OpenAI Acquires Team Behind Executive Coaching AI Tool Convogo

OpenAI has completed another acqui-hire, bringing on the team behind Convogo, a business software platform that automates leadership assessments and feedback for executive coaches, consultants, and HR teams.

An OpenAI spokesperson confirmed that the company is not acquiring Convogo’s intellectual property or product, but is instead hiring the startup’s team to contribute to OpenAI’s AI cloud initiatives. Convogo’s three co-founders — Matt Cooper, Evan Cater, and Mike Gillett — will join OpenAI in an all-stock transaction, according to a source familiar with the deal.

Convogo’s product will be shut down as part of the transition.

The startup originated from what its founders described as a weekend hackathon, inspired by a question from Cooper’s mother. This executive coach wondered whether AI could replace the time-consuming task of writing assessment reports, allowing coaches to focus more on human-centred work. Over the past two years, Convogo said it supported thousands of coaches and partnered with some of the world’s leading leadership development firms, according to an email sent to users announcing the acquisition.

In that message, the founders said their work revealed a broader challenge: closing the gap between rapid advances in AI models and their practical application in professional settings.

“We’re convinced now more than ever that the key to bridging that gap lies in thoughtful, purpose-built experiences, like what we’ve built for coaches at Convogo,” the team wrote. “That’s why we’re excited to join OpenAI and continue making AI more accessible and impactful for professionals across industries.”

The Convogo deal represents OpenAI’s ninth acquisition in roughly a year, according to PitchBook data. In most of those transactions, the acquired products were either integrated into OpenAI’s ecosystem— such as Sky, an AI interface for Mac, and Statsig, a product testing platform—or discontinued as teams joined OpenAI, as seen with Roi, Context.ai, and Crossing Minds.

The acqui-hire underscores how OpenAI is using mergers and acquisitions to rapidly expand its talent and capabilities, a strategy mirrored by many competitors. One notable exception is OpenAI’s acquisition of io Products, founded by Jony Ive, which continues to pursue its own product roadmap as the two companies collaborate on AI-focused hardware.

The Convogo move highlights OpenAI’s continued emphasis on blending cutting-edge AI research with real-world professional applications.