OpenAI plans to bring on board the team responsible for developing the executive coaching AI platform Convogo

OpenAI Welcomes Convogo Team in Latest Talent Acquisition

OpenAI has started the year by bringing on board the team behind Convogo, a platform designed to streamline leadership assessments and feedback for executive coaches, consultants, HR professionals, and talent managers. Rather than acquiring Convogo’s intellectual property or software, OpenAI is hiring the team to contribute to its ongoing “AI cloud” initiatives.

The three Convogo co-founders—Matt Cooper, Evan Cater, and Mike Gillett—will be joining OpenAI through an all-stock agreement, according to sources familiar with the arrangement.

Convogo’s existing product will be discontinued as part of this transition.

Convogo originated from a weekend project inspired by a question from Cooper’s mother, an executive coach, who wondered if artificial intelligence could take over the tedious task of report writing, freeing her to focus on the more meaningful aspects of coaching. Over the last two years, Convogo has supported thousands of coaches and collaborated with leading firms in leadership development, according to an announcement from the company.

In their message about the acquisition, the Convogo team highlighted a key challenge they discovered: turning the potential of each new AI model into tangible, real-world results.

The founders expressed their belief that the solution lies in carefully crafted, purpose-driven tools—like those they built at Convogo. “We’re more convinced than ever that bridging this gap requires thoughtful, specialized experiences. That’s why we’re excited to join OpenAI and continue making AI practical and accessible for professionals everywhere,” they shared.

OpenAI’s Acquisition Strategy

This move marks OpenAI’s ninth acquisition in the past year, based on PitchBook data. In most cases, OpenAI has either integrated the acquired products into its own ecosystem—such as the Mac AI interface Sky and product testing startup Statsig—or discontinued the products while absorbing the teams, as seen with Roi, Context.ai, and Crossing Minds.

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OpenAI’s Approach to Mergers and Acquisitions

The Convogo acquisition underscores OpenAI’s strategy of using mergers and acquisitions to rapidly enhance its talent pool and capabilities. One notable exception is the purchase of Jonny Ive’s io Products, which continues to develop its own products while collaborating with OpenAI to create new AI hardware.