The OpenAI mafia: 18 startups founded by alumni

image via TechCrunch

February 20, 2026, 12:45 PM

• •OpenAI alumni are launching numerous AI startups, forming a network with substantial investment.
• •Notable startups include Anthropic, Adept AI Labs, and Perplexity, founded by former OpenAI employees.
• •These ventures are attracting billions in funding and creating competition for OpenAI.
• •The trend highlights a 'mafia'-like structure among ex-OpenAI employees, fostering collaboration and influence.

A new wave of tech entrepreneurs, composed of OpenAI alumni, are emerging in Silicon Valley, launching AI-focused startups and attracting significant investment. These individuals, having left OpenAI, are now founding companies such as Anthropic, Adept AI Labs, and Perplexity, and raising billions of dollars in funding. This burgeoning network of ex-OpenAI employees is becoming a prominent force in the AI landscape, with some startups already posing major competition to OpenAI itself. This trend is leading to the formation of a 'mafia' of sorts, with former employees investing in and collaborating with each other, further solidifying their influence.

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