This Week in Startups

← This Week in Startups24. Okt. · 1 Std. 33 Min.

OpenAI’s $1.25T Raise, Starlink Mobile & Zuck’s Tax Deal | EP 2354

OpenAI’s $1.25T Raise, Starlink Mobile & Zuck’s Tax Deal | EP 235424. Okt.1 Std. 33 Min.

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Today’s show:

Is OpenAI finally priced correctly? Jason argues that the reported $30 billion raise at a $1.25 trillion valuation is finally “right-sized.” He also says that he’d put money in at that price, while walking through the risks that could still sink the investment.

It’s a Friday all-news episode with Jason and Lon, covering OpenAI’s latest round, SpaceX’s push to become America’s fourth major carrier, Zuck and Meta’s creative move around the proposed California billionaire tax, and some of Lon and Jason’s favorite documentaries.

Plus we’re asking the timely question: who watches the AI watchdogs?

Relevant Links

OpenAI nears up to $30B round at $1.25T valuation, led by UAE investors (CNBC): https://www.cnbc.com/2026/10/22/openai-funding-round-uae-investors.html

Anthropic investors eye a $2T IPO (Nasdaq): https://www.nasdaq.com/articles/move-over-spacex-anthropic-targets-2-trillion-valuation