Investors React to OpenAI’s Acquisition of io
Following the announcement of OpenAI’s acquisition of Jony Ive’s company, io, for $6.5 billion in an all-stock transaction, investors have been sharing their surprise and excitement over the deal.
One notable investor, Klarna CEO Sebastian Siemiatkowski, revealed that his family investment office, Flat Capital, had purchased shares in io six months prior to the acquisition. Siemiatkowski expressed his enthusiasm for the deal, stating that they would now receive even more shares in OpenAI as a result of their initial investment in io.
Siemiatkowski’s tweet about the investment generated significant interest, prompting Flat Capital to issue a public statement confirming their involvement with io. The investment firm disclosed that they had spent 34 million SEK on io, which equates to approximately $3.6 million.
Former Googler and designer Luke Wroblewski, now a managing director at Sutter Hill Ventures, also shared his congratulations for io on the acquisition. Although Wroblewski’s tweet and LinkedIn post were later deleted, it hinted at Sutter Hill Ventures’ potential role as one of the major investors in io.
According to reports, OpenAI itself held a 23% stake in io, valued at $1.5 billion, making them the largest investor in the company. Other backers of io included Laurene Powell Jobs’ firm Emerson Collective, Thrive Capital, Maverick Ventures, SV Angel, and the OpenAI Fund, which is supported by external investors. Bloomberg also confirmed Sutter Hill Ventures’ participation as an investor in io.
Overall, the acquisition of io by OpenAI has sparked interest and excitement among investors, highlighting the growing significance of AI companies in today’s tech landscape.
