A16z Eyes Mega Round for Former OpenAI CTO’s Startup Thinking Machines Lab

Former OpenAI CTO Mira Murati is in active discussions with venture capital giant Andreessen Horowitz (A16z) to lead a mega round for her new AI startup, Thinking Machines Lab. Launched in February 2025, the startup has rapidly attracted investor attention, with reports suggesting it could achieve a valuation of up to $10 billion despite having no products or revenue. The funding round, which may total nearly $2 billion, is also rumored to include participation from Sequoia Capital.

Reuters and other industry sources report that Murati has assembled a 30-person team, primarily composed of ex-OpenAI talent including figures like former chief research officer Bob McGrew and lead researcher Alec Radford. Building on her legacy from pivotal projects such as ChatGPT and DALL-E, Murati’s new venture is positioning itself to be a major player in the generative AI space during a time of strong market enthusiasm despite overall tech spending concerns. Additional details, including prospective investment timelines, have emerged since the startup's inception earlier in 2025.