Grade

YC W26 · Active · API for performance-based payroll

Competitors

Companies closest to Grade
Company	Category	Status	Program
Carbon-12 LabsShared: global payout, payments, apiInactiveDevtools	Devtools	Inactive	YCW20
DeelShared: payroll, deel, performanceActiveAI	AI	Active	YCW19
Eazipay Inc.Shared: payroll, payments, apiActiveOther	Other	Active	YCW22
RunaShared: payroll, performance, reportingActiveOther	Other	Active	YCW18
OnfolkShared: payroll, gusto, reportingAcquiredOther	Other	Acquired	YCS21

Adjacent

Companies next to Grade
Company	Category	Status	Program
ConsulShared: payments, payoutAcquiredOther	Other	Acquired	YCW24
CentralShared: payroll, work, hourAcquiredAI	AI	Acquired	YCS24
GustoShared: payroll, gusto, workActiveOther	Other	Active	YCW12
BuildStreamShared: payroll, paymentsInactiveOther	Other	Inactive	YC +1S19
malibouShared: payroll, compliance, notActiveOther	Other	Active	YCW24

Also from W26 in AI

All of W26

Company	Category	Status
Fenrock AIAI agents for banksActiveAI	AI	Active
KitaUnderwrite borrowers around the world in minutesActiveAI	AI	Active
Q2QWe help private equity teams find acquisition targets fasterInactiveAI	AI	Inactive
/dev/fast/dev/fast is the AI-native code forgeActiveAI, Devtools	AI, Devtools	Active
10x ScienceThe AI-native platform for next-generation protein characterization.ActiveAI	AI	Active
21stUI building blocks for the agentic internetActiveAI, Devtools	AI, Devtools	Active

Founders

Lotanna EzeikeFounder/CEO
James HeaneyFounder/CTO

About Grade

Grade is the API for performance-based payroll. Think of us like Deel or Gusto, but our payouts are for work completed, not hours. Companies use Grade to pay AI agents and contractors based on results: tasks completed, targets hit, work delivered. We handle compliance, tax reporting, and global payouts.

YC batch: W26 · Winter 2026
Status, per YC: Active
Category: AI
Team size: 2
Location: San Francisco, CA, USA
Founded: 2025
Checked: 31m ago

YC tags: Fintech, Payments, Payroll, AI

Grade in W26: 199 companies, 80% AI

Grade: questions

Which YC batch was Grade in?

Grade was in Y Combinator's Winter 2026 batch (W26).

Is Grade still active?

Y Combinator lists Grade as active.

Who founded Grade?

Grade's founders, as listed on its YC page: Lotanna Ezeike (Founder/CEO), James Heaney (Founder/CTO).

Where is Grade based?

Grade lists San Francisco, CA, USA as its location on YC's directory.

Sources: each program's public company list, read twice a week. Not affiliated with Y Combinator or any other program. Logos via logo.dev; trademarks belong to their owners.