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.”

维珍航空上市

澳洲史上第二大的IPO,凉了?

10月9日,澳洲AI算力公司Firmus宣布撤回在澳交所的上市申请。这原本是澳洲史上第二大的IPO,规模仅次于1997年的Telstra。

公司表示,董事会考虑到近期市场波动及当前市场环境,认为发行条款无法反映公司的实力和长期增长前景,继续推进不符合公司及股东的最佳利益;接下来将寻求私募市场融资,并考虑其他选项。

一边是NVIDIA、Blackstone等顶级投资人在两个月前重金押注,一边是公开市场在降价之后依然没有接住。这家公司到底值不值得看好?市场又为什么不买账?

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