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14,448 startups · 29 programs

Orthogonal

Active · Agentic Payments for APIs

WebsiteYC profile

Why it ranks

How the rank works
9signal of 100 · rising 9
  • went through YCProgram · this site+4
  • team of 2Team size · YC's directory+2.5
  • hiringHiring · Titles (titles.fru.dev), YC+2

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

Competitors

AIBlockRun.AIShared: pay per, apis, callPlug and PlayUnited StatesStartup →AIMaiCallShared: agent call500 Global Eurasia 10MexicoStartup →AICarettaShared: sales callYC W26San FranciscoStartup →AIInactiveFabiusShared: sales callYC W23San FranciscoStartup →AIParagon AIShared: sales callYC S22New York CityStartup →
Companies closest to Orthogonal
Company
BlockRun.AIShared: pay per, apis, callPlug and Play Not statedAI, Devtools
MaiCallShared: agent call500 Global Eurasia 10Not statedAI
CarettaShared: sales callYC W26ActiveAI
FabiusShared: sales callYC W23InactiveAI
Paragon AIShared: sales callYC S22ActiveAI

Adjacent

OtherSlice LabsShared: pay per, providerPlug and PlayUnited StatesStartup →OtherBrickShared: api providerAntler 2020SingaporeStartup →OtherAcquiredProperShared: api provider, apis, paymentYC W22San FranciscoStartup →AIBland AIShared: call, infrastructureYC S23San FranciscoStartup →DataMoesifShared: apisAlchemist Class 15San FranciscoStartup →
Companies next to Orthogonal
Company
Slice LabsShared: pay per, providerPlug and Play Not statedOther
BrickShared: api providerAntler 2020Not statedOther
ProperShared: api provider, apis, paymentYC W22AcquiredOther
Bland AIShared: call, infrastructureYC S23ActiveAI
MoesifShared: apisAlchemist Class 15Not statedData, Devtools

Also from W26 in AI

All of W26
AI/dev/fast/dev/fast is the AI-native code forgeYC W26San FranciscoStartup →AI10x ScienceThe AI-native platform for next-generation protein characterization.YC W26San FranciscoStartup →AI21stUI building blocks for the agentic internetYC W26San FranciscoStartup →AIAemonThe Forward-Deployed AI Research EngineerYC W26San FranciscoStartup →AIAgentic FabriqThe control plane for AI agents.YC W26San FranciscoStartup →AIAlt-XBuilding the best venue for private markets exposure.YC W26Los AngelesStartup →
Company
/dev/fast/dev/fast is the AI-native code forgeteam of 4ActiveAI, Devtools
10x ScienceThe AI-native platform for next-generation protein characterization.team of 5hiringActiveAI
21stUI building blocks for the agentic internetteam of 3ActiveAI, Devtools
AemonThe Forward-Deployed AI Research Engineerteam of 3hiringActiveAI, Devtools
Agentic FabriqThe control plane for AI agents.team of 2ActiveAI
Alt-XBuilding the best venue for private markets exposure.team of 2ActiveAI, Data

Founders

  • Christian PickettFounder/CEO
  • Bera SogutFounder/CTO

About Orthogonal

APIs weren't built for agents. Orthogonal fixes that. We enable agentic payments so any agent can instantly discover, access, and pay for hundreds of APIs. No subscriptions, no sales calls, just pay per use. API providers list once and get paid every time an agent calls their API.

YC batch
W26 · Winter 2026
Status, per YC
Active
Category
AI, Developer tools
Team size
2
Location
San Francisco, CA, USA
Founded
2025
Checked
6h ago

Changes seen

HiringOct 15, 2026

Started hiring.

Source ↗

Orthogonal in W26: 199 companies, 81% AI

LinkedIn

Orthogonal: questions

Which YC batch was Orthogonal in?

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

Is Orthogonal still active?

Y Combinator lists Orthogonal as active.

Who founded Orthogonal?

Orthogonal's founders, as listed on its YC page: Christian Pickett (Founder/CEO), Bera Sogut (Founder/CTO).

Where is Orthogonal based?

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