【AI+OpenAI】OpenAI Reportedly Offers Attractive Terms to Private Equity Firms; 17.5% Guaranteed Return to Compete for Enterprise AI Market

SocialAnxietyStaker · 2026-03-24T07:32:04+00:00

OpenAI is offering more attractive partnership terms to private equity firms, including preferred shares and guaranteed returns, to attract funds like TPG and Advent to participate in joint ventures promoting AI tools. Compared to Anthropic, OpenAI's proposal provides higher return guarantees, but the long-term profit outlook remains questioned by some investors, and Microsoft's business relationship may also pose risks.

SocialAnxietyStaker

2026-03-24 07:32:04

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OpenAI, the developer of ChatGPT, is offering private equity firms more attractive partnership proposals than its competitor Anthropic, with both sides competing to raise funds through joint ventures and accelerate enterprise AI product deployment.

According to sources cited by foreign media, OpenAI is offering investors preferred stock with a guaranteed minimum return of 17.5%, significantly higher than common preferred stock instruments in the market. To attract funds from TPG and Advent International, OpenAI also allows partners to have priority access to its latest AI models. In contrast, Anthropic’s enterprise private placement deals do not offer such return guarantees.

Recently, OpenAI has increased its focus on the enterprise market, an area where Anthropic has long held an advantage. Both companies are vying to establish joint ventures with private equity firms to quickly promote AI tools to hundreds of mature private companies under these funds, increasing model adoption and strengthening customer loyalty. Such joint ventures can share the high initial costs of customizing models and deploying engineers, easing pre-IPO pressures and providing clearer business segment reports to support future IPO plans.

Long-term profit prospects raise concerns

Sources indicate that at least two private equity firms have decided not to participate, including Thoma Bravo, a software-focused fund whose managing partner Orlando Bravo has expressed doubts about long-term profitability prospects. Other private equity firms are still in talks with OpenAI, but most plan to subscribe only to smaller stakes.

Additionally, OpenAI disclosed in documents provided to investors that its close relationship with Microsoft (NASDAQ: MSFT) could pose business risks. Microsoft currently provides substantial funding and computing resources; if the partnership were to change, it could negatively impact OpenAI’s business, outlook, and financial condition.

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