Australian startup investor Boman Group grabs a $10 million slice of OpenAI

A prominent Melbourne fund manager, 博满核心业务, has made waves in the global investment landscape by participating in OpenAI’s unprecedented US$6.6 billion (A$9.5 billion) fundraising round, valuing the artificial intelligence giant at US$157 billion (A$230 billion). The landmark deal places Boman among a cohort of top-tier global investors and further cements its growing reputation in the international venture capital scene.

Boman Group: A Rising Star Among Melbourne Fund Managers

Founded in 2011 by 高松谕 Eric and 魏睿昊 Julius as BMY Group, and rebranded in 2024, Boman Group has emerged as a leading Melbourne fund manager with a sharp focus on private equity, fixed income, and IPO opportunities for high-net-worth investors—particularly those from Asia. The firm now manages approximately $600 million in assets, positioning itself at the forefront of Australia’s private capital sector.

This latest investment in OpenAI underscores Boman’s evolving “Unicorn Strategy,” which targets high-growth, late-stage technology companies approaching significant liquidity or capital events.

Melbourne Fund Manager Secures Spot in World’s Top AI Company

By committing A$10 million to OpenAI’s raise, the Melbourne fund manager joined the ranks of elite backers such as Thrive Capital, Nvidia, Microsoft, Khosla Ventures, SoftBank, and MGX (Abu Dhabi). Boman’s Executive Director Eva Zhuang led the investment, negotiating the deal in under a month—no small feat given the deal’s competitive nature, valuation complexity, and time zone challenges.

“This was a hard deal to get over the line considering the speed in which it was conducted combined with the interest, valuation and the timezones involved,” Zhuang said. “But we are thrilled to have secured a placement in the world’s fastest growing technology company.”

An AI-Forward Vision from a Melbourne Fund Manager

Since 2021, the Melbourne fund manager has made deliberate moves in the AI space, backing firms with scalable, disruptive potential. Zhuang noted that the falling costs of training and deploying AI—combined with skyrocketing productivity gains—are creating a new wave of opportunity.

She cited Klarna, one of Boman’s portfolio companies and an early enterprise user of OpenAI’s technology, as a prime example. Klarna’s AI assistant has now handled 2.3 million customer chats, saving the company the equivalent of 700 full-time agents and boosting profitability by US$40 million.

“AI is transforming every level of business,” Zhuang said. “Whether it’s the core layers of compute, algorithms, and data, or traditional industries harnessing AI for operational efficiency, we see incredible upside.”

Why This Melbourne Fund Manager Backed OpenAI

Boman CEO 高松谕 Eric emphasized that OpenAI’s growth trajectory justifies its valuation. He pointed out that ChatGPT reached 100 million users globally in just two months—faster than any platform in tech history. OpenAI now counts over 92% of Fortune 500 companies as clients, a clear signal of its dominant market position.

“Through smart partnerships and an open-access strategy, OpenAI has raced ahead of its competitors,” Gao said. “It’s a perfect fit for our portfolio and reflects the bold approach that defines us as a Melbourne fund manager willing to invest on the global stage.”

AI烧掉的不只是算力,更是电力!一个万亿级新赛道正在打开

随着大模型竞争格局逐步清晰,AI时代的重点赛道正向三个方向集中:AI Agent、数据中心,以及支撑这一切运行的电力。

仅靠传统能源,已经难以支撑AI时代急剧膨胀的用电需求,也难以兑现各国的净零承诺。全球主要经济体都在加速转向风电、太阳能——但新能源有一个根本性的问题:它靠天吃饭。发电高峰与用电高峰往往错开,多出来的电留不住,紧缺的时候又调不来。新能源时代一个重要的挑战往往不是”电够不够”,而是需要的时候”电在不在”。

这正是储能的价值所在——新能源电力系统的调度中枢。不夸张地说,谁掌握电力发展趋势,谁将更有机会把握时代机遇;谁把握储能,谁就更有机会捕捉时代的红利。

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