Stripe has finalised a deal to acquire OpenRouter, a startup that helps businesses switch between different AI models, Bloomberg reported, citing people familiar with the matter.
The transaction is valued at more than $7bn, although the final price could still change. People familiar with the discussions said the agreement has been reached.
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The acquisition of OpenRouter follows just months after the New York-based company reportedly raised funds at a $1.3bn valuation.
The move highlights growing demand among businesses for flexible and cost-effective AI solutions.
US-based payment processing company Stripe is expected to gain a larger presence in the AI sector through this transaction.
OpenRouter, founded in 2023, aims to give developers access to hundreds of AI models and to help them find the most efficient and affordable options for their specific needs.
The company said its platform is used by eight million developers, who can access more than 400 AI models through its service.
Much of the startup’s growth is attributed to developers who need to experiment with various models as they integrate agentic capabilities into software, which often requires infrastructure compatible with multiple providers and data sources.
The company also provides backup solutions for firms reliant on AI models and offers insights into model popularity within the technology ecosystem.
OpenRouter has raised more than $150m in investment, attracting venture funding from CapitalG, Andreessen Horowitz, and Menlo Ventures.
The reported deal comes at a time when Stripe is expanding its activity in the AI sector.
In June, Stripe announced it would provide financial infrastructure for a new Amazon Web Services (AWS) Web Application Firewall feature, allowing content owners to charge AI agents for access to web resources.
In May, AWS introduced Amazon Bedrock AgentCore Payments, enabling AI agents to use micropayments through integrations with Stripe and Coinbase, including payments with USD Coin.
