OpenAI isn’t just building AI models but is shaping the future of AI-driven businesses. Through the OpenAI Startup Fund, the company is strategically investing in startups that push the boundaries of AI, ensuring its technology is applied to high-impact industries like healthcare, law, and software development.
Launched in 2021, the OpenAI Startup Fund is managed by a dedicated team with expertise in investing, ML, engineering, talent and operations. The firm closed $175 million to help AI companies have a profound, positive impact on the world.
Unlike traditional VCs, OpenAI prioritises startups that align with its mission of beneficial AI. Portfolio companies receive not just funding but early access to cutting-edge models, technical mentorship, and cloud resources, giving them a significant competitive edge.
It is legally controlled by Sam Altman, the CEO of OpenAI. While the ChatGPT maker is not an investor in this venture fund, it receives investments from LPs, including Microsoft, a big OpenAI backer, and other partners.
From AI-powered legal assistants to next-gen coding copilots, OpenAI-backed startups are redefining industries. Here’s a look at the companies shaping this new AI-driven landscape.
1X Technologies (Norway)
Founder/s: Bernt Øivind Børnich
Founded Year: 2014
Total Funding: $136M
Norwegian company 1X Technologies specialises in developing humanoid robots designed to perform tasks in human-centric environments. Their robots are engineered to assist in sectors such as security, healthcare, and retail, aiming to enhance operational efficiency and safety. By integrating advanced robotics with AI, 1X strives to create machines that can seamlessly interact with human counterparts, addressing labour shortages and augmenting human capabilities.
Recognising the company’s potential in humanoid robotics technology, OpenAI Startup Fund contributed to the $23.5 million in a Series A2 funding round. The investment focused on it’s NEO humanoid model.
Anysphere (US)
Founder/s: Michael Truell, Sualeh Asif, Arvid Lunnemark, Aman Sanger
Founded Year: 2022
Total Funding: $173M
A rising star in the AI coding assistant space, Anysphere, a GitHub Copilot rival, announced Cursor, which aims to transform coding by streamlining complex tasks. It allows developers to turn terse directives into working code, automate refactoring, and manage large-scale code changes in seconds. The company claims to boast over 30,000 customers, including some of the world’s largest enterprises, research labs, and innovative startups.
Last year, OpenAI’s Startup Fund led an $8 million seed round for Anysphere in October 2023.
Descript (US)
Founder/s: Andrew Mason
Founded year: 2017
Total funding: $100 million
Building an AI platform for creative tools, Descript makes audio and video editing, enabling users to edit media files as fast and easy as editing text. Their tools include transcription, screen recording, and multitrack editing, catering to podcasters, video creators, and media professionals seeking efficient content creation solutions.
In 2022, OpenAI’s Startup Fund invested in the $50 million Series C funding round of Descript to support the integration of advanced AI technologies into media editing tools.
Figure AI (US)
Founder/s: Brett Adcock
Founded year: 2022
Total funding: $854M
One of the leading AI-powered robotics companies, Figure AI specialises in the development of AI-powered humanoid robots. Their flagship product, Figure 02, is designed to perform tasks in environments such as manufacturing and logistics, aiming to address labour shortages and improve operational efficiency. The company integrates advanced AI models to enable robots to process and reason from language, enhancing their autonomy and versatility.
In early 2024, Figure AI secured $675 million in venture capital funding from a consortium that includes Jeff Bezos, Microsoft, Nvidia, Intel, and the startup-funding divisions of Amazon and OpenAI.
Speak (US)
Founder/s: Connor Zwick, Andrew Hsu
Founded year: 2016
Total funding: $166 million
San Francisco-headquartered Speak is an AI-driven language learning platform designed to help users improve their conversational skills in various languages. The platform utilises advanced speech recognition and natural language processing technologies to provide real-time feedback, personalised lessons, and interactive exercises. Speak aims to make language learning more accessible and effective by focusing on practical speaking abilities rather than traditional rote memorisation techniques.
In 2024, Speak raised $78 million in a Series C funding round led by OpenAI Startup Fund, with participation from existing investors such as Founders Fund and Y Combinator. This investment aimed to accelerate the development of its AI capabilities and expand its reach to a global audience.
Physical Intelligence (US)
Founder/s: Adnan Esmail, Sergey Levine, Chelsea Finn
Founded year: 2024
Total funding: $470 million
Physical Intelligence is a San Francisco-based unicorn pioneering the development of advanced artificial intelligence for robotics. The company’s mission is to infuse robots with human-like understanding and dexterity, enabling them to perform complex tasks autonomously. By feeding large amounts of sensor and motion data from robots into a master AI model, Physical Intelligence aims to enhance robots’ adaptability and efficiency in various applications, including manufacturing, healthcare, and logistics.
In November 2024, Physical Intelligence secured $400 million in early-stage funding, with participation from prominent investors such as Jeff Bezos, OpenAI, Thrive Capital, and Lux Capital. This investment round valued the company at $2.4 billion.
Harvey AI (US)
Founder/s: Winston Weinberg, Gabriel Pereyra
Founded Year: 2022
Total Funding: Approximately $208 million
Focused on the legal industry, Harvey AI has developed a platform that provides customised large language models for law firms and in-house legal teams. This platform aims to streamline legal processes, enhance research capabilities, and improve overall efficiency in legal practices. By leveraging advanced AI technologies, Harvey AI assists legal professionals in drafting documents, conducting legal research, and automating routine tasks.
In 2024, Harvey AI secured $100 million in Series C funding led by GV aka Google Ventures, with participation from OpenAI, Kleiner Perkins, Sequoia Capital, Elad Gil, and SV Angel. It was meant to advance the company’s mission to revolutionise the legal industry through AI.
Thrive AI Health (US)
CEO: DeCarlos Love
Founded year: 2024
Total funding: NA
Huffington Post founder Arianna Huffington and OpenAI CEO Sam Altman announced Thrive AI Health, a venture with the goal of building an AI-powered assistant to promote healthier lifestyles. The company’s platform leverages machine learning and data analytics to provide actionable insights, automate routine tasks, and enhance operational efficiency across various industries.
The company has secured $8.05 million in Series A funding, which saw participation from OpenAI Startup Fund and Thrive Global. Alice L. Walton Foundation is a strategic investor in the new company, underscoring Thrive AI Health’s focus on health equity.
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