OpenAI has kicked off 2026 with another strategic acqui-hire, bringing the team behind executive coaching platform Convogo on board. The startup, which helps coaches, consultants, and HR teams streamline leadership assessments and feedback, will be shut down as its three co-founders — Matt Cooper, Evan Cater, and Mike Gillett — join OpenAI in an all-stock deal. Notably, OpenAI is acquiring the team’s talent rather than Convogo’s intellectual property or technology.
Convogo’s journey began as a weekend hackathon sparked by a simple question: could AI reduce the repetitive work of report writing for executive coaches, letting them focus more on human interaction? Over the past two years, the platform has supported thousands of coaches and partnered with top leadership development firms, proving the demand for AI-assisted coaching workflows.
In a statement to users, Convogo’s founders highlighted the challenges they uncovered in their work. “The real problem is bridging the gap between what is possible with each new model release and turning it into tangible outcomes,” the team wrote. They said joining OpenAI will allow them to continue creating “thoughtful, purpose-built experiences” to make AI more accessible and useful across industries.
The acquisition marks OpenAI’s ninth deal in a year, underscoring its strategy of using acquisitions to accelerate talent and capabilities. Previous buys, including Sky, Statsig, Roi, Context.ai, and Crossing Minds, followed a similar pattern: either merging products into OpenAI’s ecosystem or shutting them down entirely as the teams joined the company.
This move signals OpenAI’s growing focus on AI cloud development and talent-driven innovation, positioning the company to enhance its offerings across business and professional applications. Like its competitors, OpenAI continues to leverage mergers and acqui-hires not just for technology, but for the expertise needed to push AI into real-world impact.
source: Techcrunch