About
Elliot DeNolf is the founder and CTO of Payload CMS, with prior experience in designing and developing large-scale distributed backend services with expertise in high-availability systems, containerization, and deployment pipelines.
Likely emailΒ· guessed from name + firm domain, not firm-published
- eβ’β’β’@payloadcms.comreveal75% confident
Founder at PayloadYC S22
Intro paths
YC
Elliot went through Y Combinator (Summer 2022) β any YC alum in your network can reach them through the YC community.
β
In turn, Elliot can intro founders to Payload's investors below.
Payload's investors Β· 13
Baillie GiffordEdinburgh Β· since 2024BlackRockNew York Β· since 2024Caruso VenturesBoulder Β· $500K β $2.5M checks Β· since 2024Coatue ManagementNew York Β· $1M β $20M checks Β· since 2024Gradient VenturesSan Francisco Β· $100K β $10M checksGrand VenturesGrand Rapids Β· $250K β $2M checksIn-Q-TelTysons Β· $100K β $2.5M checks Β· since 2024Industrious VenturesDenverSV AngelSan FranciscoT. Rowe PriceBaltimore Β· since 2024Tiger Global ManagementNew York Β· $1M β $100M checks Β· since 2024Winklevoss CapitalNew York Β· $100K β $5M checksY CombinatorSan Francisco Β· $500K checks Β· since 2022
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Co-founders at Payload
Experience
- FigmaSoftware Engineercurrent2025 β presentGrand Rapids, Michigan, United States
- PayloadFounder & CTO2022 β 2025Grand Rapids, Michigan, United States
- ExtendSenior Software Engineer2021 β 2022
- NordstromSenior Software Engineer2020 β 2021
- NordstromSoftware Engineer2015 β 2020
- FinFolioSoftware Developer2014 β 2015Denver Metropolitan Area
- SalesPad LLCQA Automation Engineer2012 β 2014Grand Rapids Metropolitan Area
- SalesPad LLCImplementation / Support Technician2011 β 2012Grand Rapids Metropolitan Area
- MeijerQuality Assurance Tester2010 β 2011Walker, MI
Education
- Y CombinatorYC S22
- Grand Valley State UniversityBachelor of Science - BS, Information Systems
Skills & more
.NET CoregRPCApache KafkaAmazon Web Services (AWS)1TypeScriptDockerWeb Development4Object-Oriented Programming (OOP)Continuous IntegrationWeb Services1C#3Node.js
+12 more
JavascriptGitMongoDBSQLJIRAAngularDatabases.NET FrameworkAnsibleJavaMicroservicesDevOpsFrom Elliot's professional profile.
Frequently asked questions
- Who is Elliot DeNolf?
- Elliot DeNolf is the founder and CTO of Payload CMS, with prior experience in designing and developing large-scale distributed backend services with expertise in high-availability systems, containerization, and deployment pipelines.
- Where does Elliot DeNolf work?
- Elliot DeNolf is Founder of Payload.
- What companies did Elliot DeNolf found?
- Elliot DeNolf founded Payload.
- Where did Elliot DeNolf go to school?
- Elliot DeNolf studied at Y Combinator (YC S22); Grand Valley State University (Bachelor of Science - BS, Information Systems).
Founder mafias
Y Combinator mafia8,773
Also came through, then founded or led a company.
Sam AltmanPresidentFounded Tools for Humanity +3Jessica LivingstonCo-founderFounded Y CombinatorAlexis OhanianYC Summer 2005Founded RedditFred EhrsamYC Summer 2012Founded Nudge +1Matt HuangYC Winter 2011Founded HotspotsTrae StephensYC Winter 2022Founded Pursuit +1
+ 8,766 more
Y Combinator mafia4,716
Also came through, then founded or led a company.
Ryan SheaEntrepreneurshipFounded StacksTarek MansourFounded KalshiSuhail DoshiEating beans & riceFounded Playground +1Subomi OluwalanaW22Founded ConvoyDarius "Bubs" MonsefS19Founded Sightbox +3Matthew ScholzFounded Oisin Biotechnologies +3
+ 4,709 more
Grand Valley State University mafia2
Also came through, then founded or led a company.
Same school
Also attended Y Combinator2,000
Ryan SheaCo-founder of Blockstack (Stacks)Suhail DoshiFounder of Mixpanel; founder of ParticleAkshat GoenkaInvestor at Moonfire VenturesJon XuGeneral Partner at Y CombinatorTed ChaiAssociate at Scale Venture PartnersLeo LuInvestor at Foundation Capital
+ 1,994 more
Also attended Grand Valley State University15
Matthew MannGeneral Partner at Fin CapitalKelly WiardaHead of Marketing at Grand VenturesVanessa RasanenExecutive Assistant at SUPPLY CHANGE CAPITALEmily SarataDirector of Engagement at Michigan Capital NetworkGreeshma MuddamAccountant at Michigan Capital NetworkCory TincherInvestor at Detroit Venture Partners
+ 9 more
Shared employers
Also worked at Figma36
Danny RimerPartner at Index VenturesSarah GuoFounder & General Partner of ConvictionMamoon HamidPartner at Kleiner PerkinsDylan FieldCo-founder, CEO & Chair of FigmaGrey BakerGeneral Partner at Y CombinatorAjay VasheeInvestor at IVP (Institutional Venture Partners)
+ 30 more
Also worked at Extend5
Also worked at Nordstrom28
Bill GurleyGeneral Partner Emeritus at BenchmarkKirsten GreenFounder and Managing Partner at Forerunner VenturesEmily RabbittInvestor at True VenturesPerri LamirExecutive Assistant at StripesStacy Brown-PhilpotFounder & Managing Partner at Cherryrock CapitalCristina KilmartinOffice Manager at Obvious Ventures
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+ 22 more