a thematic investment and in-residence program for startups building in frontier technologies.
current camp
The AI Camp: Application Layer cohort is made up of teams that are harnessing rapidly improving foundation layer capabilities with a custom architecture; building products that deliver value quickly to a well-defined user profile; with a special interest in products that touch the workflows and productivity of individuals, SMBs, and antiquated vertical industries.
Tell your story, develop your roadmap, and find your fit.
Since 2016 we’ve been running sessions of Camp, our cohort-based investment and product development program that goes deep on tech modalities and themes we’re excited about.
Each camp consists of 13 weeks “in-residence” at Betaworks to help early stage companies with product development, platform strategy, data science, branding, and fundraising. Entrepreneurs have access to the Betaworks team, its network, and to a carefully curated group of industry leaders to assist with general company-building needs. See previous Camp themes and companies below.
“Overall, it was a great experience, and I would highly recommend the program to other founders. The Betaworks team and the other camp companies were super helpful.”
“Really love the Betaworks team. Very accessible, with grounded and realistic advice. Office space is also incredible!”
“I've done other accelerators, I've been a mentor in some, and the spirit of the Betaworks camp is the one that best shows an understanding of what early-stage innovation really is.”
“Today this Open Souls only exists because Betaworks took a real chance on me when no-one else would.”
“I feel that, here, I learn by rubbing shoulders with other innovators and getting immersed in the right environment. I love it. Never lose that spirit.”
“I absolutely LOVED spending time here and embedding myself in this wonderful environment.”
”A very valuable experience! The program was authentic and everyone brought a lot of experience to the group. My cohort continually shared valuable resources and was inspiring.”
“It was so important to me during this time to connect with other founders going through similar management trials. Helped get me out of my own way and stay positive.”
“Betaworks agent camp was a life changing portal for me to begin my founder journey. We'd be homeless, half blind, and disoriented without Betaworks. Instead, the tank is full, navigation is calibrated, and we have wise friends for life.”
Betaworks has been a foundational part of the NYC tech ecosystem for the last 15 years – first, as an incubator of brands you know and love like Giphy, Tweetdeck, Bit.ly, and Dots, and more recently as a pre-seed and seed stage investor in companies like HuggingFace and Stability AI, among many others.
We believe in thesis-based investing, and have spent almost a decade honing and iterating on our thesis around artificial intelligence. A significant amount of learning in that space came from Camp. We started with BotCamp (HuggingFace) in 2016 and have done many camps since (including VoiceCamp, VisionCamp, AudioCamp, SyntheticCamp, and more), most of which focus on a single mode of applied machine learning.
What is Camp?
Camp is like an accelerator, but not. Rather than writing a small check into dozens, and sometimes hundreds, of companies across a wide variety of categories, we look at the evolution of technology and bet on a cohort of companies that are creating and/or defining a brand new category. We bring these founders together to learn from one another as they embark into uncharted territory, and tap them into our network of portfolio founders, tech big brains and, of course, investors.
How long is Camp?
Camp runs for 13 weeks, culminating in a Demo Day.
When can I apply to Camp?
Camp takes place twice annually. The first Camp session runs February through May (applications open Dec - Jan). The second session runs August through November (applications open June - July).
What does Demo Day entail?
Each team has 7-10min on stage, in front of a room full of investors, to tell their story and share a live demo of the product. We help you prep your pitch deck, draft a compelling script, and hone your stage presence. It’s the capstone event of the Camp program, it’s a milestone in the life of your company and product development, and it builds team camaraderie as we all work together to put on a great show!
How big is camp?
We typically select a cohort of 8-12 companies.
Where is Camp?
Camp takes place in-person at the Betaworks offices in NYC's Meatpacking District, where teams will have access to shared workspace, desks, and conference rooms. We require teams to participate IRL for the first and final two weeks and encourage them to stay in NYC for the entire session, but hybrid options are available. In the final week each team will present their product at Demo Day before a room of investors.
Can I still participate if I cannot relocate to NYC?
The Camp experience is intended to be in-person – and the IRL community is where founders typically find the most value – but you should still apply even if you have travel constraints. We will still consider your application and can discuss hybrid or remote participation options.
Do I need a product to apply?
It's not required, but having something to show like a demo or beta or Figma is highly encouraged.
Are there any costs associated with Camp?
We don't charge anything to participate in Camp. Your only expense would be travel costs to/from NYC, and housing while here.
Do I need to be US-based to apply?
No, we accept applications from companies based anywhere in the world. We do require IRL participation for specific portions of the program, so you must be willing/able to spend time in NYC during the Camp session.
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