Sam Altman announced OpenAI will invest in every startup in the current Y Combinator batch, offering tokens in exchange for equity stakes across the entire cohort.
The OpenAI CEO made the sweeping offer during Y Combinator's demo day event. Under the deal, participating startups would receive OpenAI tokens—credits for using the company's APIs—in exchange for small equity positions.
The move represents a significant commitment from OpenAI to deepen its ties with the startup ecosystem. Y Combinator's current class includes roughly 400 companies spanning various sectors, making this a substantial investment across the board.
The token-for-equity structure allows startups to access OpenAI's technology while giving the company potential upside in early-stage ventures. It also signals OpenAI's confidence in Y Combinator's selection process and its interest in embedding itself within the founder community.
The offer comes as OpenAI continues expanding its ecosystem partnerships and developer relationships following the success of ChatGPT and its API platform.
Singapore-based video generation startup PixVerse closed its Series C extension round, bringing total funding to $439 million and valuing the company at over $2 billion.
Bumble's paying user base is declining as the dating app prepares a significant redesign later this year. The company is betting that overhauling its core swiping model will convert more matches into actual dates.
Nous Research, an AI agent developer, is securing at least $75 million in new funding at a $1.5 billion valuation. Robot leads the round with participation from Union Square Ventures and other investors.
General Fusion completed its Nasdaq debut through a reverse merger, becoming the first publicly traded fusion company. The listing marks a milestone for the Canadian firm pursuing commercial fusion energy.