The OpenAI mafia: 18 startups founded by alumni | TechCrunch

TechCrunch

by Charles Rollet, Dominic-Madori Davis

February 20, 2026

AI-Generated Deep Dive Summary

The OpenAI alumni have become a force to be reckoned with in Silicon Valley, giving rise to a wave of startups that are reshaping the tech landscape. From rival AI companies to innovative ventures backed by top investors, these former employees are leaving a significant mark on the industry. Among them are notable names like Anthropic, which has emerged as OpenAI's biggest competitor, and Adept AI Labs, whose recent funding rounds have pushed its valuation into the billions. These ventures not only highlight the entrepreneurial spirit of OpenAI’s talent but also underscore the growing influence of AI startups in Silicon Valley. One of the most prominent examples is David Luan, former engineering VP at OpenAI, who co-founded Adept AI Labs to build AI tools for employees. After raising $350 million and achieving a valuation over $1 billion, Luan transitioned to oversee Amazon’s AI agents lab. Meanwhile, Anthropic has gained attention for its focus on AI safety, with OpenAI co-founder John Schulman joining the startup in 2024 to work on “safe AGI.” The company has raised $30 billion in a Series G round and is reportedly preparing for an IPO, positioning itself as a major player in the AI space. Other notable ventures include Applied Compute, founded by three OpenAI alumni who collectively raised $20 million to help enterprises train and deploy custom AI agents. This 10-month-old startup was valued at $100 million by Benchmark, showcasing the growing investor interest in AI-driven enterprise solutions. Similarly, Covariant, led by Pieter Abbeel, Peter Chen, and Rocky Duan, is building foundation AI models for robots, a sector that has attracted significant attention from Big Tech companies like Amazon. The success of these ventures reflects the broader trend of OpenAI alumni leveraging their expertise to launch impactful startups. Many have chosen to focus on areas like AI safety, enterprise solutions, and advanced robotics, driving innovation across the tech industry. Their collective influence is reshaping the competitive landscape, with some startups raising billions without even launching a product yet. This wave of entrepreneurial activity not only highlights the talent pipeline

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Originally published on TechCrunch on 2/20/2026