OpenAI announces new mentorship program for budding tech founders

On Friday, OpenAI unveiled its latest initiative, the "OpenAI Grove," designed to assist aspiring tech founders in the AI sector. With applications now open, this program caters specifically to early-stage entrepreneurs, from those still formulating ideas to those approaching the pre-seed funding stage. Over the course of five weeks, selected participants will benefit from mentorship provided by OpenAI's technical leaders, gain early access to cutting-edge tools and models, and engage in hands-on workshops hosted at the company’s headquarters in San Francisco. The inaugural cohort will consist of approximately 15 entrepreneurs, running from October 20 to November 21, 2025. Interested candidates must submit their applications by September 24. Following the completion of the Grove program, participants will have the opportunity to collaborate with OpenAI on future projects. This initiative comes as OpenAI continues to thrive, recently being valued at $500 billion. The competitive landscape is heating up, as other tech giants like Google and Microsoft have also launched their AI accelerator programs to support early-stage startups. Notably, the Google for Startups Cloud AI Accelerator debuted last winter, while Microsoft for Startups joined forces with PearlX to nurture pre-seed companies. This focus on fostering new AI ventures is part of a broader trend, as investments in AI startups surged to account for a staggering 71% of U.S. venture capital funding in 2025, a significant rise from 45% the previous year. In just the first half of this year, AI startups in the U.S. secured $104.3 billion in funding, with over 1,300 companies now boasting valuations exceeding $100 million, according to CB Insights.