OpenAI Agrees to Acquire Startup Windsurf in $3B Deal

Tuelee Anh
May 6
2 min read

One day you're debugging code, building product, and shipping features like any other startup. The next, you're on the phone with OpenAI.

That’s the surreal kind of week Windsurf, formerly Codeium, just had.

According to Bloomberg, OpenAI just made waves in the AI industry by agreeing to acquire Windsurf, an innovative AI-assisted coding tool formerly known as Codeium, for about $3 billion. This deal, if finalized, will be the largest acquisition to date for the ChatGPT creator, signaling an aggressive move in an increasingly competitive space.

Although both OpenAI and Windsurf have yet to officially comment on the acquisition, sources familiar with the ongoing discussions confirmed the deal’s progress, speaking anonymously due to its private nature.

This significant acquisition aligns with OpenAI's recent fundraising milestone, a massive $40 billion round led by SoftBank Group Corp., pushing OpenAI’s valuation to an impressive $300 billion. Interestingly, OpenAI recently shifted its strategy away from restructuring into a conventional for-profit entity, following intense public scrutiny and feedback.

But why Windsurf? Why now?

OpenAI is likely making this strategic acquisition to quickly strengthen its foothold in a fiercely competitive market. Competitors like Google's Gemini and China's DeepSeek are increasingly placing pricing pressure on foundational AI models, while rivals such as Anthropic and Google have recently launched models outperforming OpenAI’s offerings in coding benchmarks.

Instead of building a coding assistant from scratch, OpenAI can instantly tap into Windsurf’s established developer community and mature product, rapidly expanding its business in developer-focused AI tools. Previously, Bloomberg News also highlighted talks between OpenAI and Windsurf, underscoring the seriousness of their strategic interest.

Windsurf, formally known as Exafunction Inc., had been actively engaging with top-tier venture investors such as Kleiner Perkins and General Catalyst, aiming to secure funding at around a $3 billion valuation. Notably, just last year, Windsurf secured funding at a valuation of $1.25 billion in a round led by General Catalyst, reflecting rapid growth and escalating market interest.

At VinVentures, we're closely watching this shift, recognizing it as a signal for founders in Southeast Asia and beyond: the future belongs to those who deeply understand user workflows and build indispensable, daily-use AI tools.

If you’re building something like that, don't hesitate to apply through our website to connect and talk!