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14,448 startups · 29 programs

Payna

Active · AI Licensing Agent for Regulated Industries

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

AIvizcoShared: regulated industryEF 2025LondonStartup →AIAlturShared: debt collection, agentYC S25Mexico CityStartup →AIAudunShared: debt collection, automateYC S26OsloStartup →AIKalipsoShared: regulated industry, compliance, startingPlug and PlaySpainStartup →AIMurphyShared: debt collection, agentSeedcamp 2025Startup →
Companies closest to Payna
Company
vizcoShared: regulated industryEF 2025Not statedAI
AlturShared: debt collection, agentYC S25ActiveAI
AudunShared: debt collection, automateYC S26ActiveAI
KalipsoShared: regulated industry, compliance, startingPlug and Play Not statedAI
MurphyShared: debt collection, agentSeedcamp 2025Not statedAI

Adjacent

OtherSoftreg GmbHShared: regulated industry, complianceMassChallenge Switzerland and UK 2026SwitzerlandStartup →OtherAffinityShared: regulated industry, complianceYC S23New York CityStartup →OtherBirchShared: regulated industryAI Grant Batch 1Startup →AIRulebaseShared: regulated industry, agent, emailYC F24New York CityStartup →AICorelayerShared: regulated industry, agent, financialYC W26San FranciscoStartup →
Companies next to Payna
Company
Softreg GmbHShared: regulated industry, complianceMassChallenge Switzerland and UK 2026Not statedOther
AffinityShared: regulated industry, complianceYC S23ActiveOther
BirchShared: regulated industryAI Grant Batch 1Not statedOther
RulebaseShared: regulated industry, agent, emailYC F24ActiveAI
CorelayerShared: regulated industry, agent, financialYC W26ActiveAI, 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

  • Aaron ChenFounder/CEO
  • He SongFounder/CTO

About Payna

Payna is building the AI licensing agent for regulated companies. We automate the filings, renewals, amendments, and regulator follow ups required to get licensed and stay licensed across jurisdictions, so teams no longer have to manage compliance through spreadsheets, email threads, and expensive outside firms. Starting with financial services categories like lending, debt collection, and money transmission, Payna helps companies move faster, stay compliant, and scale without adding compliance headcount linearly.

YC batch
W26 · Winter 2026
Status, per YC
Active
Category
AI
Team size
2
Location
San Francisco, CA, USA
Founded
2025
Checked
13h ago

Payna in W26: 199 companies, 81% AI

LinkedIn

Payna: questions

Which YC batch was Payna in?

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

Is Payna still active?

Y Combinator lists Payna as active.

Who founded Payna?

Payna's founders, as listed on its YC page: Aaron Chen (Founder/CEO), He Song (Founder/CTO).

Where is Payna based?

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