OpenAI Forms Founder Experience Team to Assist Startups

OpenAI has established a Founder Experience team to work directly with startup founders. The team will offer resources and product support across multiple growth stages. The company announced the new function the same week its chief executive offered $2 million in tokens to each startup in the spring and summer batches of a San Francisco accelerator program in exchange for equity.

The announcement occurred at an event hosted by that accelerator.

The company appointed Laura Modiano as the team's first lead. Modiano has worked with OpenAI for the past two years on founder relations across Europe, the Middle East and Africa. Modiano stated the team will focus on helping founders move fast and will maintain a global structure.

She said the effort will include program management, engineering, communications and marketing staff, with additional members placed in founder communities.

The team plans to gather input from founders to shape its offerings rather than follow a pre-set plan. Modiano said the group is still determining its size and specific services, which may later include hiring assistance and self-service tools. Modiano noted that the initiative is intended to create a live feedback loop so OpenAI can adjust support based on what founders report they need.