Grade

Grade is a Y Combinator-backed company that aPI for performance-based payroll. The company participated in the Winter 2026 batch of Y Combinator.

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. Grade powers payouts for AI agents and contractors we are at $452k ARR, $520K+ paid in the last 3 weeks, growing 46% MoM across 23 live companies.

Grade was part of Y Combinator's Winter 2026 cohort, has a team of approximately 2 employees, and is actively operating.