OpenAI Bets Big on Statsig in $1.1B Deal

OpenAI has struck one of its boldest acquisition deals yet, agreeing to purchase product-testing startup Statsig for $1.1 billion in an all-stock transaction. The move highlights OpenAI’s growing appetite for strategic acquisitions as it races to expand its influence across AI products.

Statsig, launched in 2021, provides tools that allow developers to test and fine-tune software features before release. Its platform has already been used by engineers at OpenAI, SoundCloud, Eventbrite and other major tech firms. The startup had raised $100 million earlier this year, putting its valuation at $1.1 billion before the takeover.

Statsig Founder to Take Lead Role

As part of the deal, Statsig founder and CEO Vijaye Raji will become OpenAI’s Chief Technology Officer of Applications. He will report directly to Fidji Simo, the former Instacart boss who now leads OpenAI’s Applications division.

Raji’s decade of experience at Meta and his entrepreneurial track record are seen as key assets. “His vision and operating expertise will help scale our next generation of products,” OpenAI said in its announcement.

He is expected to oversee product engineering for both ChatGPT and Codex, including systems infrastructure and platform integrity.

A Pattern of Expensive Acquisitions

This acquisition is just the latest in a string of high-value moves by OpenAI. In July, it bought io Products — co-founded by former Apple design chief Jony Ive — in a $6.5 billion stock deal to accelerate AI hardware development.

Earlier attempts included a failed $3 billion bid for coding startup Windsurf. But smaller deals have gone through, such as the quiet acquisition of New York-based Multi, a collaboration tool provider, and Rockset, a real-time analytics company whose indexing technology is being folded into OpenAI’s infrastructure.

Back in 2023, OpenAI also acquired Global Illumination, an AI design studio that now contributes directly to core products like ChatGPT.

Beyond acquisitions, OpenAI is raising fresh capital at breakneck speed. It recently closed a $40 billion funding round at a $300 billion valuation. Now, it is reportedly preparing a new share sale that could push its valuation as high as $500 billion, giving early employees and investors a chance to cash out.