OpenAI Alumni Launching a New Wave of AI Startups in Silicon Valley
Silicon Valley is witnessing an exciting transformation as OpenAI, the powerhouse behind ChatGPT, strengthens its dominance in the artificial intelligence sector. Currently, OpenAI is negotiating a monumental $100 billion deal that would value the company at over $850 billion. This dramatic shift is setting the stage for a new tech mafia, eclipsing the famed PayPal Mafia.
Since its inception a decade ago, OpenAI has seen numerous employees transition into successful entrepreneurs. Some have founded notable competitors like Anthropic, while others have garnered significant investments even before launching products, like Thinking Machine Labs. This trend highlights the robust entrepreneurial spirit sparked by OpenAI’s innovative environment.
The Rise of OpenAI Alumni
Aliisa Rosenthal, OpenAI’s first sales leader, encapsulated this evolving landscape, expressing intent to leverage her connections within the ex-OpenAI alumni network to identify promising investment opportunities. Fellow alumni are following suit, further fueling this dynamic ecosystem of innovation and competition.
Notable Startups Founded by OpenAI Alumni
Here’s a rundown of the significant startups initiated by ex-OpenAI team members, illustrating the company’s impact on the startup landscape:
1. David Luan — Adept AI Labs
David Luan, former engineering VP at OpenAI, co-founded Adept AI Labs in 2021 after a stint at Google. The company, focused on developing AI tools for employees, recently secured $350 million at a valuation exceeding $1 billion. Luan shifted gears in late 2024 to manage Amazon’s AI agents lab after Adept’s founders were recruited by the retail giant.
2. Dario Amodei, Daniela Amodei, and John Schulman — Anthropic
In 2021, Dario and Daniela Amodei departed OpenAI to establish Anthropic, a startup centered around AI safety. John Schulman, an OpenAI co-founder, joined them in 2024. Recently, Anthropic raised a whopping $30 billion, achieving a valuation of $380 billion, and is rumored to be preparing for an IPO, setting the stage for intense competition with OpenAI.
3. Rhythm Garg, Linden Li, and Yash Patil — Applied Compute
This trio of former OpenAI engineers has raised $20 million for Applied Compute, a startup that aids enterprises in training and deploying custom AI agents. Valued at $100 million, the company is rapidly gaining traction.
4. Pieter Abbeel, Peter Chen, and Rocky Duan — Covariant
Founding Covariant in 2017, these former research scientists at OpenAI focus on developing foundation AI models for robotic applications. In 2024, they were recruited by Amazon, reflecting broader industry trends towards consolidation amidst growing competition.
5. Tim Shi — Cresta
As an early team member at OpenAI, Tim Shi left to start Cresta, an AI contact center solution. The company has successfully attracted over $270 million in funding from prominent VCs.
6. Jonas Schneider — Daedalus
Jonas Schneider, who led OpenAI’s robotics software engineering, co-founded Daedalus, which specializes in advanced factory solutions. The startup gained $21 million in Series A funding, demonstrating promising growth.
7. Andrej Karpathy — Eureka Labs
Noted for his expertise in computer vision, Andrej Karpathy transitioned from OpenAI to Tesla before founding Eureka Labs, aiming to develop AI teaching assistants. His reputation continues to attract interest in the educational technology sector.
8. Margaret Jennings — Kindo
Margaret Jennings launched Kindo, an AI chatbot for enterprises, after her time at OpenAI. With $27 million in funding secured, Kindo is positioned to expand its offerings.
9. Maddie Hall — Living Carbon
Maddie Hall, formerly with OpenAI, co-founded Living Carbon, targeting climate change through engineered plants. The firm raised a $21 million Series A round, emphasizing its commitment to sustainability.
10. Liam Fedus — Periodic Labs
After leaving OpenAI in 2025, Liam Fedus launched Periodic Labs, focusing on discovering new materials with the assistance of AI. The startup generated an impressive $300 million in seed funding.
11. Aravind Srinivas — Perplexity
Aravind Srinivas established Perplexity, an AI search engine, drawing significant investor interest despite some controversies. The company has reached a valuation of $20 billion through successful fundraising rounds.
12. Jeff Arnold — Pilot
Jeff Arnold co-founded Pilot, an accounting startup, after a brief tenure at OpenAI. With its recent $100 million Series C funding, the company has solidified its position in the financial services sector.
13. Shariq Hashme — Prosper Robotics
Shariq Hashme left OpenAI to work on Prosper Robotics, which aims to revolutionize home robotics. This burgeoning field is attracting significant attention and investment.
14. Ilya Sutskever — Safe Superintelligence
Ilya Sutskever, co-founder of OpenAI, shifted gears to create Safe Superintelligence, focusing on developing a secure superintelligent AI. Despite yet to launch a product, the startup has raised $2 billion backed by investor interest.
15. Emmett Shear — Stem AI
Emmett Shear, the former CEO of Twitch, briefly served as OpenAI’s interim CEO prior to launching Stem AI. His venture has secured backing from prominent investors.
16. Mira Murati — Thinking Machines Lab
After her tenure as OpenAI’s CTO, Mira Murati founded Thinking Machines Lab, which focuses on customizable AI solutions. The startup is valued at $12 billion, marking a strong entry into the competitive AI landscape.
17. Kyle Kosic — xAI
Kyle Kosic co-founded xAI, Elon Musk’s AI venture, but returned to OpenAI in 2024. Meanwhile, xAI has undergone substantial valuation increases after merging with SpaceX.
18. Angela Jiang — Worktrace AI
Angela Jiang’s new venture, Worktrace AI, aims to optimize business operations through AI. Support from notable OpenAI figures underscores its promising potential.
Stealth Startups in the Works
Several former OpenAI employees are reportedly developing stealth startups, including Danilo Hellermark, who is working on generative AI initiatives. These hidden projects suggest more groundbreaking advancements are on the horizon.
In conclusion, the spirit of innovation fostered by OpenAI continues to thrive as its alumni make substantial contributions to the tech landscape. This evolving narrative underscores the dynamic nature of Silicon Valley, where each startup pushes the boundaries of what’s possible in AI.
