Startups | 6/22/2025
Mira Murati Secures $2 Billion for New AI Startup Thinking Machines Lab
Mira Murati, former CTO of OpenAI, has raised $2 billion in seed funding for her new venture, Thinking Machines Lab, which is valued at $10 billion despite not yet releasing a product. The funding, led by Andreessen Horowitz, reflects a growing investor interest in AI startups and highlights the competitive landscape for talent and resources in the industry.
Mira Murati Secures $2 Billion for New AI Startup Thinking Machines Lab
Mira Murati, the former Chief Technology Officer at OpenAI, has successfully raised $2 billion in seed funding for her new company, Thinking Machines Lab. This funding round values the startup at an impressive $10 billion, a notable achievement for a company that has yet to launch any products.
Background on Mira Murati
Murati played a pivotal role in developing significant AI models during her time at OpenAI, including ChatGPT and DALL-E. After leaving OpenAI in September 2024, she aimed to explore new opportunities and contribute to the AI landscape through her own venture. Her departure was part of a larger trend of talent moving away from established companies to create new startups, often referred to as the "OpenAI mafia."
Funding Details
The funding round was led by the venture capital firm Andreessen Horowitz, with additional participation from Sarah Guo's Conviction Partners. The initial fundraising target of $1 billion was quickly surpassed, with investors needing to commit a minimum of $50 million to join the round. This rapid increase in funding reflects the intense interest in generative AI and the potential that investors see in Murati's leadership and vision.
Team and Vision
Thinking Machines Lab has attracted a strong team, including former OpenAI co-founder John Schulman as Chief Scientist and Barret Zoph as CTO. The startup aims to focus on making AI systems more understandable and customizable, with a mission to enhance human-AI collaboration in various fields, including science and engineering. The company has committed to transparency and plans to publish research and code to engage with the broader AI community.
Implications for the AI Industry
The successful funding of Thinking Machines Lab signals a shift in venture capital dynamics, where the reputation of founders can lead to substantial valuations even before product launches. This trend intensifies competition for talent and resources within the AI sector, as well-funded startups vie for dominance against established players like OpenAI and Google. Additionally, the Albanian government has reportedly invested €8.8 million in the startup, marking a rare instance of governmental support for a Silicon Valley AI initiative.
As Thinking Machines Lab prepares to operate in stealth mode with its significant funding, the AI community is eager to see how this venture will evolve and impact the future of artificial intelligence.