Former OpenAI Executives Launch $100M Venture Fund Zero Shot

Zero Shot Capital, a venture firm founded by former OpenAI executives and employees, is targeting $100 million for its debut fund to invest in artificial intelligence startups. The fund has already written checks to several AI companies, leveraging the founding team's experience in foundation model development and AI infrastructure. The efforts represent the latest instance of OpenAI alumni transitioning to venture investing following the departure of multiple research and product leaders over the past year. Zero Shot joins a growing ecosystem of AI-focused venture funds led by former operators from leading labs. The firm's strategy focuses on early-stage companies building AI-native applications, infrastructure, and developer tools. The fundraising environment for AI startups remains competitive despite broader venture market headwinds, with top-tier teams attracting significant capital allocations from institutional investors seeking exposure to the sector.