OpenAI has raised $4 billion from 19 private equity firms and consultancies to launch a new company that will deploy specialized tech consultants to help PE portfolio companies integrate AI.

TPG, Brookfield Asset Management, Bain Capital and Advent International led the funding round for the joint venture, according to a person familiar with the matter.

The new entity will operate as a separate company from OpenAI but will have exclusive access to the AI lab's models and technical expertise. It plans to hire hundreds of consultants with backgrounds in enterprise software implementation and AI deployment.

How the consulting model works

The venture will target mid-market companies owned by the participating PE firms, focusing on manufacturing, healthcare, financial services and retail sectors where AI adoption has lagged behind tech companies.

Consultants will work on-site with portfolio companies for 6-12 month engagements, implementing everything from customer service chatbots to supply chain optimization systems powered by OpenAI's GPT models.

The PE firms committed to guarantee a minimum of $200 million in consulting revenue over the next three years across their combined 2,000+ portfolio companies.

OpenAI will retain a 60% stake in the joint venture, with the remaining 40% split among the participating firms based on their funding contributions and portfolio company commitments.

"This creates a direct revenue channel into the private equity ecosystem while giving us deep insights into enterprise AI implementation challenges," said an OpenAI spokesperson.

The consulting company expects to hire 500 consultants by the end of 2026, with plans to open offices in New York, Chicago, London and Singapore.

OpenAI's move follows similar enterprise-focused initiatives by Anthropic, which launched its own professional services arm last year, and reflects the growing demand for hands-on AI implementation support among traditional businesses.