OpenAI Alum Launches AI Startup with Mira Murati Backing
The OpenAI Mafia Expands Its Reach
The influential network of former OpenAI employees, often dubbed the "OpenAI mafia," has a new member. Angela Jiang, one of the early product managers who was instrumental in building ChatGPT, has quietly launched her own venture, Worktrace AI. Her move signals a growing trend of top talent from the AI giant spinning out to create the next wave of innovative companies.
Introducing Worktrace AI
Worktrace AI is entering the enterprise AI sector with a powerful mission: to help businesses identify and automate repetitive tasks by having AI models observe employee workflows. While the company is still operating largely in stealth with just a website and a LinkedIn page, its focus on AI-driven efficiency places it at the forefront of a major Silicon Valley trend. Jiang is joined by cofounder Deepak Vasisht, an assistant professor of computer science at the University of Illinois.
A Star-Studded Roster of Investors
What makes Worktrace AI notable from the start is its incredible list of backers, which reads like a who's who of OpenAI leadership. Former OpenAI CTO Mira Murati is a key investor, lending significant credibility and expertise to the new venture.
The support doesn't stop there. According to a company job posting, other investors include:
- Nick Turley, the head of ChatGPT
- Jason Kwon, OpenAI's chief strategy officer
- Joanne Jang, who led the team responsible for shaping ChatGPT's behavior
Furthermore, Worktrace AI is backed by the official OpenAI startup fund and venture capital firms such as 8VC and Conviction. This summer, the startup was reportedly in talks to raise a $10 million seed round at a $50 million valuation, signaling strong investor confidence from its inception.
The Trend of High-Value Exits
Worktrace AI is the latest example in a wave of highly valued startups founded by former OpenAI employees, many of which secure massive funding before launching a product or generating revenue. This trend is powerfully illustrated by Mira Murati's own company, Thinking Machines Lab, which closed a mega $2 billion seed funding round this year and is now valued at $12 billion.
Other prominent ventures from ex-OpenAI talent include Safe Superintelligence, founded by former chief scientist Ilya Sutskever, which the Financial Times reported is valued at an astonishing $32 billion. More recently, Periodic Labs, co-founded by ChatGPT researcher William Fedus, announced a $300 million round to build "AI scientists." With its deep industry connections and promising mission, Worktrace AI is firmly positioned to be a significant player in this new generation of AI-defining companies.
