Sources: 
Jony Ive's design company io, founded in 2024, has attracted significant investment attention, with Sutter Hill revealed as the second largest investor following OpenAI's acquisition.
The company io, led by Ive—the renowned British-American designer behind Apple's iconic products such as the iMac, iPod, iPhone, and Apple Watch—was previously an anonymous entity in the AI startup space.
"Sutter Hill was the second largest investor in 'io,'" according to information recovered from a now-deleted social media post by Wroblewski.
This revelation came shortly after tech billionaire Sam Altman announced OpenAI's acquisition of io, in a statement described as more akin to a wedding website than a typical corporate press release.
Earlier, Swedish entrepreneur Sebastian Siemiatkowski's family investment company had directed a $5 billion investment into AI startups, initially shrouded in anonymity but later linked to io.
"Ive is the superstar British-American designer behind iconic Apple products," highlighting the significance of his new venture in the tech and design world.
The involvement of Sutter Hill as a major investor underscores the growing interest and confidence in io's potential within the AI and design sectors, especially following the high-profile OpenAI buyout.
This development marks a notable moment in the intersection of design innovation and artificial intelligence investment, with io positioned at the forefront.
Sources: Sutter Hill has emerged as the second largest investor in Jony Ive's design company io, following OpenAI's acquisition. The revelation came after tech billionaire Sam Altman announced the buyout, clarifying earlier anonymous investments linked to AI startups and the famed Apple designer's new venture.
