Stripe in talks to acquire AI gateway OpenRouter for over $7 billion
The acquisition would see Stripe purchase OpenRouter, a startup serving 8 million users and offering access to more than 400 artificial intelligence models, in a transaction valued at more than $7 billion.
Stripe has reportedly finalised a deal to acquire AI gateway startup OpenRouter for more than $7 billion, according to a report by Bloomberg. The transaction, if completed, would mark a significant expansion for the payment infrastructure company into the rapidly evolving artificial intelligence sector.
OpenRouter operates as a unified interface that allows customers to access over 400 different AI models. The platform enables users to select systems based on specific requirements and budget constraints, a feature designed to prevent vendor lock-in. The company claims to have 8 million global users and provides a single point of access for various AI systems.
The acquisition follows reports from the Wall Street Journal last month indicating that Stripe and OpenRouter were in discussions. OpenRouter CEO Alex Atallah has previously described the company as the equivalent of Stripe for AI, highlighting its role in simplifying access to diverse AI technologies.
Financial details surrounding the startup include a $113 million Series B funding round raised in May, which placed the company’s valuation at $1.3 billion. The investor group includes prominent venture capital firms such as Sequoia, Andreessen Horowitz, Menlo Ventures, and Alphabet’s Capital G.
A Stripe spokesperson declined to comment on the report, stating that the company does not comment on rumours or speculation. The exact terms of the deal and the timeline for its completion remain unconfirmed by the parties involved.
