MoneySeptember 15, 2026via Financial Times Technology
OpenAI weighs funding round at $1.2tn valuation before IPO
Why it matters
OpenAI's pre-IPO funding round at a $1.2T valuation signals both massive investor appetite for AI and a strategic shift toward public markets. This is the highest-stakes capital event in AI since the SoftBank compute fund, and the timing — after new model launches — suggests confidence in near-term revenue momentum.
Key signals
- OpenAI considering funding round at $1.2 trillion valuation
- Round framed as pre-IPO capital raise
- Timing follows new model launches
- Sam Altman leading the effort
- Demand for OpenAI technology cited as driver
The hook
$1.2 trillion. OpenAI is raising before going public — and the valuation tells you everything about where the AI market thinks it's headed.
Sam Altman’s start-up could capitalise on demand for its technology after new model launches