Deep Dive: OpenAI’s Business Model Evolution [Premium PDF Report]

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Just few weeks ago, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman made headlines: “we want to build a brain for the world and make it super easy for people to use for whatever they want.”

In a surprise move, OpenAI has abandoned its plan to convert to a for-profit company. The decision followed scrutiny from civic leaders, engagement with the attorneys general of Delaware and California, and public pressure from industry players like Elon Musk and Meta. But beyond the headlines lies a deeper strategic story — and it’s now available as a comprehensive MBA-level case study.

Our latest Harvard-style case, “OpenAI – From Research Lab to Platform Provider,” offers an in-depth look at OpenAI’s evolution from a nonprofit lab into one of the world’s most influential AI platforms.

What you’ll find inside this exclusive case study:

This isn’t just a story. It’s a teaching tool for developing strategic thinking around platform dynamics, disruptive innovation, and technology governance in an era of exponential change.

• ✅ A comprehensive narrative on OpenAI’s transformation, from its 2015 nonprofit origins to its 2025 platform scale

• ✅ Analysis of revenue models, platform strategy, and partnerships with Microsoft and others

• ✅ A breakdown of financial projections, unit economics, and valuation dynamics

• ✅ Competitive landscape analysis featuring Google DeepMind, Anthropic, Meta, and Cohere

• ✅ Governance and regulatory dilemmas, including the board crisis and recent nonprofit pivot

• ✅ A full instructor teaching note with learning objectives, discussion questions, and case analysis guidance

Take a peak of what's inside this Case Study:

This isn’t a guide. It’s a rigorous teaching resource, designed for MBA and executive education classrooms, examining OpenAI’s strategic decisions, competitive landscape, financial trajectory, and governance dilemmas.

👉 If you’ve ever asked “How do you build a platform business in the middle of an AI arms race?” — this case study offers a roadmap for strategic discussion.

Also included: Ready-to-use presentation in Powerpoint

To make this Deep Dive even more actionable, we’re including professionally designed presentation that summarize the key insights from the case study.

You’ll get concise, visually engaging slides covering.

Download the full PDF and Docx case study and also the presentation in PPT and PDF by clicking on the button below (Premium subscribers only):

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