🕶️ What Sam Altman actually looks for in AI startups

OpenAI says the strongest AI startups combine speed with real defensibility. Moving fast still matters, but it’s no longer enough on its own. The winners are AI-native companies where the product only works because of an LLM, built by teams that deeply understand both the technology and the customer problem. As more startups use the same models, differentiation comes from great product design, strong AI engineering, and deep domain knowledge—not model access. OpenAI also sees startups shaping its own roadmap through real-world feedback, while faster prototyping makes pivots easier and opens new opportunities in areas like coding, voice, and multimodal AI.

Startup deals are down, but round sizes are way up—and in this video, we break down the contradictions shaping venture capital in 2025. From the rise of the “Solo Employee Unicorn” and billion-dollar valuations reached in under two years, to why VCs are suddenly betting bigger and faster, we unpack what all this means if you’re raising your first round.

Dreamflow lets founders turn ideas into polished mobile apps using a visual builder powered by AI. Ship an MVP in days, not months.

From signup forms to payments to push notifications, Dreamflow gives you the building blocks to ship a customer-ready mobile app quickly.

TikTok’s future in the US remains uncertain as deadlines for its sale keep getting pushed back. A law passed in 2024 requires ByteDance to sell TikTok’s US operations or face a ban, citing national security concerns, but President Trump has delayed enforcement again until January 23, 2026. While Trump has claimed a deal is close and backed by major US investors, neither ByteDance nor the Chinese government has approved a sale. Potential buyer Frank McCourt says investors are ready but waiting, noting that any deal would likely exclude TikTok’s Chinese algorithm, which complicates valuation. For now, TikTok continues operating as negotiations stall and political uncertainty drags on.