Today OpenAI announces OpenAI Grove, a program designed for technical talent who are at the start of their journey as a founder, even if you don't yet have a defined idea. It's an entry point to explore, learn, and co-create with researchers and a close-knit community that will help you take the first steps building in AI. (openai.com)
What is OpenAI Grove and who is it for?
OpenAI Grove isn't a traditional accelerator. It's aimed at people in the pre-idea stage or in the very early steps of a project, built to give you a network of talent, technical mentorship, and early access to OpenAI tools and models while you explore initial concepts. The initiative is meant to support those still defining their project's direction, not just already-formed companies. (openai.com)
Does that sound like something you needed when you started? Exactly. Think of Grove as an intensive coworking experience with mentors and technical resources designed to shorten your learning curve.
Dates, format, and logistics
- Announcement date: published September 12, 2025. (openai.com)
- Application deadline: applications close September 24, 2025. (openai.com)
- Program duration: Monday, October 20 to Friday, November 21, 2025. (openai.com)
- Format: the first and last weeks are in-person at OpenAI's San Francisco headquarters; the middle weeks are completed asynchronously with an estimated 4 to 6 hours per week. OpenAI will cover travel costs for the in-person weeks. (openai.com)
The first cohort will be small: about fifteen participants, which suggests a very personalized approach and a dense community for co-building. (openai.com)
What they offer and what they don't
They offer technical mentorship, in-person workshops, weekly office hours, and the possibility to access new tools and models before they're publicly available. They also mention additional benefits like credits and pitch opportunities to raise capital, although the path after Grove can vary between seeking investment or continuing through other internal or external routes. (openai.com)
Important: they don't require that your product is built on the APIs of OpenAI. The program is open to people using any AI technology or looking to explore ideas from scratch. (openai.com)
Who should apply?
- Curious technical people who still don't have a defined idea.
- Very early teams or founders at the pre-startup stage.
- People who want direct mentorship with technical leaders and early model access.
If you need to validate an idea, connect with talent, or learn how to design AI product prototypes, Grove could be a good fit. If you're looking for immediate funding or an accelerator for an already-formed startup, OpenAI offers other programs that may be more appropriate. (openai.com)
How to prepare for the application (with concrete steps)
- Be clear about your starting point: are you pre-idea, validating a hypothesis, or already with a prototype? Be honest on the form.
- Describe what motivates you now: what problem do you want to solve with AI? Two or three concrete examples help more than long descriptions.
- Show experience or potential: past projects, repositories, or relevant learning.
- If you apply as a group, explain roles and how skills complement each other.
These steps don't guarantee selection, but they help you tell a coherent, actionable story in the application. Entry is through OpenAI Grove's public form. (openai.com)
What this means for the AI community
Programs like Grove lower the barrier for diverse talent to enter the AI startup ecosystem. Not everyone starts with a brilliant idea; sometimes the idea appears by experimenting with the right people and tools.
OpenAI is betting on an early, community-driven approach that could speed up the emergence of more diverse and experimental projects. (openai.com)
Links and resources
If you want to read the official note or apply, check the OpenAI Grove page on OpenAI's site: OpenAI Grove. (openai.com)
Think of this as an opportunity for curious up-and-comers: you don't need to have everything solved, you just need to want to learn with company. Ready to turn curiosity into a concrete direction?