OpenAI Acquires Statsig for $1.1B, Taps Founder as CTO of Applications in Major Seattle Tech Move

OpenAI announced it will acquire Seattle-based startup Statsig for $1.1 billion in an all-stock deal, marking one of the AI company’s largest acquisitions to date. The deal appears to be as much about bringing Statsig CEO and founder Vijaye Raji on board as it is about integrating the startup’s technical capabilities.

Raji, a former Facebook engineering leader, will take on the newly created role of CTO of Applications at OpenAI, reporting to Fidji Simo, OpenAI’s applications team CEO. OpenAI described Statsig as “one of the most trusted experimentation platforms in the industry,” providing A/B testing, feature flagging, and real-time decisioning to innovative companies—including OpenAI itself.

The $1.1 billion acquisition matches Statsig’s valuation from its May funding round, indicating investors are banking on the long-term growth potential of OpenAI stock. Regulatory approval is required for the transaction, but Statsig is expected to continue operating independently from its Seattle-area headquarters, with employees having the option to transition to OpenAI roles.

Statsig founder Vijaye Raji named OpenAI’s new CTO of Applications.

Founded in 2021, Statsig employs 155 staff and plans to expand to nearly 200 by early 2026. Known for its five-day-a-week in-office policy, the company emphasizes collaboration and speed, factors cited by early investor S. “Soma” Somasegar of Madrona Venture Group as core to Statsig’s success.

Somasegar called the acquisition a “natural fit,” noting that Statsig’s data-driven approach has positioned it as a leader in intelligent application platforms. “Joining OpenAI will allow its mission of rapid experimentation and customer focus to scale even further,” he said.

OpenAI has also established a Bellevue office, reportedly planning to move into City Center Plaza, a location previously occupied by Microsoft. The company currently has around 159 employees in the Seattle region.

The acquisition comes shortly after OpenAI’s $40 billion funding round at a $300 billion valuation, signaling the company’s aggressive expansion into AI applications and technical leadership.