Stripe has reportedly agreed to acquire OpenRouter, a startup that provides developers with a single gateway to hundreds of AI models, in a deal valued at more than $7 billion.
Report says that the deal has been finalized, marking a major expansion of Stripe’s technology business beyond its traditional payments operations.
Stripe has not publicly confirmed the acquisition as the company spokesperson told TechCrunch that it does not comment on rumors or speculation.
OpenRouter allows businesses and developers to access different AI models through a single platform rather than building separate connections to individual providers.
Its system can help users choose models based on factors such as performance, availability and cost.
The reported acquisition would bring that infrastructure into Stripe, potentially giving the payments company a larger role in how businesses access and pay for AI services.
The startup raised $113 million in May at a valuation of about $1.3 billion, with investors including Sequoia, Andreessen Horowitz, Menlo Ventures and CapitalG.
The deal comes after weeks of reported negotiations. The Wall Street Journal reported in July that Stripe was in talks to acquire OpenRouter, before Bloomberg reported this week that the discussions had resulted in an agreement worth more than $7 billion.
OpenRouter has grown rapidly since its launch and says it has about 8 million users with access to more than 400 models. Its platform has become a central access point for developers working with multiple AI providers.
If completed at the reported price, the transaction would make OpenRouter one of the biggest acquisitions of an AI infrastructure startup this year and highlight the growing value of technology that helps businesses manage the expanding number of AI models available to them.
About the Author
Cecilia Attah is a tech analyst with a degree from Benue State University. She covers tech news and startups at TechRegard with a focus on how technology is transforming Africa and shaping the global landscape.
