OpenAI has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Neptune, a startup that builds monitoring and debugging tools that artificial intelligence (AI) companies use as they train models.
The two companies have collaborated on a metrics dashboard to help teams that are building foundation models. The companies will work “even more closely together” because of the acquisition, Neptune CEO Piotr Niedźwiedź said in a blog. Niedźwiedź also said that the startup will wind down its external services in the coming months.
“Neptune has built a fast, precise system that allows researchers to analyze complex training workflows,” OpenAI’s Chief Scientist Jakub Pachocki said in a statement. “We plan to iterate with them to integrate their tools deep into our training stack to expand our visibility into how models learn.” Meanwhile, Niedźwiedź said “This is an exciting step for us. We’ve always believed that good tools help researchers do their best work. Joining OpenAI gives us the chance to bring that belief to a new scale.”
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OpenAI has acquired several companies this year. It bought a small interface startup called Software Applications Incorporated for an undisclosed sum in October, product development startup Statsig for $1.1 billion in September and Jony Ive’s AI devices startup io for more than $6 billion in May. It also bought Software Application Inc. the makers of an AI-powered natural language interface for Mac computers called Sky. This product, which is yet to be publicly released, is designed to work alongside users as they use apps for writing, planning, coding and more.
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Neptune had raised more than $18 million in funding from investors including Almaz Capital and TDJ Pitango Ventures, according to its website. Neptune’s deal with OpenAI is still subject to customary closing conditions. “I am truly grateful to our customers, investors, co-founders, and colleagues who have made this journey possible,” Niedźwiedź said. “It was the ride of a lifetime already, yet still I believe this is only the beginning.”
OpenAI has also been laying the groundwork for an initial public offering (IPO) of up to $1 trillion, according to a Reuters report. This could be one of the biggest IPOs of all time. The report mentions that the company is considering filing with securities regulators as soon as the second half of 2026. OpenAI has looked at raising $60 billion at the low end during preliminary discussions.