OpenAI president Greg Brockman targets 2027 for potential IPO

The timeline for going public

OpenAI president Greg Brockman recently shared his perspective on the company's future financial roadmap during a Wall Street Journal tech conference. When asked if the company would be prepared to launch an initial public offering (IPO) as early as next year, Brockman gave a positive response. He stated that he believes the company could be ready by 2027.

Brockman emphasized that the leadership team intends to go public only when the timing feels appropriate for the organization. He expressed high levels of confidence in the current state of the business and the progress made over the last year. This public sentiment suggests that the company is moving toward a phase of maturity where it can meet the demands of public markets.

The transition toward a public listing often requires a company to demonstrate consistent growth and a clear path to profitability. By naming 2027, Brockman provides a window for investors to see how OpenAI handles its increasing scale. The executive noted that he has never felt more confident in the direction the company is taking as it navigates this transition.

A shift toward enterprise revenue

A major component of OpenAI's evolution involves its shift from a consumer-centric model to one dominated by enterprise clients. Historically, the enterprise segment accounted for only about 30% of the company's total revenue. However, that dynamic has shifted significantly as the business has successfully gained ground in the corporate sector.

Brockman highlighted that while consumer revenue has continued to grow, the enterprise side of the business has truly taken off. This growth is not just a result of a single lucky quarter but is the result of long-term investments made by the company. The goal has been to move beyond being a tool for individuals to become a foundational technology for large organizations.

One specific example of this new corporate reach is a recent partnership with J.P. Morgan Chase. This type of deal illustrates how OpenAI is winning over major financial institutions. By securing these high-profile clients, the company is establishing itself as a primary provider of AI services for the world's largest corporations.

Overcoming early market hurdles

The path to becoming an enterprise leader was not immediate or easy for OpenAI. Brockman admitted that the first and second quarters of 2026 were quite difficult for the company. During that period, OpenAI struggled to find its footing in specific niches where competitors were already making progress.

Specifically, the company noted it was not even part of the conversation regarding agentic coding, which is a method of using AI to perform complex programming tasks. While rival Anthropic had already gained market share with its Claude Code tool, OpenAI had to work to find its own way. Brockman mentioned that while they had a tool called Codex, it was not receiving the attention the company desired at that time.

Despite these challenges, the company chose to keep its head down and focus on execution. By the third quarter, this strategy began to pay off as activity picked up significantly. The company's annualized revenue grew by 70% in a single quarter, a surge that Brockman attributed to the doubling of the enterprise side of the business.

Building trust with big business

Selling to large corporations requires a different approach than selling to the general public. Brockman explained that OpenAI had to learn how to help businesses identify the specific milestones they wanted to achieve with AI. The focus shifted toward building long-term trust and proving that the company is a reliable partner for the long haul.

In the past, OpenAI was primarily perceived as a consumer company. Many potential corporate clients would question whether the company was actually committed to the enterprise space. Brockman noted that a year ago, the company wasn't even really in the enterprise game in the eyes of many potential customers.

Today, that perception has changed as the company demonstrates its ability to handle complex needs. The focus is now on reliability and the ability to integrate AI into existing business workflows. By proving these capabilities, OpenAI is positioning itself to remain a dominant force in the corporate AI landscape for years to come.

What comes next for OpenAI

As OpenAI moves toward its 2027 goal, the focus will likely remain on deepening its corporate integrations. The company must continue to prove its reliability to maintain the momentum it has gained in the enterprise sector. Success will depend on its ability to turn AI into a standard component of business infrastructure.

The competition remains fierce, particularly from rivals like Anthropic who have already established a foothold in specific coding and enterprise markets. OpenAI will need to continue to innovate and execute on its roadmap to stay ahead. The company's ability to scale its enterprise offerings while maintaining its lead in technology will be a key factor in its valuation.

Investors will be watching to see if the 70% quarterly growth can be sustained as the company matures. If OpenAI can continue to convert large-scale corporate interest into stable, long-term revenue, it will be well-positioned for its eventual public debut. The transition from a startup to a corporate powerhouse is well underway.

The road to 2027

The narrative of OpenAI is shifting from a fast-moving research lab to a stable corporate entity. This evolution is necessary to support the massive infrastructure and security requirements of global businesses. By focusing on the enterprise, OpenAI is creating a more predictable and scalable revenue model.

The company's ability to navigate the