Publications
Publications
- March 2025 (Revised May 2025)
- HBS Case Collection
Xfund and Sam Altman: Finding Harvard's Best Generative AI Founders
By: Suraj Srinivasan
Abstract
On May 1, 2024, Xfund Managing Partners Patrick Chung and Brandon Farwell, hosted a high-stakes venture pitch session designed to select one startup for a minimum $100,000 investment. This “Xperiment Stake” competition, dedicated to startups in the Generative AI sector, was particularly significant. The founders would pitch to Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI. The competition attracted 270 total submissions, from which six promising founding teams were selected for the final one-on-one pitch session.
Each of the six finalists presented their vision for applying Generative AI in diverse fields, including research, software development, and even military applications. With AI evolving rapidly, the challenge for Xfund was not just to evaluate the startups’ ideas, but also to identify the most innovative and adaptable founders—those capable of navigating and thriving in the fast-changing landscape. The stage was set for a tough decision: which startup should Altman and Xfund select as the standout candidate to secure the investment?
Each of the six finalists presented their vision for applying Generative AI in diverse fields, including research, software development, and even military applications. With AI evolving rapidly, the challenge for Xfund was not just to evaluate the startups’ ideas, but also to identify the most innovative and adaptable founders—those capable of navigating and thriving in the fast-changing landscape. The stage was set for a tough decision: which startup should Altman and Xfund select as the standout candidate to secure the investment?
Keywords
AI and Machine Learning; Venture Capital; Innovation Leadership; Technological Innovation; Business Startups; Competition; Technology Industry; United States
Citation
Srinivasan, Suraj. "Xfund and Sam Altman: Finding Harvard's Best Generative AI Founders." Harvard Business School Case 125-090, March 2025. (Revised May 2025.)