OpenAI vs Perplexity AI
Side-by-side equity comparison for employees weighing offers at OpenAI or Perplexity AI. Valuations, funding history, headcount growth, and secondary-market context.
| OpenAI | Perplexity AI | |
|---|---|---|
| Latest valuation | $852B | $5B |
| Latest round | Series E | Series B |
| Round date | October 2024 | — |
| Total raised | $13.3B | $500M |
| Founded | 2015 | 2022 |
| Headquarters | San Francisco, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Employees | 7,829 | 1,482 |
| Employee YoY growth | +71% | -4% |
| Primary industry | Artificial Intelligence | Artificial Intelligence |
| Secondary-market price | $664.96 | — |
| Base-case equity multiple | — | 2x |
| Upside equity multiple | — | 2x |
| Lead investors | Thrive Capital, SoftBank Vision Fund | NEA, IVP |
| Status | private | private |
Overview
OpenAI is an AI research and deployment company that develops general-purpose AI systems including GPT large language models and the ChatGPT consumer product.
Perplexity AI builds an AI-powered search engine that provides cited, conversational answers to user queries in real time.
Why we compare these
OpenAI and Perplexity AI both appear on AI foundation model labs and Sara's List 2024 .
Perplexity AI appears on Sara's List 2024; OpenAI is a direct competitor we track alongside it.
If you're evaluating offers at either one, the equity math depends on more than the headline valuation — dilution, strike price, time to liquidity, and concentration risk all matter. Use our equity compensation calculator and exit calculator to model your own numbers.