OpenAI Startup Fund
San Francisco, California · Invests in US · Website
Check size
🔒 $•• – $••Thesis
New and powerful AI systems will give rise to transformative startups. We back exceptional engineers, designers, researchers, and product builders using AI to solve critical problems in healthcare, law, education, energy, sciences, and enterprise. We provide capital, operational support, talent expertise, and conviction follow-on investing.
Likely not a fit for
Not focused on: pure infrastructure/model companies, non-AI applications, consumer entertainment, gaming-only
How they invest
- Lead or follow
- Leads or follows
- Typical decision
- ~2 weeks
- Warm intro
- Not required
- Involvement
- Advisor
- Fund status
- Actively deploying
- Decision process
- Partnership vote
Partners & team
3 contacts on file
Portfolio
Speak is a language learning app that utilizes an AI-powered tutor to help users practice speaking and achieve fluency in various languages. The app focuses on conversational practice, providing instant feedback and personalized learning experiences.
1X is an AI and robotics company focused on developing humanoid robots for home use, with a mission to create a society where robots handle chores and tasks, allowing humans to focus on what they love.
Anysphere is a company offering ubiquitous commerce services.
Class Companion provides AI tutoring and instant feedback on assignments, helping teachers increase engagement and improve student outcomes. It supports a variety of subjects and integrates with learning management systems.
Figure is the first-of-its-kind AI robotics company bringing a general purpose humanoid to life, focusing on creating robots that can assist in home environments.
Mem is an AI-powered note-taking and organization tool that helps users manage their thoughts, ideas, and research seamlessly. It learns how users think and organizes information for easy retrieval.
Adaptive Security specializes in AI-driven cybersecurity training and phishing simulations to protect against AI-powered cyber threats.
Ambience Healthcare provides an AI platform designed to streamline documentation and coding processes for healthcare providers, reducing clinician burnout and improving patient care across various specialties.
Unify is an AI-powered platform that integrates intent data and outbound actions to enhance sales and marketing efforts. By combining AI technology with actionable insights, Unify aims to streamline the pipeline generation process for businesses, ensuring higher conversion rates.
Kick is an applied AI company building the first self-driving bookkeeping experience, automating finances for millions of business owners.
Recent activity
- Mar 2026
Harvey
Series E · Participated
- Jan 2026
Merge Labs
Seed · Lead
- Dec 2025
HeyBoss
Seed · Lead
- Nov 2025
Kick
Series B · Participated
- Oct 2025
Valthos
Seed · Lead
- Sep 2025
Adaptive Security
Series A · Lead
- Aug 2025
Endex
Series B · Lead
- Jul 2025
Ambience Healthcare
Series C · Participated
OpenAI Startup Fund in the news
quasa.io
OpenAI Files a $400M Second Startup Fund
8 days ago
konsulteer.com
OpenAI Launches $400 Million Second Venture Fund to Back AI Startups
9 days ago
WTVB
SoftBank in talks to buy stake in 1X at $6 billion valuation, The Information reports
11 days ago
The Business Times
SoftBank in talks to buy stake in humanoid developer 1X at US$6 billion valuation: report
11 days ago
app.dealroom.co
OpenAI prepares $400M second venture fund
11 days ago
WSJ
OpenAI Is the Sole Investor in Its Latest Venture Fund
11 days ago
Tracxn
Harvey - 2026 Funding Rounds & List of Investors
17 days ago
Yahoo Finance
Founders Fund hires former OpenAI exec Ryan Beiermeister (and not because of her ‘Mafia’ skills)
1 month ago
Global Venturing
Powerlist 2026: Ian Hathaway, OpenAI Startup Fund
2 months ago
Axios
SpaceX will buy Cursor for $60 billion
2 months ago
Yahoo Finance
Sam Altman backs Alfred, a physical AI startup for robotics
3 months ago
Startup Fortune
OpenAI is hiring its way back into robotics
3 months ago
Medium
OpenAI’s CEO Is Not What He Seems
4 months ago
planetearthandbeyond.co
OpenAI's CEO Is Not What He Seems
4 months ago
The Globe and Mail
Backed by Peter Thiel and OpenAI, Toronto startup Biossil aims to give failed drugs new life with AI
4 months ago
therealdeal.com
SF’s great AI lease-up continues with 57K sf inked in SoMa
5 months ago
The Business Journals
OpenAI’s record $122 billion round is just the start
5 months ago
Fortune
30-year-old CEO of $11 billion Harvey earned the backing of OpenAI and Sam Altman. He says you have to 're-earn' your role every 6 months
5 months ago
Business Insider
$8 billion legal behemoth Harvey is getting into the startup investing game
6 months ago
TechCrunch
The OpenAI mafia: 18 startups founded by alumni
6 months ago
Newcomer | Substack
Investors Go Hard for Voice AI With a String of Big January Deals
6 months ago
TechCrunch
OpenAI invests in Sam Altman’s brain computer interface startup Merge Labs
7 months ago
AlleyWatch
The 8 Largest NYC Tech Startup Funding Rounds of December 2025
8 months ago
Pulse 2.0
Adaptive Security: $81 Million Series B Secured To Counter AI Powered Cyber Threats
8 months ago
AlleyWatch
The Weekly Notable Startup Funding Report: 12/22/25
8 months ago
PR Newswire
Adaptive Security Raises $81 Million Series B to Stop AI-Powered Cyber Threats
8 months ago
Fortune
The Business of Intelligence
9 months ago
Yahoo Finance
This $1 Billion AI Startup Backed By OpenAI, Khosla Ventures Just Hit $100M Revenue Racing To Beat Duolingo
9 months ago
citybiz
Biodefense Startup Valthos Emerges From Stealth With $30M Funding From OpenAI, Thiel’s Founders Fund
10 months ago
Decrypt
AI Biodefense Startup Valthos Launches With $30 Million, OpenAI Backing
10 months ago
Business Insider
Harvey Founders Say OpenAI Is 'Indirectly' Its Biggest Competitor
10 months ago
Business Insider
An ex-OpenAI employee who helped build ChatGPT quietly launched a startup — and Mira Murati is an investor
11 months ago
PR Newswire
OpenAI Fund Extends Investment in Adaptive Security, Raising Total to $55 Million in Series A
Sep 2025
The Duke Chronicle
Meet Tarun Amasa, the Duke dropout who secured a $14 million deal with OpenAI
Aug 2025
Reuters
OpenAI removes Sam Altman's ownership of its Startup Fund
Apr 2024
Axios
Sam Altman owns OpenAI's venture capital fund
Feb 2024
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Invests globally in exceptional B2B/SaaS companies and prioritizes inclusive investment regardless of founders race, national origin, or gender.
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