Topics
Latest
AI
Amazon
Image Credits:Bryce Durbin / TechCrunch
Apps
Biotech & Health
Climate
Cloud Computing
Commerce
Crypto
endeavour
EVs
Fintech
Fundraising
Gadgets
game
Government & Policy
Hardware
Layoffs
Media & Entertainment
Meta
Microsoft
seclusion
Robotics
Security
Social
Space
startup
TikTok
Transportation
Venture
More from TechCrunch
Events
Startup Battlefield
StrictlyVC
Podcasts
Videos
Partner Content
TechCrunch Brand Studio
Crunchboard
Contact Us
Last December , OpenAI announce it wasopening applicationsfor its 2nd cohort of a six - workweek throttle programme it had kick off in 2022 . Then things acquire very still . But OpenAI ’s Converge 2 inauguration accelerator programme did indeed take place , fit in to two source familiar with the program . TechCrunch also reassert that the Open AI Startup Fund has funded startups in the age bracket .
Converge 2 , as that 2d accelerator program was called , has been an odd exception to what is unremarkably a mundane bit of PR in the technical school diligence . Typically an gun syllabus announces the startup accepted into , or graduated from , its programme . After all , once it endue , it has every reason to encourage those startups ’ opportunity for winner with its public stamp of approving .
But for month , a tech forum run wild , postulate if Converge 2 gas programme actually happened . Nobody on that assembly , which include masses who said they applied , heard anything . No one on the forum posted about getting in or even receiving rejection posting . And others in the Valley were n’t hearing about the programme either , despite how high visibility OpenAI is , various reference told TechCrunch .
This secretiveness was odd because it was not how the first program worked . OpenAI heldConverge Iin the typical atom smasher manner in early 2023 . Itcalled for applicationsand thenpublicly announcedits first four investment funds from the overall OpenAI Startup Fund . In December 2023 , Open AI Startup Fundannounced it would startaccepting applications programme for the second cohort of its accelerator program , Converge 2 , expected to begin in March 2024 and resolve by April .
But then , quiet . There wasno press spillage from OpenAIabout the companies that earned investment . And after multiple requests for gossip over month , OpenAI refuse to even confirm that the programme took place . Founders accept to ponder online — and messaging us — about it .
We still can not get those airless to the program to tell us why OpenAI wo n’t publically announce the age bracket grads . Are the NDAs draconian ? Is it just a don’t - talk culture thing ? Admittedly , evenConverge 1 kept its communicationslow - key , and the companies that were said to have partaken in it , likeCursor . AI , were disclose tardily .
Certainly , between early 2023 and today , the whole world is paying much closer attention to OpenAI , especially as the fellowship reportedlyseeks to raise another bout that would value it at $ 100 billion , according to the WSJ . In fact , between Converge 1 and 2 , the fund remove Sam Altmanas its owner , exchange him with another VC , Ian Hathaway .
Join us at TechCrunch Sessions: AI
Exhibit at TechCrunch Sessions: AI
This move has n’t impeded investment firm body process . Since January , the OpenAI Fund has cut checks into a few new company , consort to PitchBook , like AI chatbotHeeyo , wellness companyThrive AI Health , AI chatbotNew Computer , and Ambience Healthcare , which created an AI assistant for health care governing body . At least two of these company , a source severalize us , participate in a Converge program , though the soul would not confirm which 1 , summon not wanting to incur OpenAI ’s displeasure .
As to what happens inside the program , details are even more scarce . One person told us the primary welfare is memory access to OpenAI ’s researcher and to unreleased model technology . That kind of access would lend itself to the theory that these companies are locked into some brawny NDAs , a puppet that OpenAI is tender of using on its employee , asVox recently reported .
This piece was updated to clarify the investment company investing in new companies .
