Key facts
- Stripe is reportedly acquiring AI gateway startup OpenRouter.
- The reported deal price exceeds $7 billion.
- OpenRouter offers a platform for selecting various AI models.
- OpenRouter previously raised $113 million in Series B funding.
- Stripe declined to comment on the acquisition rumors.
Stripe has reportedly finalized a deal to acquire AI gateway startup OpenRouter for over $7 billion, according to Bloomberg. OpenRouter provides a platform that allows customers to select different AI models for various tasks based on their specific needs and budget, aiming to prevent vendor lock-in.
In May, OpenRouter announced it had raised $113 million in a Series B funding round, reaching a reported valuation of $1.3 billion. Investors in that round included Sequoia, Andreessen Horowitz, Menlo Ventures, and Alphabet’s Capital G. At the time of the funding announcement, OpenRouter CEO Alex Atallah described the company as the equivalent of Stripe for AI, offering a single access point for different systems and preventing lock-in. The startup also claimed to have 8 million global users and to provide access to more than 400 AI models.
The Wall Street Journal had previously reported that Stripe and OpenRouter were in acquisition talks. A spokesperson for Stripe told TechCrunch that the company does not comment on rumors or speculation.