OpenAI and Anthropic Launch US$5.5B Ventures

• OpenAI and Anthropic launched major ventures to scale enterprise AI via acquisitions.

• Both are expanding into new industries, with OpenAI ahead in deployment.

By Emirsyah Kevin Mecca, Attala Sabian Andhika, Maria Ella Risandra Puruhita, Nashwah Putri Az-Zahra

May 1 2026, at 16:30 GMT+7

OpenAI and Anthropic have separately moved to establish joint ventures, backed by major financial institutions.

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OpenAI has secured more than US$4 billion from a group of 19 investors, including TPG, Brookfield Asset Management, Advent, and Bain Capital, to launch a new firm dedicated to helping enterprises integrate its AI software. The newly formed venture, titled The Deployment Company, carries a valuation of US$10 billion excluding the newly raised funds, and will remain under OpenAI's majority ownership and operational control.

Additional backers include SoftBank Group, Dragoneer Investment Group, and several consulting firms. Boosting adoption rates has become a key priority for both companies as they target potential initial public offerings within the year.

OpenAI and Anthropic launch separate ventures backed by Private equity firms  | Source: Techzine

Shortly after OpenAI's announcement, Anthropic unveiled a separate venture, partnering with Blackstone, Hellman & Friedman, and Goldman Sachs to raise US$1.5 billion for a comparable platform aimed at enterprise adoption.

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Both ventures have since moved beyond fundraising, and both companies are pursuing AI deployment services acquisitions. OpenAI’s initiative is reportedly the furthest developed, with three acquisitions in advanced negotiations. Both companies are centered on advancing AI models; large-scale deployment requires distinct expertise.

Jon Gray, president and chief operating officer of Blackstone, said: “Hiring highly skilled workers will break down ​one of the most significant bottlenecks to enterprise AI adoption". The funds raised by both ventures are expected to go directly toward funding the acquisition of engineering services and consulting firms.

Blackstone President and COO Jon Gray | Source: Carla Gottgens/Bloomberg

Both OpenAI and Anthropic have seen particularly strong demand for their AI-powered coding tools, while increasingly expanding into other industries such as financial services and healthcare to drive revenue growth.

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OpenAI's joint venture is particularly well-positioned in this case, given the combined access of its partners to more than 2,000 portfolio companies and clients, collectively representing potential consumers of OpenAI’s software.

As part of the initiative, OpenAI made a notable leadership reshuffle last month, with Brad Lightcap stepping out of his Chief Operating Officer role to take on a position responsible for the management of special projects, encompassing oversight of the company's business-to-business software sales strategy through the joint venture.

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Sources:

Bloomberg

Reuters