BBVA joins OpenAI’s new DeployCo venture

By Parth Prabhudesai

BBVA has joined as a founding partner of OpenAI’s newly launched OpenAI Deployment Company (DeployCo), a venture aimed at helping enterprises build and deploy production-grade AI systems.

OpenAI announced the standalone business this week, stating that DeployCo will support organisations in integrating AI models into critical business operations through embedded engineering teams and customised deployment services.

The initiative will place Forward Deployed Engineers (FDEs) within client organisations to design, test and deploy AI systems connected to company data, internal tools and operational workflows.

OpenAI has committed an initial $4 billion to the venture and has also agreed to acquire applied AI consulting and engineering firm Tomoro to strengthen DeployCo’s capabilities. The acquisition is expected to add around 150 engineers to the new business once completed.

Existing Tomoro clients include Tesco, Virgin Atlantic and Supercell.

BBVA joins several other founding partners in the initiative, including Goldman Sachs, SoftBank Corp and Warburg Pincus. The project is also supported by investors and consulting firms such as Bain Capital, Capgemini and McKinsey & Company.

BBVA has been working with OpenAI since 2024 to deploy ChatGPT Enterprise tools across its operations in Spain.

Antonio Bravo, Head of Data at BBVA, said long-term enterprise transformation through AI requires the right capabilities, talent and partnerships. He described the bank’s involvement in DeployCo as the next step in helping enterprise clients adopt and scale AI technologies more effectively.

The launch reflects growing demand among large organisations for structured and enterprise-grade AI deployment services as adoption of generative AI accelerates across industries.