Home
Loading

aVenture is in Alpha: During this preview period, you should expect the research data to be limited and may not yet meet our exacting standards. We've made the decision to provide early access to our data to showcase the product as we build, but you should not yet rely upon it alone for your investment decisions.

aVenture is in Alpha: During this preview period, you should expect the research data to be limited and may not yet meet our exacting standards. We've made the decision to provide early access to our data to showcase the product as we build, but you should not yet rely upon it alone for your investment decisions.

Get in touch

  • Contact

  • Request a demo

  • Request data updates

  • Add a company

Research

  • Companies

  • Investors

  • People

aVenture

  • Sitemap

  • Feature requests

Member

Backed by

© aVenture Investment Company, 2026. All rights reserved.

San Francisco, CA, USA

Privacy Policy

aVenture Investment Company ("aVenture") is an independent research platform providing detailed analysis and data on startups, venture capital investments, and key industry individuals. It is not a registered investment adviser, broker-dealer, or investment advisor and does not provide investment advice or recommendations. The data provided by aVenture does not constitute recommendations or advice, whether by methodology, analysis, AI-generated content, or a statement written by a staff member of aVenture.

aVenture is not affiliated with any of the people, companies, organizations, government agencies, regulatory bodies, or investment funds we provide coverage for on this site unless explicitly stated otherwise. Users assume full responsibility for decisions made based on information obtained from this platform. Links to external websites do not imply endorsement or affiliation with aVenture. Any links that provide the ability to invest in a primary or secondary transaction in a company are for convenience only and do not constitute solicitations or offers to buy or sell an investment. Investors should exercise heightened precaution and due diligence when investing in private companies, especially those not independently audited.

While we strive to provide valuable insights with objectivity and professional diligence, we cannot guarantee the accuracy of the information provided on our platform. Before making any investment decisions, you should verify the accuracy of all pertinent details for your decision. To the fullest extent permitted by law, aVenture shall not be liable for any direct, indirect, incidental, consequential, or financial damages arising from use of this site, whether by consumers of its contents directly or by persons or organizations covered by our research, even if we are advised of the possibility. Our best-efforts processes and correction request forms do not create a warranty or duty of care.

Profiles on this platform may include content generated in part by large language models (LLMs, artificial intelligence) that aggregate publicly available sources (e.g., SEC EDGAR, public filings, press releases). Source attribution is provided where known; always verify statements and claims here against original sources before relying on any data. Content on our site may contain inaccuracies, omissions, or what are commonly called 'hallucinations' if generated in part or in full by AI / LLMs. The risk can also exist even when content is written by a human, as internal and third-party sources may also have inaccuracies for the same or different reasons. While we randomly audit a proportion of content, this is not exhaustive.

We recommend that an independent auditor be hired to verify the accuracy of the information before relying on it for any sensitive decisions. By accessing this platform, you agree not to rely solely on any information generated by AI, aggregated, or sourced or written otherwise on this site, for investment, financial, or other decisions. aVenture assumes no responsibility for inaccuracies, omissions, or hallucinations. You must independently verify all data from primary sources. Use of this platform constitutes your waiver of claims for reliance-based damages, including negligent misrepresentation. To report an error, request a correction, or dispute information about a company or individual, contact us via our request data updates form.

Loading
Loading
Home
News
OpenAI Startup Fund raises $44M in its largest SPV yet

From TechCrunch

By Charles Rollet, Marina Temkin

December 9, 2024

OpenAI Startup Fund raises $44M in its largest SPV yet

OpenAI Startup Fund raises $44M in its largest SPV yet

The OpenAI Startup Fund, the early-stage AI investor affiliated with OpenAI, recently disclosed in a financial filing that it has raised over $44 million for its fifth Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) — its biggest so far.

Launched in 2021, the Fund has an unusual structure. It uses OpenAI’s name, but says OpenAI is not an investor. Originally legally controlled by OpenAI cofounder and CEO Sam Altman, it has raised money from outside LPs, including Microsoft, a big OpenAI backer, and “other OpenAI partners,” according to its web site. Altman gave up legal control to general partner Ian Hathaway earlier this year.

VCs typically use SPVs to pool money from investors and invest outside their main fund. However, the Fund is staying quiet about exactly what these funds are for.

A spokesman from OpenAI told TechCrunch that this SPV “will be used to support a variety of existing portfolio companies and to make new investments.”

“SPVs allow us to allocate capital to high-potential investments opportunistically.”

The Fund, founded in 2021, has been on a real SPV streak this year, disclosing five separate vehicles that now total $114.2m:

  • SPV I, January 2024: $10,000,000
  • SPV II, April 2024: $24,999,947 (first disclosed as $15m, later amended)
  • SPV III, May 2024: $5,000,000 (as covered by TechCrunch)
  • SPV IV, July 2024: $29,916,411
  • SPV V, Dec 2024: $44,281,693

Despite the flurry of activity, its website is sparse, with its most recent news posted a year ago. The website discloses only a few of its investments, like legal AI startup Harvey and AI note taking app Mem.

However, the fund is more active than its website indicates. Notable investments this year include include Thrive Health, an AI health venture between Sam Altman and Ariana Huffington, and warm outbound startup Unify.

The fund is also a seed investor in Anysphere, which is currently in the middle of a VC bidding war thanks to its AI code assistant Cursor.

These SPVs are all on top of the Fund’s original capital of $175.25m, which was raised back in October 2021.

View original article on techcrunch.com

Most Recent

StrictlyVC returns to New York City September 10 to celebrate a huge year for the city’s startup community

StrictlyVC returns to New York City September 10 to celebrate a huge year for the city’s startup community

For the first time since 2024, StrictlyVC is coming back to New York City — and we're bringing the kind of access you’d expect from an under-wraps event to the whole startup, VC, and dealmaking community.

Jul 20, 2026

Neil Rimer thinks the AI money is coming back out

Neil Rimer thinks the AI money is coming back out

Neil Rimer, the venture capitalist who co-founded Index Ventures, predicts the historic wealth AI is generating in Silicon Valley will have to be redistributed, voluntarily or involuntarily.

Jul 17, 2026

Databricks hits $188B valuation, extending its run as AI’s favorite second act

Databricks hits $188B valuation, extending its run as AI’s favorite second act

Databricks has remade its image into an AI company and has published research on the cost savings of open weight AI models for coding.

Jul 17, 2026

Nuclear startup Valar Atomics in talks to raise new funding at $6B valuation

Nuclear startup Valar Atomics in talks to raise new funding at $6B valuation

The potential deal highlights a growing trend of complex, multi-stage funding rounds that mask true entry prices.

Jul 17, 2026

Similar Posts

OpenAI alums have been quietly investing from a new, potentially $100M fund

OpenAI alums have been quietly investing from a new, potentially $100M fund

Zero Shot, a new venture capital fund with deep ties to OpenAI, is aiming to raise $100 million for its first fund. It has already written some checks.

Apr 6, 2026

Anthropic raises $450M to build next-gen AI assistants

Anthropic raises $450M to build next-gen AI assistants

Anthropic, the prominent generative AI startup co-founded by OpenAI veterans, has raised $450 million in a Series C funding round led by Spark Capital. Anthropic wouldn’t disclose what the round valued its business at. But The Information reported in early March (and as confirmed by us when we were leaked the pitch deck for the […]

May 23, 2023

Investors are already valuing OpenAI at over $100B on the secondaries market

Investors are already valuing OpenAI at over $100B on the secondaries market

OpenAI is in talks to raise a new round of funding at an eye-popping $100 billion-plus valuation, sources told The Wall Street Journal this week. It turns out investors have already proven they are willing to value the company that high to get on OpenAI’s coveted cap table. Multiple companies that track or facilitate secondaries deals — where investors buy shares from existing investors, not directly from the company — have seen investors pay prices that indicate an over $100 billion valuation.

Aug 30, 2024

Top OpenAI, Google Brain researchers set off a $300M VC frenzy for their startup Periodic Labs

Top OpenAI, Google Brain researchers set off a $300M VC frenzy for their startup Periodic Labs

When Liam Fedus announced he was quitting OpenAI, VCs swarmed. One even wrote a love letter. Here's how Felicis' Peter Deng won the deal.

Oct 20, 2025

Most Recent

StrictlyVC returns to New York City September 10 to celebrate a huge year for the city’s startup community

StrictlyVC returns to New York City September 10 to celebrate a huge year for the city’s startup community

For the first time since 2024, StrictlyVC is coming back to New York City — and we're bringing the kind of access you’d expect from an under-wraps event to the whole startup, VC, and dealmaking community.

Jul 20, 2026

Neil Rimer thinks the AI money is coming back out

Neil Rimer thinks the AI money is coming back out

Neil Rimer, the venture capitalist who co-founded Index Ventures, predicts the historic wealth AI is generating in Silicon Valley will have to be redistributed, voluntarily or involuntarily.

Jul 17, 2026

Databricks hits $188B valuation, extending its run as AI’s favorite second act

Databricks hits $188B valuation, extending its run as AI’s favorite second act

Databricks has remade its image into an AI company and has published research on the cost savings of open weight AI models for coding.

Jul 17, 2026

Nuclear startup Valar Atomics in talks to raise new funding at $6B valuation

Nuclear startup Valar Atomics in talks to raise new funding at $6B valuation

The potential deal highlights a growing trend of complex, multi-stage funding rounds that mask true entry prices.

Jul 17, 2026

Similar Posts

OpenAI alums have been quietly investing from a new, potentially $100M fund

OpenAI alums have been quietly investing from a new, potentially $100M fund

Zero Shot, a new venture capital fund with deep ties to OpenAI, is aiming to raise $100 million for its first fund. It has already written some checks.

Apr 6, 2026

Anthropic raises $450M to build next-gen AI assistants

Anthropic raises $450M to build next-gen AI assistants

Anthropic, the prominent generative AI startup co-founded by OpenAI veterans, has raised $450 million in a Series C funding round led by Spark Capital. Anthropic wouldn’t disclose what the round valued its business at. But The Information reported in early March (and as confirmed by us when we were leaked the pitch deck for the […]

May 23, 2023

Investors are already valuing OpenAI at over $100B on the secondaries market

Investors are already valuing OpenAI at over $100B on the secondaries market

OpenAI is in talks to raise a new round of funding at an eye-popping $100 billion-plus valuation, sources told The Wall Street Journal this week. It turns out investors have already proven they are willing to value the company that high to get on OpenAI’s coveted cap table. Multiple companies that track or facilitate secondaries deals — where investors buy shares from existing investors, not directly from the company — have seen investors pay prices that indicate an over $100 billion valuation.

Aug 30, 2024

Top OpenAI, Google Brain researchers set off a $300M VC frenzy for their startup Periodic Labs

Top OpenAI, Google Brain researchers set off a $300M VC frenzy for their startup Periodic Labs

When Liam Fedus announced he was quitting OpenAI, VCs swarmed. One even wrote a love letter. Here's how Felicis' Peter Deng won the deal.

Oct 20, 2025