Stripe will reportedly acquire AI gateway startup OpenRouter for $7B+

Stripe has finalized a deal to acquire AI model gateway startup OpenRouter for more than $7 billion, according to Bloomberg. OpenRouter, which raised a $113 million Series B at a $1.3 billion valuation in May, claims 8 million global users and access to over 400 models. The acquisition aligns with OpenRouter CEO Alex Atallah's description of the company as 'Stripe for AI.'

Stripe has finalized a deal to acquire OpenRouter, according to a new report in Bloomberg https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2026-08-16/stripe-nears-deal-to-buy-ai-firm-openrouter-for-over-7-billion . OpenRouter helps customers to select different AI models to perform different tasks, depending on their specific needs and budget. The company announced in May that it had raised a $113 million Series B https://techcrunch.com/2026/05/26/openrouter-more-than-doubles-valuation-to-1-3b-in-a-year/ , at a reported $1.3 billion valuation. Investors include Sequoia, Andreessen Horowitz, Menlo Ventures, and Alphabet’s Capital G. At the time, OpenRouter CEO Alex Atallah described the company https://www.nytimes.com/2026/05/26/business/dealbook/openrouter-ai-models-fundraising.html as the equivalent of Stripe for AI, because it provides customers with a single access point for different systems and prevents lock-in. The startup also claimed to have 8 million global users and to provide access to more than 400 models. The Wall Street Journal reported last month https://www.wsj.com/tech/ai/stripe-in-talks-to-buy-buzzy-ai-model-marketplace-openrouter-decc6a74 that Stripe and OpenRouter were in acquisition talks. Now, Bloomberg said those discussions have led to a deal price of more than $7 billion. A Stripe spokesperson told TechCrunch that the company does not comment on rumors or speculation.