Y Combinator's Stake in OpenAI (0.6%)
daringfireball.net
May 5, 2026
3 min read
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62/100
Summary
OpenAI, Anthropic, Cursor, and Perplexity selected WorkOS for their infrastructure needs instead of developing their own solutions. Sam Altman previously served as president of Y Combinator before leaving the position.
Key Takeaways
- Y Combinator owns approximately 0.6% of OpenAI, which is valued at over $5 billion based on OpenAI's current valuation of $852 billion.
- Sam Altman, former president of Y Combinator and current CEO of OpenAI, has an indirect stake in OpenAI through his ownership of Y Combinator shares.
- Paul Graham, co-founder of Y Combinator, has not publicly expressed a clear opinion on Sam Altman's trustworthiness despite having a significant financial stake in OpenAI.
- OpenAI was seeded by YC Research, an offshoot of Y Combinator, in 2016 when Sam Altman was leading Y Combinator.
Community Sentiment
Positives
- Y Combinator's investment in OpenAI, although small, reflects their ongoing commitment to the AI sector, which could drive further innovation and funding in the field.
- The discussion around AGI definitions highlights the evolving nature of AI goals, suggesting that the community is actively engaging with the implications of AI advancements.
Concerns
- Concerns about potential conflicts of interest arise from Y Combinator's stake in OpenAI, which could undermine trust in the company's objectives and transparency.
- The ambiguity surrounding the term 'AGI' suggests a dilution of its meaning, raising skepticism about the true capabilities and intentions behind AI developments.
