OpenAI Alums Launch $100M Zero Shot Fund to Back AI Startups
Former OpenAI engineers and leaders have quietly launched Zero Shot, a $100M venture capital fund investing in early-stage AI companies founded by people who understand the technology from the inside.
A group of OpenAI veterans has quietly been building something new — not another AI model, but a $100 million venture fund designed to back the next generation of AI startups with insider knowledge that traditional VCs simply don't have.
Who Is Behind Zero Shot?
The fund, called Zero Shot (a nod to the AI training term "zero-shot learning"), is led by five founding partners, three of whom are OpenAI originals:
- Evan Morikawa — Former head of applied engineering during the launches of DALL·E, ChatGPT, and Codex
- Andrew Mayne — OpenAI's original prompt engineer and host of The OpenAI podcast
- Shawn Jain — Former OpenAI engineer and researcher, now founder of GenAI startup Synthefy
- Kelly Kovacs — Previously founding partner at 01A (growth-stage VC firm)
- Brett Rounsaville — Formerly of Twitter and Disney, CEO at Interdimensional
Why This Fund Is Different
The partners saw a critical gap between what VCs were funding and what the AI market actually needs. Having built and shipped products at OpenAI during its most explosive growth period, they bring a technical lens that most generalist investors lack.
They've already written their first checks, targeting companies building practical AI deployment tools — not just another chatbot wrapper.
What This Means for the AI Ecosystem
This trend of operator-investors entering AI venture capital signals a maturing market. When the people who built foundational AI products start funding the next wave, it suggests they see genuine opportunity — not just hype.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Zero Shot fund? A $100M VC fund founded by former OpenAI employees targeting early-stage AI startups.
Who can apply? The fund is actively seeking startups building practical AI deployment and infrastructure tools.
How is it different from other AI funds? The founding partners have deep technical experience building AI products at OpenAI, giving them unique insight into what works.
Key Takeaways
- Zero Shot fund targets $100M, led by 3 former OpenAI leaders
- Already writing checks to early-stage AI startups
- Focus on companies solving real deployment challenges, not wrappers
- Signals shift toward operator-led AI investing
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