OpenAI Nears $100B Funding Round
OpenAI is reportedly finalizing a $100 billion capital raise that could push its valuation past $850 billion. The deal is expected to cement the company's position as one of the world's most valuable private technology firms, reflecting continued investor confidence in generative AI.
- The new funding round is expected to be raised in two phases, with the first tranche coming from strategic corporate investors including Amazon, SoftBank, Nvidia, and Microsoft. The second phase will likely involve venture capital firms and sovereign wealth funds. - Key strategic investors are reportedly considering massive contributions, with Amazon potentially investing up to $50 billion, SoftBank considering a $30 billion investment, and Nvidia contributing $20 billion. - This funding is crucial as OpenAI has told investors it plans to spend approximately $600 billion on computing resources by 2030. - OpenAI's valuation has seen a dramatic increase over the past few years, from $29 billion in early 2023 to a valued $500 billion in October 2025. - The company's annualized revenue has also grown significantly, reaching a reported $12 billion in July 2025, up from $3.7 billion in 2024. - In a significant strategic move, OpenAI recently hired Peter Steinberger, the creator of the popular open-source AI agent framework OpenClaw, to lead the development of its "next generation of personal agents." - Recent product developments include the release of GPT-5.2 in December 2025, which the company claims offers significant gains in completing real-world business tasks. - Microsoft is the largest external shareholder in OpenAI, with a 27% stake valued at $135 billion as of February 2026. However, the OpenAI Foundation maintains governance control.
