Top accelerator startups

Startups14,448Programs29

14,448 startups · 29 programs

Masterpiece

Active · Working capital for data companies training frontier AI

WebsiteYC profile

Why it ranks

How the rank works
7signal of 100 · rising 7
  • went through YCProgram · this site+4
  • team of 3Team size · YC's directory+3.1

A sum of public facts, not a judgement and not investment advice.

Competitors

AICartpoleShared: training frontier, learning environment, reinforcement learningYC X25San FranciscoStartup →AIAcquiredAxleShared: term working, working capital, short termPlug and PlayUnited StatesStartup →OtherInactivePantore PayShared: working capital, lending, payYC W22São PauloStartup →OtherNumidaShared: working capital, credit and lendingYC W22KampalaStartup →AIAviroShared: data vendor, learning environment, reinforcement learningYC X25San FranciscoStartup →OtherPrime IntellectShared: reinforcement learning, evaluationStartup →
Companies closest to Masterpiece
Company
CartpoleShared: training frontier, learning environment, reinforcement learningYC X25ActiveAI, Data
AxleShared: term working, working capital, short termPlug and Play AcquiredAI
Pantore PayShared: working capital, lending, payYC W22InactiveOther
NumidaShared: working capital, credit and lendingYC W22ActiveOther
AviroShared: data vendor, learning environment, reinforcement learningYC X25ActiveAI
Prime Intellectnot in a program hereShared: reinforcement learning, evaluationElsewhereOther

Adjacent

Developer toolsPreference ModelShared: learning environment, reinforcement learningSPC 2025San FranciscoStartup →OtherFirst CircleShared: term working, working capital, short term500 Global 2015PhilippinesStartup →OtherEarlytradeShared: working capitalAntler 2022AustraliaStartup →AIPraxis RoboticsShared: data vendor, training data, frontierYC S26San FranciscoStartup →OtherLendoShared: working capital, short term, invoice500 Global 2019Saudi ArabiaStartup →
Companies next to Masterpiece
Company
Preference ModelShared: learning environment, reinforcement learningSPC 2025Not statedDevtools
First CircleShared: term working, working capital, short term500 Global 2015Not statedOther
EarlytradeShared: working capitalAntler 2022Not statedOther
Praxis RoboticsShared: data vendor, training data, frontierYC S26ActiveAI
LendoShared: working capital, short term, invoice500 Global 2019Not statedOther

Also from X26 in AI

All of X26
AIAbInitio BioThe Intelligence layer for Drug ManufacturingYC X26BostonStartup →AIAdvanced Metal ResearchMachine intelligence for American WeldingYC X26Los AngelesStartup →AIAgentPhonePhone Numbers for AI AgentsYC X26San FranciscoStartup →AIAGI Deploy CoDiffusing AI into critical industriesYC X26San FranciscoStartup →AIAkkariAutonomous Customer OperationsYC X26San FranciscoStartup →AIAlchemizeBuilding AI Native Customs BrokeragesYC X26San FranciscoStartup →
Company
AbInitio BioThe Intelligence layer for Drug Manufacturingteam of 2ActiveAI
Advanced Metal ResearchMachine intelligence for American Weldingteam of 3ActiveAI
AgentPhonePhone Numbers for AI AgentshiringActiveAI
AGI Deploy CoDiffusing AI into critical industriesteam of 2ActiveAI
AkkariAutonomous Customer Operationsteam of 5ActiveAI
AlchemizeBuilding AI Native Customs Brokeragesteam of 2ActiveAI

Founders

  • Benjamin NguyenFounder/CEO
  • Vivek YanamadulaFounder/CTO

About Masterpiece

We believe AI will be one of humanity’s next great masterpieces. Building it will require financial infrastructure as ambitious as the companies creating it. We're founders backed by Y Combinator building the financial rails underpinning the AI data economy. Masterpiece provides short term working capital to data vendors that sell training data, evaluation work, and reinforcement learning environments to frontier AI labs. A major financing gap exists in this market. Data vendors often need to pay contributors and fund operations before a lab has completed QA, accepted the work, and paid the invoice. This creates a 30 to 90 day cash gap between when vendors incur costs and when they receive payment. Legacy invoice lenders have little visibility into how to underwrite these assets. Masterpiece closes that gap by advancing capital against high quality lab contracts and invoices. Vendors can use the capital to scale delivery, pay contributors, and fund growth, then repay masterpiece when the lab payment arrives.

YC batch
X26 · Spring 2026
Status, per YC
Active
Category
AI
Team size
3
Location
New York City, NY, USA
Founded
2026
Checked
7h ago

YC tags: Crypto / Web3, Lending, AI

Masterpiece in X26: 194 companies, 84% AI

LinkedIn

Masterpiece: questions

Which YC batch was Masterpiece in?

Masterpiece was in Y Combinator's Spring 2026 batch (X26).

Is Masterpiece still active?

Y Combinator lists Masterpiece as active.

Who founded Masterpiece?

Masterpiece's founders, as listed on its YC page: Benjamin Nguyen (Founder/CEO), Vivek Yanamadula (Founder/CTO).

Where is Masterpiece based?

Masterpiece lists New York City, NY, USA as its location on YC's directory.