In a notable development for the global artificial‑intelligence investment landscape, a group of former OpenAI employees has launched a new venture capital firm, Zero Shot, aiming to raise $100 million to back early‑stage AI and robotics startups. The fund has already begun deploying capital even as it continues to raise capital.
Headquartered in San Francisco, Zero Shot represents a growing trend of operator‑led funds forming in the AI sector, where those who built leading technologies now seek to shape the next generation of companies. The fund has quietly written its first checks while still in the early stages of its capital raise, a sign of both confidence and urgency among investors.
Alumni Team Blends Research, Engineering and Venture Experience
The Zero Shot team is built around several former OpenAI insiders:
- Evan Morikawa – previously head of applied engineering during key launches including DALL·E, ChatGPT and Codex
- Andrew Mayne – early prompt engineer at OpenAI and host of its podcast
- Shawn Jain – a former researcher and engineer who founded a generative AI startup
- Kelly Kovacs – experienced VC investor
- Brett Rounsaville – operator with leadership experience at Twitter and Disney
This mix of research, product, and investment experience is central to the firm’s thesis: identifying and funding startups with deep technological merit rather than chasing hype.
In a statement to reporters, Mayne explained the genesis of the fund:
“We saw gaping holes between the many AI startups being funded and what the market really needed. Maybe we should do our own fund, because we think we have a pretty good sense of where things are headed, and we have this great access to people who we think are incredible builders.”
Early Investments Reflect Strategic Focus
Zero Shot’s early portfolio underscores its targeted approach:
- Worktrace AI – an enterprise automation AI platform founded by early OpenAI product leads.
- Foundry Robotics – a next‑generation robotics company leveraging AI for industrial tasks.
- Third stealth startup – undisclosed, but already funded by Zero Shot, indicating ongoing activity.
Portfolio executives say these investments were chosen for practical AI and robotics applications that address clear market needs, rather than speculative “hype plays.” The fund has also publicly noted scepticism toward areas it views as technically premature, such as certain “vibe coding” platforms or robotics video‑data trends that its founders believe are not yet feasible at scale.
A Broader Shift in AI Capital Flows
Zero Shot’s launch is part of a broader structural trend in the AI industry: talent from model‑building labs transitioning into venture capital and startup leadership. Analysts liken this to earlier “mafia effects” from other tech hubs, where alumni networks shape entire ecosystems.
As one industry observer put it, “the people who built AI’s foundational models are now deciding which companies get to build on top of them,” signalling a new stage in how AI innovation is funded and scaled.
If Zero Shot successfully hits its target and continues writing checks selectively, it could become a bellwether for how technical expertise informs investment strategy in the coming years.
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Senior Reporter/Editor
Bio: Ugochukwu is a freelance journalist and Editor at AIbase.ng, with a strong professional focus on investigative reporting. He holds a degree in Mass Communication and brings extensive experience in news gathering, reporting, and editorial writing. With over a decade of active engagement across diverse news outlets, he contributes in-depth analytical, practical, and expository articles exploring artificial intelligence and its real-world impact. His seasoned newsroom experience and well-established information networks provide AIbase.ng with credible, timely, and high-quality coverage of emerging AI developments.