OpenAI has unveiled a new initiative designed to guide aspiring entrepreneurs at the very beginning of their startup journey. The program, called OpenAI Grove, opened applications on Friday and is tailored for individuals in the earliest phases of company building — from pre-idea to pre-seed.

Unlike the Pioneer Program, introduced in April for more advanced founders, Grove focuses on those still shaping their initial concepts. Over five weeks, participants will receive:

Mentorship from OpenAI’s technical leaders
Early access to new AI tools and models
Hands-on workshops at OpenAI’s San Francisco headquarters

The inaugural cohort will include around 15 participants and run from October 20 to November 21, 2025. Applications close on September 24.

Graduates of Grove will have the opportunity to continue collaborating with OpenAI, which was recently valued at $500 billion.

The program enters a competitive field, as rivals like Google and Microsoft are also backing AI-focused accelerators. Google launched its Cloud AI Accelerator earlier this year, while Microsoft partnered with PearlX in April to support pre-seed startups.

The surge in programs reflects a wider funding boom. AI firms accounted for 71% of all U.S. venture investment in 2025, up from 45% last year, according to J.P. Morgan. In just the first half of 2025, AI startups raised $104.3 billion, with more than 1,300 companies now valued above $100 million, CB Insights reports.

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