The startups behind OpenAI & Anthropic

Explore what each company built, how it grew, and the deal that connected it to an AI lab.

33 company historiesReviewed

33 matching companies and 3 related deals

OpenAI

25 companies

  • Orchestra Bio

    Planning software and AI agents that connected research programs, budgets, and outside partners for biotech teams. OpenAI acquired its team and technology for its Rosalind life-sciences effort.

    company acquisitionSource

  • Glass Imaging

    Glass Imaging developed neural image processing and optical designs for device manufacturers. OpenAI’s purchase was reported in September 2026; the companies have not publicly confirmed it.

    Reported company acquisitionSource

  • NextSlide

    NextSlide turned prompts, notes, documents, and research into editable presentations. Founder Ahmed Beshry said OpenAI acquired it earlier in 2026; its team now works on ChatGPT.

    company acquisitionSource

  • Northslope

    Northslope builds custom enterprise AI applications on Palantir. The OpenAI Deployment Company acquired it to expand work with customer data and operations.

    venture acquisitionVia The OpenAI Deployment CompanySource

  • Ona

    Formerly Gitpod, Ona built cloud development environments for coding agents under enterprise controls. OpenAI acquired it for Codex; Ona Cloud is scheduled to close on October 31, 2026.

    company acquisitionSource

  • Tomoro

    Tomoro built custom AI systems for enterprise customers. OpenAI acquired it for the OpenAI Deployment Company, where its engineers joined enterprise deployment work.

    venture acquisitionVia The OpenAI Deployment CompanySource

Anthropic

8 companies

  • Casper Studios

    An AI services firm that turned product experiments into custom software and enterprise workflow work. Ode with Anthropic acquired it after the teams worked together on client projects.

    venture acquisitionVia Ode with AnthropicSource

  • Mendral

    An AI DevOps agent that investigated CI failures, proposed fixes, and automated recurring engineering work. Its team announced a move to Anthropic and plans to close the hosted product.

    team acquisitionTransition announcedSource

  • Fractional AI

    Custom AI engineering for enterprises and private-equity portfolio companies. Its team became the operating core of Ode with Anthropic.

    venture acquisitionVia Ode with AnthropicSource

  • Stainless

    Stainless generated language SDKs, documentation, and agent connectors from API specifications. Anthropic acquired it as its hosted products entered wind-down.

    company acquisitionSource

  • Coefficient Bio

    A biotech AI startup focused on biological research. Anthropic acquired it in April 2026.

    company acquisitionSource

  • Vercept

    Vercept built Vy, a Mac assistant that understood screens and carried out tasks across apps. Anthropic acquired the company to advance computer use and announced the standalone product’s retirement.

    company acquisitionSource

Related deals

Technology licenses and founder moves have different terms from a company acquisition.

  • Opaque Systems

    Opaque built protected data processing and verifiable controls for confidential AI. Anthropic reportedly licensed its technology and hired part of the team as Opaque began winding down.

    AnthropicReported licensing + hiringTransition announcedSource

  • Notch

    Notch built Max, an AI marketer connecting creative work with campaign execution and feedback. Founders Vinay Jain and Aman Jain announced that they were joining OpenAI.

    OpenAIReported founder joinedTransition announcedSource

  • OpenClaw

    An open-source personal AI agent. Creator Peter Steinberger joined OpenAI; the project continues under an independent nonprofit foundation.

    OpenAIfounder joinedSource