Quick Read
- OpenAI has acquired Statsig for $1.1 billion in an all-stock deal.
- Statsig’s CEO Vijaye Raji will become OpenAI’s CTO of Applications.
- The acquisition will strengthen OpenAI’s Applications division, including ChatGPT and Codex.
- Statsig will continue operating independently from its Seattle office.
- The deal is subject to regulatory approval and expected to close soon.
OpenAI, the leading AI research and deployment company, has announced its acquisition of Statsig, a Seattle-based product experimentation startup, for $1.1 billion in an all-stock deal. The announcement, made on September 2, 2025, marks one of OpenAI’s largest acquisitions to date. This deal not only brings Statsig’s advanced experimentation platform under OpenAI’s umbrella but also sees Statsig’s CEO, Vijaye Raji, assume a critical leadership role as OpenAI’s Chief Technology Officer (CTO) of Applications.
Statsig’s Journey: From Startup to Industry Leader
Statsig was founded in 2021 by Vijaye Raji, a former Facebook engineering leader, who sought to revolutionize product experimentation. The company quickly gained prominence for its robust A/B testing, feature flagging, and real-time decision-making capabilities. Statsig’s platform became a go-to solution for companies looking to make data-driven decisions, attracting a client base that included OpenAI, Atlassian, Notion, and Microsoft.
In its short but impactful history, Statsig raised significant funding rounds, including a Series A led by Sequoia Capital in February 2021 and a Series B the following year. According to Sequoia Capital, Statsig’s success stemmed from its rapid product development and customer-focused culture. The company’s unique five-day in-office policy fostered collaboration and speed, enabling it to consistently outperform competitors.
As part of the acquisition, Statsig will continue to operate independently from its Seattle office, ensuring continuity for its existing customers while integrating its platform into OpenAI’s broader Applications business.
Why OpenAI Acquired Statsig
The acquisition aligns with OpenAI’s strategic focus on scaling its Applications division, which includes flagship products like ChatGPT and Codex. In a statement from Fidji Simo, CEO of OpenAI’s Applications team, she emphasized that Statsig’s experimentation platform would accelerate the company’s ability to iterate and improve its offerings. “Statsig’s tools empower teams to experiment rapidly and make data-informed decisions, which is exactly what we need as we expand our AI-driven applications to serve hundreds of millions of users,” Simo noted.
Vijaye Raji’s appointment as CTO of Applications underscores OpenAI’s commitment to strengthening its leadership team. Reporting directly to Simo, Raji will oversee product engineering for ChatGPT, Codex, and future AI applications. In a statement to TechCrunch, Raji expressed his excitement about the role, saying, “Joining OpenAI is an extraordinary opportunity to apply my experience in scaling consumer and enterprise products to advance AI in ways that are reliable and beneficial to people everywhere.”
The acquisition comes at a time when OpenAI is expanding its presence in the Seattle area, with plans to move into a new office space in Bellevue. The integration of Statsig’s team into OpenAI’s operations is expected to further bolster its engineering and product development capabilities.
Financial and Strategic Implications
The $1.1 billion all-stock deal reflects OpenAI’s confidence in Statsig’s long-term potential. According to GeekWire, the valuation matches Statsig’s most recent funding round, suggesting that investors see significant growth opportunities in OpenAI’s stock. This acquisition is part of OpenAI’s broader strategy to consolidate its leadership in the AI industry, following its recent $40 billion fundraising round at a $300 billion valuation.
Statsig’s integration into OpenAI is expected to enhance the company’s ability to deliver innovative, data-driven solutions to both consumer and enterprise markets. The move also highlights Seattle’s growing reputation as a hub for technological innovation. S. Somasegar, managing director at Madrona Venture Group and an early investor in Statsig, remarked, “This acquisition validates Seattle as a hotbed of talent and innovation.”
While the acquisition is subject to regulatory approval, both companies have expressed optimism about the deal’s successful closure. Once finalized, all Statsig employees will transition to OpenAI, further strengthening its workforce.
Looking Ahead: A New Chapter for Statsig and OpenAI
For OpenAI, acquiring Statsig is more than just a business move; it’s a step toward redefining how AI-powered applications are developed and deployed. By integrating Statsig’s experimentation platform, OpenAI aims to create more intuitive, reliable, and impactful tools that empower users and businesses alike.
For Statsig, joining OpenAI represents an opportunity to scale its mission of rapid experimentation and customer focus to a global level. As Raji stated, “The journey with Statsig has been deeply gratifying, and I’m thrilled to continue this work on a much larger stage with OpenAI.”
The acquisition of Statsig marks a significant milestone for both companies. As they embark on this new chapter together, the potential for innovation and growth in the AI industry is boundless.