In a new blog article, Openai warns against “unauthorized opportunities to expose itself to Openai by a variety of means”, including special vehicles, called SPVS.
“We urge you to be careful if you are contacted by a company that claims to have access to OpenAI, including by selling SPV interest with exhibition at Openai Equity,” writes the company. The blog post recognizes that “all Openai Equity offers […] is problematic “but says that companies can” try to get around our transfer restrictions “.
“If so, the sale will not be recognized and will have no economic value for you,” explains Openai.
Investors have increasingly used SPVs (which pool money for punctual investments) as a way to buy Hot IA startups, which has encouraged other VCs to criticize them as a vehicle for “tourist chums”.
Business Insider reports that Optaai is not the only major AI company that seeks to repress SPVs, with Anthropic saying that Menlo Ventures must use its own capital, not a SPV, to invest in a next round.
