By Andrew Mendez – Bay Area Inno Reporter
November 22, 2023, 03:24pm PST

OpenAI LLC has had quite the chaotic week, with the firing and rehiring of co-founder and CEO Sam Altman.

The leadership issues raised major concerns from some of its Silicon Valley venture capitalists about what was happening at the San Francisco-based startup.

The AI mega-power had raised at least $11.3 billion in funding — the majority of which comes from Microsoft Corp., with additional dollars from 13 Bay Area investors. Here’s a look at the local venture firms and individuals who have backed OpenAI.

Sequoia Capital
Based where: Menlo Park
How much: Undisclosed
Significance: The firm made a growth-stage investment in the company in 2021. In that year 16% of the firm’s investments were in the artificial intelligence space. The firm has also been reported to have bought shares from the company valuing OpenAI at $80 billion-plus

Khosla Ventures
Based where: Menlo Park
How much: $50 million
Significance: Khosla was one of the first venture firm to take a bet on OpenAI. The firm’s initial investment in OpenAI valued it at $1 billion

Andreessen Horowitz (a16z)
Based where: Menlo Park
How much: Undisclosed
Significance: The firm made a growth stage investment int he company. It has also been reported a16z has bought share from the company valuing it at over $80 billion

Y Combinator
Based where: Mountain View
How much: $120,000
Significance: OpenAI was part of the research wing of the startup incubator

Open Philanthropy Project
Based where: San Francisco
How much: $30 million
Significance: This was part of grant funding provided to the firm for AI development and research

Kraken Ventures
Based where: San Francisco
How much: Undisclosed
Significance: This was part of OpenAI’s $10 million Series A round in 2019.

Change.org
Based where: San Francisco
How much: Undisclosed
Significance: This was part of the company’s $10 million Series A round in 2019

Wisdom Ventures
Based where: Los Gatos
How much: Undisclosed
Significance: This was part of a $300 million late stage round in 2023

SV Angel
Based where: San Francisco
How much: Undisclosed
Significance: This was part of a $300 million late stage round in 2023

MarketX
Based where: San Francisco
How much: Undisclosed
Significance: This was part of a $300 million late stage round in 2023

Coinbase
Based where: San Francisco
How much: Undisclosed
Significance: This was part of a $300 million late stage round in 2023

Day One Ventures
Based where: San Francisco
How much: Undisclosed
Significance: This was part of a $300 million late stage round in 2023

Founders Fund
Based where: San Francisco
How much: Undisclosed
Significance: This was part of a $300 million late stage round in 2023