OpenAI Acquires Convogo Founders to Bolster Enterprise Cloud Strategy

OpenAI has officially acquired the three-person founding team behind Convogo, a San Francisco startup focused on leadership development automation. Co-founders Matt Cooper, Evan Cater, and Mike Gillett have joined the AI research lab as members of the technical staff. This all-stock deal serves as a talent acquisition, with OpenAI opting not to acquire the startup's existing intellectual property or codebase. While the public announcement arrived in early 2026, LinkedIn records suggest the team joined OpenAI in November 2025. This strategic move follows a series of talent acquisitions designed to strengthen infrastructure and application layers. Convogo's platform is expected to wind down as the founders shift focus, according to details shared by MarketWatch.

The Convogo team brings a wealth of experience in bridging the gap between raw model intelligence and professional outcomes. Matt Cooper, the startup's CEO, was inspired to build the tool after observing the administrative burdens faced by executive coaches. Mike Gillett and Evan Cater join him, bringing specialized skills in full-stack engineering and AI integration from their previous roles at firms like LiveRamp.

Convogo began as a weekend project aimed at automating the qualitative data analysis required for 360-degree surveys and interview synthesis. By creating a purpose-built experience for HR talent leaders, the team managed to partner with several of the world's top leadership development firms. The founders credit their success to focusing on the human elements of coaching while letting AI handle the repetitive paperwork.

Industry analysts view this acquisition as part of OpenAI's push toward expanding its cloud efforts and enterprise-facing tools. Instead of focusing solely on training larger models, the company is recruiting product engineers who understand how to build vertical software solutions. These engineers are tasked with making AI more accessible and useful for professionals across various industries.

The startup was backed by notable investors including South Park Commons and OVO Fund, highlighting the high market interest in executive coaching tech. In a farewell message, the founders expressed excitement about joining OpenAI to continue making AI a practical reality for high-value human work. They thanked their advisors and families for supporting the journey from a simple hackathon idea to a major acquisition.