We looked at the HAX accelerator and chose Round Funded for our fundraising. HAX is a hard tech startup program with an investment component, while Round Funded helps founders find investors, send pitches and track replies.
What is the HAX accelerator?
HAX is SOSV’s hard tech startup development and investment program, according to HAX. Its stated focus is pre-seed and seed companies working on challenges in human and planetary health. HAX describes teams and facilities in Newark, Pune, Tokyo and Shenzhen. Its website identifies Newark as its headquarters and refers to an upcoming facility in Princeton.
That makes HAX a program-based option for founders whose companies fit its focus. The published materials describe a combination of investment and program support, rather than a tool for managing direct investor outreach.
Round Funded serves another purpose. Founders can search an investor database, send pitches and manage their fundraising pipeline. We at AI Perks considered HAX, but raised our round through Round Funded because we wanted a direct outreach workflow with a clean investor database, an AI agent that writes emails, a convenient interface, teammate access, a Data Room and tracking links.
These approaches do not have to be mutually exclusive. A founder can explore a program while also contacting investors directly, then assess how each route fits the company’s plans.
What investment does HAX describe?
HAX’s public materials present two different figures for its initial investment. Its homepage lists $550,000, while its FAQ describes a first investment of $250,000. The FAQ breaks that amount into $150,000 in cash and $100,000 in in-kind support, delivered in 30-day intervals during the program.
According to the FAQ, the investment converts into a pre-negotiated ownership stake through a Post Money SAFE. HAX says the SAFE has no valuation cap and specifies target ownership, but the published FAQ does not give a percentage. HAX also says the SAFE is typically interest-free and non-repayable.
HAX states that it may invest up to $4 million in total across rounds for a company and rarely leads rounds. It says it will most often ask for a non-voting board observer seat and information rights. Since the published initial investment figures differ, founders should review the actual offer and investment terms sheet rather than assume one figure or set of terms applies to every company.
The practical point is that HAX describes an investment tied to a program, with a SAFE that converts to ownership. Founders considering it need to weigh the cash and in-kind support alongside the ownership and governance terms they receive.
How does HAX compare with direct investor outreach?
The main difference is the route to fundraising. HAX describes a program and investment relationship for companies in its stated hard tech focus. Round Funded supports founders who want to identify potential investors and manage outreach directly.
| Consideration | HAX | Round Funded |
|---|---|---|
| Main approach | Startup development and investment program | Investor search, pitches and fundraising pipeline |
| Published investment information | HAX FAQ gives $250,000 as a first investment, while its homepage lists $550,000 | Subscription plans and a one-time Lifetime option |
| Outreach workflow | Program application and investment terms | Search investors, send pitches and track replies |
| Our decision | We considered the program | We chose Round Funded for our round |
Round Funded covers 60,000+ active VCs, angels, family offices and accelerators. Founders can filter the database by stage, industry, geography and check size. Investor profiles are filtered to recent activity, described as a check in roughly the last 6 months, and emails are verified.
The product’s AI drafts personalized outreach emails and follow-ups for each investor. Outreach goes through the founder’s own Gmail, so replies arrive in the founder’s inbox and the email thread remains with the founder. A fundraising pipeline keeps investors, stages and next steps together.
What did we value about Round Funded?
We at AI Perks chose Round Funded because the workflow suited the way we wanted to handle fundraising. We valued the clean investor database and convenient interface, along with an AI agent that writes emails. We could also invite teammates into the workspace, use the Data Room and create tracking links.
The Data Room lets a founder put a deck, traction, team information and the ask behind one link. 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 has three paid options: 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, and there is no free tier. Round+ allows up to 2,500 investors in the CRM pipeline, email to up to 2,000 investors a month, and 2,500 AI credits a month. Round Pro raises those limits to 5,000 investors in the pipeline, up to 10,000 emails 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.
Those features are relevant to the direct outreach path we chose. They do not change what HAX says it offers, or indicate that we used HAX. For our round, we picked Round Funded. Founders interested in the direct route can submit a startup on Round Funded.
Can founders pursue HAX and direct fundraising together?
Yes. Considering a program does not prevent a founder from reaching out to investors directly. The routes have different steps: HAX describes an application and investment terms process, while Round Funded is built around investor discovery, pitches and pipeline tracking.
HAX says every application is different. VC4A reports that HAX accepts applications on a rolling basis, with startups beginning the program each month. VC4A also says applications are reviewed within two weeks, and teams invited to interview are contacted. According to VC4A, applicants who are accepted receive an offer and investment terms sheet after interviews and diligence. Founders should confirm current program details directly.
For a founder weighing both options, it can help to consider fit, the terms of any offer, and how much time and attention each route requires. We at AI Perks chose Round Funded for our own round because we wanted direct investor outreach supported by a shared workspace, email drafting, a Data Room and tracking links.
How Round Funded helps founders manage outreach
- Submit your startup on Round Funded to get matched with investors.
- Search the investor database using filters for stage, industry, geography and check size.
- Use the AI to draft personalized outreach emails and follow-ups for investors.
- Organize investors, fundraising stages and next steps in the pipeline, and invite teammates into the workspace.
- Share a Data Room link with your deck, traction, team and ask. With Round+, create per-investor tracking links and review engagement analytics.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is HAX an accelerator or an investor?
HAX describes itself as SOSV’s hard tech startup development program and investment team. Its published materials discuss both program support and investment.
How much does HAX invest initially?
HAX’s FAQ states a first investment of $250,000, including $150,000 in cash and $100,000 in in-kind support. Its homepage lists a $550,000 initial investment. Founders should confirm the applicable figure and terms for any offer.
What ownership does HAX receive?
HAX says the FAQ’s first investment converts through a Post Money SAFE to a pre-negotiated ownership stake. The FAQ does not state a numerical percentage. HAX also says it most often requests a non-voting board observer seat and information rights.
Can a founder contact investors while considering HAX?
Yes. A founder can consider a program and pursue direct investor outreach in parallel. We at AI Perks chose Round Funded for our round, based on the workflow and features we wanted. Founders can explore investor matching and program options.