Vijaye Raji, an Indian-origin technology executive and entrepreneur, has been appointed Chief Technology Officer of Applications (CTO of Apps) at OpenAI, following the company's $1.1 billion all-stock acquisition of his Seattle-based startup Statsig.

What Happened

The acquisition was officially announced by OpenAI on September 2, 2025, with Raji set to join the company as CTO of Applications. As part of the deal, Raji will oversee product engineering for ChatGPT and other OpenAI apps, reporting directly to Fidji Simo, CEO of OpenAI Applications.

Statsig is a platform that provides critical infrastructure for product teams to deliver features securely, track performance, and make quick decisions. Its platform combines large-scale experimentation, feature flag management, A/B testing, and comprehensive analytics into a single system, allowing engineering and product teams to scale new ideas with confidence and minimize guesswork.

Thousands of teams use Statsig today, including well-known clients in the media, gaming, and software sectors. The acquisition is seen as a significant move for OpenAI, which will gain access to Statsig's expertise in experimentation and analytics.

Background and Context

Vijaye Raji has an impressive background in technology, having spent over a decade at Microsoft before joining Facebook (now Meta) where he held senior engineering leadership roles. He founded Statsig in 2021 to democratize data-driven product decisions, and the company quickly gained traction with its innovative approach to experimentation.

Statsig announced a $10.4 million Series A funding round in August 2021 led by Sequoia Capital, followed by a $43 million Series B in April 2022. The company's services were used by employees at OpenAI, Eventbrite, and SoundCloud, among others.

Raji's appointment as CTO of Applications at OpenAI is seen as a significant move for the company, which will gain access to his expertise in experimentation and analytics. Raji will report directly to Fidji Simo, CEO of OpenAI Applications, and will oversee product engineering for ChatGPT and other OpenAI apps.

Why it Matters

The acquisition of Statsig by OpenAI is significant for the industry as a whole. With its expertise in experimentation and analytics, Statsig has become a leading player in the market, and its technology will now be integrated into OpenAI's products.

This move highlights the growing importance of experimentation and analytics in the development of AI-powered applications. As companies continue to invest heavily in AI research and development, the need for robust experimentation and analytics tools is becoming increasingly critical.

The acquisition also underscores the significance of India as a hub for technology innovation. Raji's appointment as CTO of Applications at OpenAI marks a major milestone for Indian-origin entrepreneurs in the tech industry, and highlights the country's growing reputation as a leader in AI research and development.

What Comes Next

The acquisition of Statsig by OpenAI is expected to have significant implications for the company's products and services. With Raji at the helm, OpenAI will gain access to Statsig's expertise in experimentation and analytics, which will enable the company to develop more sophisticated AI-powered applications.

The integration of Statsig's technology into OpenAI's products is likely to be a gradual process, with the company expected to announce further details in the coming weeks and months. As the industry continues to evolve, it will be interesting to see how OpenAI leverages its new acquisition to drive innovation and growth.

Key Facts

  • Vijaye Raji has been appointed Chief Technology Officer of Applications (CTO of Apps) at OpenAI following the company's $1.1 billion all-stock acquisition of his startup Statsig.
  • Statsig is a platform that provides critical infrastructure for product teams to deliver features securely, track performance, and make quick decisions.
  • Raji founded Statsig in 2021 to democratize data-driven product decisions, and the company quickly gained traction with its innovative approach to experimentation.
  • Statsig announced a $10.4 million Series A funding round in August 2021 led by Sequoia Capital, followed by a $43 million Series B in April 2022.
  • Raji will report directly to Fidji Simo, CEO of OpenAI Applications, and will oversee product engineering for ChatGPT and other OpenAI apps.