The OpenAI mafia: 18 startups founded by alumni

OpenAI alumni have founded at least 18 startups across Silicon Valley and beyond over the past decade, creating a new 'tech mafia' that rivals the famous PayPal alumni network, as the ChatGPT parent company reportedly negotiates a $100 billion deal valuing it at over $850 billion. The phenomenon has gained significant traction as former employees leverage their expertise and connections to launch ventures that range from direct competitors to specialized AI applications. Many of these startups have attracted substantial funding, with some raising billions without even having launched a product yet, reflecting the immense confidence investors have in the OpenAI talent ecosystem. Among the most notable ventures is Anthropic, founded by siblings Dario and Daniela Amodei along with former OpenAI researcher John Schulman, which has emerged as OpenAI's biggest rival. The San Francisco-based AI safety-focused company recently secured a $30 billion Series G funding round, valuing it at $380 billion, and is reportedly preparing for an IPO that could potentially beat OpenAI to the public market. Similarly, Safe Superintelligence, founded by OpenAI co-founder and former chief scientist Ilya Sutskever, has raised an astonishing $2 billion despite having no product or revenue yet, aiming to build 'a safe superintelligence.' The exodus of talent from OpenAI has not only created competitive threats but has also fostered a unique ecosystem where investors are actively seeking out founders from this network. Aliisa Rosenthal, OpenAI's first sales leader, has become an investor specifically targeting this alumni network for deal flow, while Peter Deng, former head of consumer products at OpenAI and now a general partner at Felicis, has reportedly invested in multiple ventures by his former colleagues. This trend highlights how OpenAI's success has inadvertently created a powerful network of entrepreneurs who are collectively shaping the future of artificial intelligence development, both as competitors and collaborators in the broader tech landscape.