Former OpenAI Staffer Builds Crypto Wage Startup
Joey Bertschler, a former OpenAI employee, is launching a crypto-based earned wage access system through his startup, Volante Chain. The platform enables employees to receive same-day wages instead of waiting for monthly paychecks, addressing financial challenges for those living paycheck to paycheck. Volante utilizes blockchain for efficient record-keeping and low transaction fees, while artificial intelligence assesses employer risk and predicts defaults with human oversight. The startup has raised approximately $2 million from private investors and is currently testing with users in Vietnam and Japan. Bertschler left OpenAI due to limited advancement opportunities for non-US employees and criticized the company's increasing secrecy and profit-driven focus since Microsoft's involvement. OpenAI is transitioning to a public benefit corporation model, aiming to balance profit-making with social objectives.
