A new tech mafia is rising in Silicon Valley, overshadowing the PayPal mafia. OpenAI, the startup behind ChatGPT, is now a dominant player in the AI industry. Rumors suggest that the company is on the verge of finalizing a $100 billion deal, valuing it at over $850 billion.
Since its inception a decade ago, OpenAI has seen many employees come and go, with some venturing out to start their own successful startups. These ventures have become significant competitors in the tech landscape, with some attracting billions in funding without even launching a product.
Former OpenAI employees have formed a strong network, with individuals like Aliisa Rosenthal and Peter Deng leveraging their connections for investment opportunities. Below is a list of major startups founded by OpenAI alumni, showcasing the diverse talent that has emerged from the company.
David Luan — Adept AI Labs
David Luan, a former engineering VP at OpenAI, co-founded Adept AI Labs in 2021, focusing on AI tools for employees. The startup has seen substantial growth, raising significant funding and attracting attention from tech giants like Amazon.
Dario Amodei, Daniela Amodei, and John Schulman — Anthropic
Sibling duo Dario and Daniela Amodei, along with John Schulman, founded Anthropic, a San Francisco-based startup emphasizing AI safety. The company has emerged as a key rival to OpenAI, securing substantial funding and gearing up for a potential IPO.
Rhythm Garg, Linden Li, and Yash Patil — Applied Compute
Former OpenAI staffers Rhythm Garg, Linden Li, and Yash Patil launched Applied Compute, a startup aiding enterprises in training and deploying custom AI agents. The company has garnered significant investment, positioning itself as a player in the AI industry.
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