Promise

Active · Better payment systems for governments and the communities they serve.

YC W18

Website YC profile

Why it ranks

How the rank works

16signal of 100 · rising 2

team of 80Team size · YC's directory+9.9
went through YCProgram · this site+4
hiringHiring · Titles (titles.fru.dev), YC+2

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

Competitors

Data

PoloTabShared: actually work, payments, techYC W23Mexico CityStartup →Other

ForageShared: govtech, payments, governmentYC S21San FranciscoStartup →AI

DialogusShared: actually workYC S26San FranciscoStartup →AI

CaptoShared: govtech, government, systemYC S26San FranciscoStartup →AIAcquired

Percept.AIShared: actually workYC S17San FranciscoStartup →

Companies closest to Promise
Company	Category	Status	Program
PoloTabShared: actually work, payments, techYC W23ActiveData	Data	Active	YCW23
ForageShared: govtech, payments, governmentYC S21ActiveOther	Other	Active	YCS21
DialogusShared: actually workYC S26ActiveAI, Devtools	AI, Devtools	Active	YCS26
CaptoShared: govtech, government, systemYC S26ActiveAI	AI	Active	YCS26
Percept.AIShared: actually workYC S17AcquiredAI	AI	Acquired	YCS17

Adjacent

CemblaShared: govtech, governmentYC S23San FranciscoStartup →OtherStairs FinancialShared: govtech, government, actuallyYC W22New York CityStartup →OtherAcquired

GovPredictShared: govtech, government, systemYC S14WashingtonStartup →AI

GovDashShared: govtech, government, workYC W22New York CityStartup →AI

ParticularityShared: govtech, governmentYC F26San FranciscoStartup →

Companies next to Promise
Company	Category	Status	Program
CemblaShared: govtech, governmentYC S23ActiveAI	AI	Active	YCS23
Stairs FinancialShared: govtech, government, actuallyYC W22 +1ActiveOther	Other	Active	YC +1W22
GovPredictShared: govtech, government, systemYC S14AcquiredOther	Other	Acquired	YCS14
GovDashShared: govtech, government, workYC W22ActiveAI	AI	Active	YCW22
ParticularityShared: govtech, governmentYC F26ActiveAI	AI	Active	YCF26

Also from W18 in AI

All of W18

Cognition IPFlat-fee patent & trademark counsel with top firm resultsYC W18San FranciscoStartup →AI

FondoBookkeeping, tax, & tax credits on autopilot for 2,000+ startupsYC W18San FranciscoStartup →AIAcquired

NaborlyA credit bureau for the renting generation.YC W18TorontoStartup →AI

Tilt (f.k.a. Delphia)An AI startup in Y Combinator's Winter 2018 batch, based in Toronto.YC W18TorontoStartup →AI

AcelyEvery student's AI coach for college readinessYC W18San FranciscoStartup →AI

AlgoSurg IncSurgical AI for medical device companies: Patient scan to robot-ready…YC W18MHStartup →

Company	Category	Status
Cognition IPFlat-fee patent & trademark counsel with top firm resultsteam of 12ActiveAI	AI	Active
FondoBookkeeping, tax, & tax credits on autopilot for 2,000+ startupsteam of 80hiringActiveAI	AI	Active
NaborlyA credit bureau for the renting generation.team of 25acquiredAcquiredAI	AI	Acquired
Tilt (f.k.a. Delphia)An AI startup in Y Combinator's Winter 2018 batch, based in Toronto.team of 25hiringActiveAI	AI	Active
AcelyEvery student's AI coach for college readinessteam of 302 programsActiveAI	AI	Active
AlgoSurg IncSurgical AI for medical device companies: Patient scan to robot-ready…team of 32 programsActiveAI	AI	Active

About Promise

Promise modernizes government payments helping agencies recover more revenue while giving residents flexible, humane ways to pay. We replace broken systems with tech that actually works for everyone.

YC batch: W18 · Winter 2018
Status, per YC: Active
Category: AI
Team size: 80
Location: San Francisco, CA, USA
Checked: 7h ago

YC tags: Fintech, GovTech, Payments, AI

Changes seen

TagsOct 19, 2026

Newly tagged AI; no longer tagged Artificial Intelligence.

Source ↗

Promise in W18: 146 companies, 26% AI

Promise: questions

Which YC batch was Promise in?

Promise was in Y Combinator's Winter 2018 batch (W18).

Is Promise still active?

Y Combinator lists Promise as active.

Where is Promise based?

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