OpenAI pushes into enterprise

OpenAI is reportedly forming a private‑equity‑backed joint venture called "DeployCo" to embed its AI into buyout firms’ portfolio companies and may commit up to $1.5 billion. The Financial Times says OpenAI will put in an initial $500 million of equity with an option to add $1 billion later, while private‑equity partners would contribute about $4 billion. Reports peg DeployCo’s pre‑money valuation at roughly $10 billion and name anchor and co‑founders including TPG, Bain Capital, Advent International, Brookfield and Goanna Capital. FT and Reuters say DeployCo would be a Delaware‑listed LLC in which OpenAI would hold super‑voting shares and guarantee PE backers a 17.5% annual return over a five‑year horizon. Bloomberg reported the idea follows months of talks and that rival Anthropic has been pursuing a similar arrangement with buyout firms, highlighting a race to win enterprise distribution. Reuters noted the FT report could not be immediately verified and that OpenAI, TPG, Bain, Advent and Brookfield did not respond to requests for comment. Separately, Robinhood Ventures Fund I (ticker RVI) said it closed a roughly $75 million purchase of OpenAI common stock on April 17 and announced the position on April 22. Robinhood said it will use the OpenAI stake as the underlying asset for venture‑token products aimed at retail investors; the fund launched on March 6, 2026 and described the OpenAI buy as one of its largest positions to date. The joint‑venture reports say a close is expected in early May, and Robinhood’s purchase gives everyday investors another indirect route to OpenAI ahead of any public listing.