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Litmus

YC S26

New York City, US · Founded 2025 · 3 employees · 13 known investors

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Litmus is a hiring platform that evaluates software engineers through practical assessments aligned with how modern engineering teams actually work, replacing traditional interview processes.

Also known as Avert · Avert, Litmus, Avert

AI & Machine LearningEnterprise SoftwareHR TechRecruitingData EngineeringAIUnited States of AmericaAmerica / Canada

Founders & leadership· Y Combinator alumni (S26)

Litmus was founded in 2025 by Shaivi Rau and Elena Zhao.

SRShaivi Rau
Shaivi RauCo-Founder, CEOShaivi Rau is CEO of Litmus and previously worked at Morgan Stanley, early-stage companies, and in venture capital. She studied computer science and film at Columbia.
EZElena Zhao
Elena ZhaoCo-Founder, CTOElena Zhao is the founder of Litmus, a hiring platform that evaluates software engineers through practical assessments.

Investors · 13

Y Combinatorlisted by Y CombinatorSan Francisco · $500K

How we know: the Y Combinator directory · open dataset · 5k.vc investor directory · Not right? Tell us

AV Capitalreported

How we know: Y Combinator's founder network · Not right? Tell us

Insight PartnersreportedNew York · $120M – $350M

How we know: funding news · press coverage · Not right? Tell us

Inventum Venturesreported

How we know: Y Combinator's founder network · Not right? Tell us

Lyra Capital Pty LtdreportedSydney

How we know: Y Combinator's founder network · Not right? Tell us

Momenta VenturesreportedLucerne

How we know: open dataset · 5k.vc investor directory · Not right? Tell us

PioneerreportedToronto, Ontario

How we know: Y Combinator's founder network · Not right? Tell us

Sandwith Ventures, LLCreported

How we know: Y Combinator's founder network · Not right? Tell us

Spectrum EquityreportedBoston · $25M – $250M

How we know: open dataset · 5k.vc investor directory · Not right? Tell us

Twenty Two VenturesreportedPalo Alto · $50K – $250K

How we know: Y Combinator's founder network · Not right? Tell us

Vocation CapitalreportedMenlo Park

How we know: Y Combinator's founder network · Not right? Tell us

Also in the syndicate · 1

Beldenlead

Funding

SEC filings, press & company announcements
  • Undisclosed amountSeries BSep 2022 · 2 sources

    Belden (lead)

    Source ↗

Source: company announcements and press reports — follow each round's link for the claim.

Images

Litmus photo

Related companies · 6

TsentaTsenta automates job applications by monitoring 50,000+ career pages across major applicant tracking systems and submitting tailored, ATS-optimized applications within minutes of job postings. The platform serves active job seekers seeking to increase application volume and speed while maintaining quality application materials.
LitmosLitmos is a learning platform that helps organizations build workforce capabilities through AI-powered learning, personalized experiences, and integration with business systems. It serves enterprises seeking to accelerate employee productivity, enable customer education, and measure learning outcomes against business goals.
MatchaMatcha operates a hiring platform for hospitals and health systems to identify and match clinical staff candidates. The service aims to reduce hiring timelines and costs compared to traditional job boards and recruitment agencies.
LummusLummus Technology is a global technology provider offering expertise across science, engineering, and technology to serve industrial customers. The company operates through specialized capabilities and affiliate companies to deliver solutions across multiple domains.
SorceSorce helps job seekers discover positions by swiping through opportunities, with automated application submission powered by AI.
BoltoBolto combines AI-powered screening with a network of local recruiters to help companies hire global talent faster. The platform also handles payroll, compliance, and workforce management for distributed teams across multiple countries.

Companies working in the same space as Litmus.

Legal entities · 1

corporate structure
Litmus Ltd.

In the news

Litmus - The industry's most accurate engineering interviewycombinator.com · Jul 2026

Frequently asked questions

What does Litmus do?
Litmus is a hiring platform that evaluates software engineers through practical assessments aligned with how modern engineering teams actually work, replacing traditional interview processes.
Who founded Litmus?
Litmus was founded by Shaivi Rau, Elena Zhao in 2025.
Who are Litmus's investors?
Litmus's investors include Vela Partners, Y Combinator, AV Capital, Insight Partners, Inventum Ventures, Lyra Capital Pty Ltd, Momenta Ventures, Pioneer and 4 more.
Where is Litmus headquartered?
Litmus is headquartered in New York City, US.