The OpenAI Mafia: 15 Startups Founded by OpenAI Alumni

A New Generation of Tech Startups: The OpenAI Alumni Network

The influence of PayPal’s early employees, often referred to as the “PayPal mafia,” is well-documented. Now, a similar phenomenon is unfolding in Silicon Valley with OpenAI, the company responsible for ChatGPT.

OpenAI’s rapid growth and impressive $300 billion valuation have motivated numerous former employees to venture out and establish their own companies.

The Surge in Funding for OpenAI Spin-offs

The excitement surrounding OpenAI is substantial. Consequently, several startups founded by ex-OpenAI personnel, such as Safe Superintelligence led by Ilya Sutskever and Thinking Machines Lab spearheaded by Mira Murati, have secured significant funding – even prior to the official launch of their products.

A Diverse Ecosystem of AI-Driven Ventures

Beyond these high-profile examples, a broad spectrum of startups constitutes the expanding OpenAI alumni network.

This network encompasses a variety of innovative companies.

• Perplexity is focused on revolutionizing the field of AI-powered search.
• xAI, owned by the platform formerly known as Twitter, is dedicated to advancing artificial intelligence.
• Living Carbon is pioneering the development of plants engineered to enhance carbon dioxide absorption.
• Prosper Robotics is actively constructing robotic assistants for household tasks.

Notable Startups Founded by OpenAI Alumni

The following provides an overview of some of the most prominent startups originating from the OpenAI talent pool.

These ventures represent a significant wave of innovation driven by individuals with firsthand experience at the forefront of artificial intelligence development.

Anthropic: Founded by Dario Amodei, Daniela Amodei, and John Schulman

Dario and Daniela Amodei, siblings formerly with OpenAI, established Anthropic in 2021. This San Francisco-based company has consistently emphasized a commitment to AI safety.

In 2024, John Schulman, a co-founder of OpenAI, became a part of the Anthropic team. He publicly stated his intention to contribute to the development of a “safe AGI.”

Comparative Growth and Valuation

While OpenAI currently generates significantly more revenue than Anthropic – $3.7 billion versus $1 billion in 2024, according to reports from The Information – Anthropic is experiencing rapid expansion.

It has emerged as OpenAI’s primary competitor and achieved a valuation of $61.5 billion as of March 2025.

Despite the revenue difference, Anthropic’s focused approach to AI safety is positioning it as a key player in the field.

Ilya Sutskever and the Launch of Safe Superintelligence

Ilya Sutskever, formerly a co-founder and chief scientist at OpenAI, departed from the company in May 2024. This followed reports of his involvement in an unsuccessful attempt to remove Sam Altman from his position as CEO.

Following his exit from OpenAI, Sutskever co-established Safe Superintelligence, often referred to as SSI.

The Core Mission of SSI

According to Sutskever, SSI is singularly focused, possessing “one goal and one product: a safe superintelligence.” The company’s specific activities remain largely undisclosed at this time.

Currently, SSI does not have a functioning product or generate any revenue. Despite this, significant investor interest has materialized.

Funding and Valuation

The startup has successfully secured $2 billion in funding. Recent reports indicate that SSI’s valuation has increased to $32 billion.

Global Presence

Safe Superintelligence maintains operational hubs in two key locations:

• Palo Alto, California
• Tel Aviv, Israel

The company is dedicated to the development of artificial general intelligence (AGI) that is inherently safe and aligned with human values.

Sutskever’s new venture represents a concentrated effort to address the potential risks associated with increasingly powerful AI systems.

Mira Murati and the Founding of Thinking Machines Lab

Mira Murati, formerly the Chief Technology Officer at OpenAI, departed from the organization in the preceding year. She subsequently established her own venture, Thinking Machines Lab.

The company officially launched in February 2025, revealing its intention to develop AI systems that are both more adaptable and functionally robust.

A New AI Startup Emerges

Based in San Francisco, Thinking Machines Lab currently operates without a released product or generated revenue.

Despite this, the startup has attracted a significant number of highly skilled researchers previously associated with OpenAI.

Significant Funding Anticipated

Reports indicate that Thinking Machines Lab is actively seeking to secure a substantial seed funding round.

This round is projected to reach $2 billion, potentially establishing a company valuation of at least $10 billion.

The focus of the new AI is on creating systems that offer increased levels of customization and enhanced capabilities.

Aravind Srinivas and the Founding of Perplexity

Aravind Srinivas’s professional background includes a year as a research scientist with OpenAI, a position he held until 2022. Following his departure, he became a co-founder of the AI-powered search engine, Perplexity.

Investment and Controversy

Since its inception, Srinivas’s startup has garnered significant investment from prominent figures. These include Jeff Bezos and Nvidia, demonstrating strong confidence in the company’s potential.

However, Perplexity has also faced scrutiny and debate. Allegations of unethical practices related to web scraping have contributed to some controversy surrounding the company.

Current Valuation and Funding

Headquartered in San Francisco, Perplexity is currently in the process of securing approximately $1 billion in funding. As of March 2025, the company’s valuation stands at $18 billion.

The company’s growth trajectory suggests a substantial impact on the future of search technology.

Kyle Kosic — xAI

In 2023, Kyle Kosic departed from OpenAI to take on the role of co-founder and infrastructure lead at xAI. This AI startup, founded by Elon Musk, is developing Grok, a chatbot designed to compete with existing models.

However, a shift occurred in 2024 when Kosic returned to OpenAI. xAI, headquartered in Palo Alto, recently completed the acquisition of X, previously known as Twitter.

Recent Valuation

Following the acquisition, the combined entity was valued at $113 billion. This all-stock transaction has garnered attention, but represents a potentially favorable outcome for those invested in Elon Musk’s broader business ventures.

The move highlights the dynamic nature of the AI landscape and the competitive positioning of xAI within it.

Grok, xAI’s chatbot, is intended to provide an alternative to other AI conversational tools currently available.

Emmett Shear and Stem AI

Emmett Shear previously served as the Chief Executive Officer of Twitch. In November 2023, he briefly assumed the role of interim CEO at OpenAI prior to Sam Altman’s return to the organization.

Currently, Shear is developing a new, undisclosed startup known as Stem AI. This information was reported by TechCrunch in 2024.

Stem AI: Early Details

While specific details regarding Stem AI’s operations and financial backing remain limited, the company has successfully secured investment. Andreessen Horowitz is among the early investors in this venture.

Despite being a relatively new entity, Stem AI has already garnered attention within the technology sector. The focus of the company remains confidential at this time.

Shear’s involvement signals a continued commitment to innovation in the artificial intelligence landscape. His prior experience at Twitch provides a unique perspective for this new endeavor.

Andrej Karpathy and Eureka Labs

Andrej Karpathy, a prominent figure in computer vision, played a key role as a founding member and research scientist at OpenAI.

Following his time at OpenAI, Karpathy transitioned to Tesla in 2017, where he assumed leadership of the autopilot program.

Early Career and Contributions

Beyond his research roles, Karpathy has gained significant recognition for his educational YouTube content, which clarifies complex AI concepts.

In 2024, he departed from Tesla to establish Eureka Labs, a new venture focused on educational technology.

Eureka Labs: AI-Powered Education

Eureka Labs is headquartered in San Francisco and is dedicated to developing AI teaching assistants.

The startup aims to revolutionize learning through the application of artificial intelligence, providing personalized educational support.

Karpathy’s expertise is now channeled into building tools that enhance the learning experience for students.

Jeff Arnold — Pilot

In 2016, Jeff Arnold served as the head of operations at OpenAI for a period of five months.

Following his time at OpenAI, he went on to co-found Pilot, an accounting startup headquartered in San Francisco, in 2017.

Pilot's Focus and Growth

Initially, Pilot concentrated on providing accounting services specifically tailored for startups.

The company successfully secured $100 million in Series C funding in 2021, achieving a valuation of $1.2 billion.

Notable investors in Pilot include Jeff Bezos, demonstrating significant confidence in the company’s potential.

Arnold's Role and Transition

Arnold functioned as Pilot’s Chief Operating Officer (COO) until his departure in 2024.

He subsequently initiated the launch of a venture capital (VC) fund, marking a new chapter in his career.

This transition represents a shift from operational leadership within a startup to investing in and fostering new ventures.

David Luan — Adept AI Labs

Until his departure in 2020, David Luan held the position of Engineering Vice President at OpenAI.

Following a period of employment with Google, he established Adept AI Labs in 2021 alongside other co-founders.

Adept AI Labs is a company focused on the development of artificial intelligence tools designed to assist workplace employees.

Funding and Valuation

The startup secured its latest round of funding in 2023, raising $350 million and achieving a valuation exceeding $1 billion.

Transition to Amazon

However, Luan subsequently left Adept AI Labs in late 2024.

This move came after Amazon recruited the company’s founding team, and he assumed a leadership role overseeing Amazon’s AI agents lab.

His current responsibilities involve directing the development of AI agents within Amazon’s infrastructure.

The acquisition of Adept’s founders by Amazon signaled a strategic investment in the future of AI-powered automation.

Luan’s expertise, gained from his time at OpenAI and Adept, is now being leveraged to advance Amazon’s capabilities in this rapidly evolving field.

Tim Shi — Cresta

According to his LinkedIn profile, Tim Shi was among the initial team members at OpenAI. His work there centered on the development of secure artificial general intelligence (AGI).

Shi’s tenure at OpenAI spanned a year in 2017. Following this, he established Cresta, an AI-driven contact center startup headquartered in San Francisco.

Cresta's Funding

Cresta has successfully secured over $270 million in funding from prominent venture capital firms. These include Sequoia Capital and Andreessen Horowitz, as detailed in a recent press release.

The company’s focus is on leveraging artificial intelligence to enhance contact center operations. This substantial investment reflects confidence in Cresta’s potential within the market.

Shi transitioned from contributing to foundational AGI research to building a practical application of AI in a significant industry.

Pieter Abbeel, Peter Chen, and Rocky Duan — Covariant

Pieter Abbeel, Peter Chen, and Rocky Duan initially served as research scientists at OpenAI during 2016 and 2017.

Following their time at OpenAI, they established Covariant, a startup headquartered in Berkeley, California.

Covariant focuses on developing foundational AI models specifically designed for robotic applications.

The 2024 Acquisition by Amazon

In 2024, Amazon made the decision to bring all three founders of Covariant, along with approximately 25% of the company’s workforce, into its organization.

This move was largely interpreted as a strategic acquisition, though structured uniquely.

Some observers suggest this action reflects a wider pattern of large technology companies seeking to preempt potential antitrust concerns.

Background on the Founders

The founders’ expertise, honed during their tenure at OpenAI, was central to Covariant’s mission.

Their work at Covariant centered on creating robust and adaptable AI systems for robots.

The acquisition by Amazon signifies the value placed on this specialized skillset within the robotics and automation sectors.

Maddie Hall and the Founding of Living Carbon

Maddie Hall’s career included involvement with “special projects” at OpenAI. However, she departed in 2019 to establish Living Carbon, a company headquartered in San Francisco.

The core mission of Living Carbon is the development of genetically engineered plants. These plants are designed to enhance carbon dioxide absorption from the atmosphere, contributing to efforts against climate change.

Funding and Growth

In 2023, Living Carbon secured a Series A funding round totaling $21 million. This investment increased the company’s cumulative funding to $36 million, as detailed in an official press statement.

The company’s focus remains on leveraging plant biology to create more effective carbon sinks. This approach represents a novel strategy in the broader fight against rising global temperatures.

Shariq Hashme and Prosper Robotics

According to Shariq Hashme’s LinkedIn profile, he was employed at OpenAI for a nine-month period in 2017. His work there centered around the development of a bot designed to compete in the well-known video game, Dota.

Following several years spent at Scale AI, a company specializing in data labeling, Hashme became a co-founder of Prosper Robotics in 2021.

Prosper Robotics' Focus

Prosper Robotics, headquartered in London, is currently focused on creating a robotic assistant intended for domestic use. This endeavor aligns with a growing trend within the robotics industry.

Several other companies are pursuing similar goals, including 1X from Norway and Apptronik, a firm based in Texas. These organizations are also actively developing robots designed to function as household helpers.

Jonas Schneider — Daedalus

Jonas Schneider previously directed software engineering in robotics at OpenAI. He departed in 2019 and subsequently established Daedalus, a company focused on the creation of sophisticated manufacturing facilities for high-precision parts.

Based in San Francisco, the startup successfully secured $21 million in Series A funding during the previous year. This funding round included investment from Khosla Ventures and other prominent firms.

Daedalus' Core Focus

Daedalus specializes in developing cutting-edge factory solutions. These facilities are engineered to produce components requiring exceptional accuracy and detail.

The company’s approach centers on leveraging advanced technologies to optimize manufacturing processes. This results in increased efficiency and superior product quality.

Key Investment Details

• Funding Amount: $21 million
• Funding Round: Series A
• Lead Investor: Khosla Ventures
• Location: San Francisco, CA

The Series A funding will be instrumental in scaling Daedalus’ operations. It will facilitate the expansion of their engineering team and the acceleration of product development.

Schneider’s experience at OpenAI provides a strong foundation for Daedalus’ innovative work. His expertise in robotics and artificial intelligence is directly applicable to the challenges of advanced manufacturing.

Daedalus aims to revolutionize the production of precision components. They are positioned to become a key player in the future of manufacturing through their innovative factory designs.

Margaret Jennings — Kindo

Margaret Jennings was employed at OpenAI during 2022 and 2023. Following her departure, she became a co-founder of Kindo.

Kindo positions itself within the market as an AI chatbot solution designed for use by businesses.

Funding and Growth

To date, Kindo has secured more than $27 million in funding. A recent Series A funding round in 2024 brought in $20.6 million.

Transition to Mistral

In 2024, Margaret Jennings transitioned from Kindo to assume a leadership role at Mistral, a French AI startup.

Her new position at Mistral encompasses responsibilities in both product development and research, as indicated on her LinkedIn profile.

Jennings now heads product and research initiatives at the company.