Grade
API for performance-based payroll
Founders
- Lotanna EzeikeFounder/CEO
- James HeaneyFounder/CTO
Same space
Competitors
Closest in what they build, same category.
Adjacent
Overlapping tags, a different niche.
Eazipay Inc.W22Eazipay powers effortless payroll and financial access in Africa.Shared: fintech, payments, payrollActive
BuildStreamS19Workforce solutions for the construction industryShared: fintech, payments, payrollInactive
RunaW18Automating payroll for Latin America.Shared: fintech, payrollActive
ConsulW24The Stablecoin Payouts PlatformShared: fintech, paymentsAcquired
Carbon-12 LabsW20A Global Payouts API for StartupsShared: paymentsInactive
Also from W26 in AI
Batchmates in Winter 2026.
Fenrock AIW26AI agents for banksActive
KitaW26Underwrite borrowers around the world in minutesActive
Q2QW26We help private equity teams find acquisition targets fasterInactive
/dev/fastW26/dev/fast is the AI-native code forgeActive
10x ScienceW26The AI-native platform for next-generation protein characterization.Active
21stW26UI building blocks for the agentic internetActive
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.
San Francisco, CA, USA
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.
Not affiliated with Y Combinator. From YC's public directory. Logos via logo.dev; trademarks belong to their owners.