Grade Analysis
What is Grade?
Grade handles creator payments for brands, agencies, and marketplaces while taking over compliance tasks. The platform acts as merchant of record, collecting tax forms, verifying identities, and producing DAC7 reports. It says creators can be paid across 190+ countries without creating an account.
Location
San Francisco, United States
Employees
1-10
Founded
2025
Industry
Payments
Business Model v4
Fintech
Delivery Model
Self-serve SaaS / software
Functional Type
Payments & FinOps Platforms,Workflow automation,Other
YC Batch
W26
YC Partner
Brad Flora
Product Features & Capabilities
- Automated contractor payouts
- Performance-based payment options
- Tax form automation
- Global payment processing
- Contractor tracking dashboard
Use Cases
Pay contractors in 190+ countries with their email; Automate tax form submissions for contractors; Track contractor earnings without onboarding; Approve and send bulk payouts in minutes; Set payment rules for flat fees or performance bonuses
Who are the founders of Grade
JJ
Jackie Johnson
Founder & CEO at Grade
GF
Gabriela Fernández
Founder of Grade A International d/b/a at KOSHU
BW
Barry Watts
Partner and Co-founder at Grade LA LLC
Product Description
Grade offers a platform that simplifies contractor payouts, allowing users to pay contractors globally using just their email addresses. The main product features include:
- Automated Contractor Payouts: Streamlines the payment process, reducing the time and effort required to manage contractor payments.
- Performance-Based Payment Options: Allows companies to pay contractors based on their performance, enhancing flexibility in compensation.
- Tax Form Automation: Automates the generation and management of tax forms, ensuring compliance without manual intervention.
- Global Payment Capabilities: Facilitates payouts in various currencies, making it suitable for companies working with international contractors.
- No Onboarding Calls Required: Users can manage payments without the need for onboarding calls or extensive account management, simplifying the user experience.
Grade serves over 350 contractors across 190 countries, making it a versatile solution for finance teams managing contractor payments and marketing teams hiring global creators.
Other Considerations
Serves over 350 contractors; Processed over $800k in payouts; Trusted by companies like Valid and Astra AI
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