OpenAI targets $30 billion bridge round at $1.25 trillion valuation

OpenAI is in late-stage talks to raise up to $30 billion in a pre-IPO bridge funding round, according to CNBC. The proposed deal values the artificial intelligence company at $1.25 trillion before the new capital.

UAE-based investors and Coatue Management are participating in the fundraising, according to report details. The transaction offers incoming investors roughly 2.3% equity in exchange for the $30 billion investment.

Sources described the financing as an opportunistic bridge round to capture high investor demand rather than to cover a cash shortfall. The valuation highlights strong pricing power for the firm, led by Chief Executive Officer Sam Altman and Chief Financial Officer Sarah Friar.

OpenAI filed confidentially with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission in June 2026, according to report details. Market participants widely expect an initial public offering in 2027, though no official date has been established.

The valuation establishes pricing benchmarks across the broader artificial intelligence startup ecosystem, according to report details. UAE sovereign wealth vehicles are using the deal to advance strategic goals in global artificial intelligence.

What do these terms mean?

Bridge round: A short-term financing option used by companies to maintain liquidity until a major financial event, such as an initial public offering or a larger funding round.

Pre-money valuation: The estimated financial value of a company before it receives new investment or capital in a funding round.

Sovereign wealth vehicle: An investment entity or fund owned by a national government to manage state capital and strategic assets.

Initial public offering (IPO): The process through which a private company offers its shares to the public for the first time on a stock exchange.