Submit your startup on Round Funded to get matched with investors while you consider whether Hub71’s Access Programme fits your plans. At AI Perks, we looked at Hub71 and chose Round Funded for raising our round, valuing its investor database, AI email writing, teammate workspace, Data Room and tracking links.
What is the difference between Hub71 and Round Funded?
Hub71’s Access Programme is a startup programme with stated incentives, a cash component tied to equity, and expectations around building in Abu Dhabi. Round Funded supports direct fundraising by helping founders find investors, send pitches and track replies.
The choice is not necessarily one route or the other. A founder can consider applying to a programme while also approaching investors directly. For us at AI Perks, Round Funded was the route we chose to raise our round. Explore Round Funded to get matched with active investors.
| Consideration | Hub71 Access Programme | Round Funded |
|---|---|---|
| Main route | A programme with incentives and cash in exchange for equity | Direct investor search and outreach |
| Location | At least one founder is expected to relocate long-term and build a team in Abu Dhabi | Investor search can be filtered by geography |
| What founders work with | Programme application, selection process and stated terms | Investor database, email drafting, fundraising pipeline and Data Room |
What does Hub71 say its Access Programme includes?
According to Hub71, startups onboarded to Access receive AED 250,000 in flexible incentives, described as in-kind support services, alongside AED 250,000 in cash in exchange for equity through a SAFE note. Hub71 says the incentives can include office space and access to partners, global technology companies, research institutions and regulatory bodies.
Hub71 also says high-performing startups committed to Abu Dhabi may qualify for an additional top-up of up to AED 250,000 in exchange for additional equity. The top-up is performance-based, not guaranteed as part of the initial offer. Hub71 says it may be paid upon programme completion or after one year.
Those components should be considered separately: the cash is exchanged for equity through a SAFE note, while the flexible incentives are described as support services. Founders should review the terms applicable to their own offer.
Does Hub71 require founders to move to Abu Dhabi?
According to Hub71, Access lasts 12 months, and at least one founder is expected to commit to relocating long-term and building a team in Abu Dhabi. That expectation is a key consideration for founders comparing the programme with a direct raise.
Hub71’s published cohort information has included different application deadlines. The article’s reported listings for Cohort 20 gave deadlines of 2 August 2026 and 21 August 2026, with a February 2027 start in both cases. A Cohort 21 listing gave a February 2027 deadline and a September 2027 start. Hub71 says applications after a cohort deadline may be considered for the next one, so applicants should check the relevant programme information for current dates.
Hub71 describes an application form about the startup, its problem, solution, product and business model, plus a PDF pitch deck covering the market, traction, funds raised, founding team and plans for Hub71 and Abu Dhabi. Its stated selection process has four rounds: application review, meetings with the Hub71 team, partner meetings and a final selection committee. Hub71 says applicants should expect feedback about their status within three months of applying.
What should founders consider before choosing a route?
The decision depends on what a founder is trying to do. Hub71 sets out programme terms and a location expectation. Direct fundraising, by contrast, means finding relevant investors, preparing outreach and managing investor conversations.
A programme’s cash component is not the same as raising the remainder of a round from outside investors. Similarly, applying to a programme does not by itself prevent a founder from pursuing direct fundraising. Founders can assess the programme’s terms and location requirements while deciding whether to contact investors.
At AI Perks, we chose Round Funded because its clean investor database, AI agent that writes emails, convenient interface, teammate access, Data Room and tracking links matched the fundraising work we wanted to do. Submit your startup on Round Funded to explore that route. That is why we selected it for our round, not a claim that the same option suits every startup.
Round Funded covers 60,000+ active VCs, angels, family offices and accelerators. Founders can search by stage, industry, geography and check size. Its fundraising pipeline keeps investors, stages and next steps together, and teammates can be invited into a startup’s workspace.
How much does Round Funded cost?
Round Funded’s listed plans are Round+ at $99 a month, Round Pro at $249 a month, and Lifetime at $899 one-time. There is no free tier. Round+ and Round Pro include a 3-day free trial for first-time accounts.
- Round+: Up to 2,500 investors in the CRM pipeline, email up to 2,000 investors a month, and 2,500 AI credits a month.
- Round Pro: Up to 5,000 investors in the pipeline, email up to 10,000 investors a month, up to 6 connected inboxes, and 5,000 AI credits a month.
- Lifetime: Everything in Round Pro, paid once.
The Data Room can be built and shared for free on every plan. It puts a deck, traction, team and ask on one link. Per-investor tracked links and engagement analytics, including views, deck opens and meeting clicks, come with Round+.
How Round Funded helps founders raising directly
- Submit your startup on Round Funded to get matched with investors.
- Search investors by stage, industry, geography and check size.
- Use the AI agent to draft personalized outreach emails and follow-ups for investors.
- Invite teammates into the workspace and organize investors, fundraising stages and next steps in the pipeline.
- Build and share a Data Room link with your deck, traction, team and ask. Use per-investor tracked links and engagement analytics on Round+.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Hub71?
According to Hub71, it is an Abu Dhabi technology ecosystem with programmes connecting startups to partners, global technology companies, research institutions and regulatory bodies. Its Access Programme is described as lasting 12 months.
What does Hub71 offer Access startups?
Hub71 says Access startups receive AED 250,000 in flexible incentives and AED 250,000 in cash in exchange for equity through a SAFE note. High-performing startups committed to Abu Dhabi may qualify for an additional equity-linked top-up of up to AED 250,000.
Does Hub71 require equity?
According to Hub71, the AED 250,000 cash component is exchanged for equity through a SAFE note. Any awarded performance top-up also requires additional equity. Hub71 describes the other AED 250,000 as flexible incentives or in-kind support services.
Can founders pursue Hub71 and direct fundraising together?
Yes. Applying to a programme and contacting investors directly are separate paths. A founder can consider both while weighing Hub71’s stated terms and relocation expectation.
What did AI Perks choose?
We at AI Perks chose Round Funded to raise our round. Our reasons included its clean investor database, AI email-writing agent, convenient interface, teammate workspace, Data Room and tracking links.