February 24, 2026 – A recent report from Yahoo Finance has illuminated a web of interconnected investments in prominent artificial intelligence firms, revealing that numerous direct investors in OpenAI also played significant roles in Anthropic‘s recent $30 billion funding round. Key players in this funding include Founders Fund, Iconiq, Insight Partners, and Sequoia Capital.
While the involvement of asset management firms such as D1, Fidelity, and TPG is viewed as relatively straightforward given their focus on public equities, the participation of affiliated funds from BlackRock in Anthropic’s capital raise has raised questions. This concern stems from the fact that Adebayo Ogunlesi, a senior managing director and board member at BlackRock, is also a board member at OpenAI. BlackRock oversees a diverse portfolio, which includes mutual funds and exchange-traded funds (ETFs).
Furthermore, industry giants Microsoft and Nvidia are reportedly diversifying their stakes across the AI landscape. Traditionally, venture capital funds have branded themselves as founder-friendly partners, aimed at helping their portfolio companies thrive in a competitive market. However, direct investors in private startups like OpenAI and Anthropic typically gain access to sensitive business information and may hold fiduciary responsibilities due to board seats.
The complexities of this investment landscape are compounded by the history of OpenAI’s Sam Altman, a former president of Y Combinator. In 2024, Altman allegedly provided his investors with a list of OpenAI competitors he preferred they avoid, including Anthropic, xAI, and Safe Superintelligence. Although Altman later refuted claims of threatening to exclude investors from future funding rounds, he did confirm that those making non-passive investments in rival companies would be denied access to OpenAI’s confidential business information, as revealed in documents related to the ongoing lawsuit between Elon Musk and OpenAI.
This intricate matrix of investments not only highlights the competitive nature of the AI sector but also poses potential conflicts of interest that could influence the trajectory of innovation in artificial intelligence. As companies vie for dominance in this rapidly evolving field, the implications of overlapping investment strategies warrant close scrutiny from industry analysts and stakeholders alike. The current landscape underscores the importance of transparency and ethical governance as the AI sector continues to expand and mature.
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