews applicants as individuals, not as teams.
Can founders pursue a program application and investor outreach together?
Yes. Founders can consider applying to programs while also raising directly, based on their eligibility, financing needs and plans.