OpenAI Alums Launch Zero Shot VC Fund Targeting $100 Million

Zero Shot, a new venture capital fund founded by former OpenAI executives Evan Morikawa, Andrew Mayne, Shawn Jain, Kelly Kovacs, and Brett Rounsaville, is raising $100 million and has already closed its first $20 million from institutions and family offices. The fund's name references the AI training term 'zero shot' and leverages the founders' deep OpenAI experience, including Morikawa's leadership during DALL·E and ChatGPT launches and Mayne's role as OpenAI's original prompt engineer. Zero Shot has already invested in three startups including Worktrace AI (founded by former OpenAI product manager Angela Jiang), Foundry Robotics, and an undisclosed stealth company. The fund is supported by high-profile advisors including former OpenAI executives Diane Yoon, Steve Dowling, and Luke Miller, who will receive carried interest shares.

Formation and Background of Zero Shot VC Fund

• ▪Zero Shot has advisors including Diane Yoon, OpenAI's former head of people
• ▪Andrew Mayne is a co-founding partner of Zero Shot and was OpenAI's original prompt engineer
• ▪Shawn Jain is a co-founding partner of Zero Shot and is an engineer and former researcher at OpenAI
• ▪Brett Rounsaville is a co-founding partner of Zero Shot and is formerly of Twitter and Disney
• ▪Zero Shot is a new venture capital fund with deep ties to OpenAI
• ▪Evan Morikawa is a co-founding partner of Zero Shot and was formerly head of applied engineering at OpenAI during the launch of DALL·E and ChatGPT through Codex
• ▪Zero Shot has made its first close on its $100 million fundraising goal
• ▪Zero Shot closed its first $20 million from institutions and family offices
• ▪Zero Shot has advisors including Steve Dowling, the former head of communications at OpenAI and Apple
• ▪Zero Shot has advisors including Luke Miller, former product leader at OpenAI
• ▪Zero Shot advisors will receive a share of the carried interest that Zero Shot returns
• ▪Kelly Kovacs is a co-founding partner of Zero Shot and was previously a founding partner at 01A
• ▪01A is a growth-stage venture firm founded by Dick Costello and Adam Bain

Investment Strategy and Portfolio Companies

• ▪Zero Shot has invested in a third startup that is still in stealth mode as of April 2026
• ▪Zero Shot invested in Foundry Robotics, a startup working on next-gen, AI-enhanced factory robotics
• ▪Foundry Robotics recently raised a $13.5 million seed round led by Khosla Ventures
• ▪Zero Shot backed Worktrace AI, a startup founded by early OpenAI product manager Angela Jiang
• ▪Zero Shot has already written a few checks as of April 2026
• ▪Worktrace AI raised a $10 million seed round from investors including Mira Murati and OpenAI's Fund, according to PitchBook estimates

Perspective of OpenAI alumni network

• ▪Diane Yoon, OpenAI's former head of people, serves as an advisor to Zero Shot in exchange for carried interest