About
James Heaney is CTO of Grade, a performance-based payroll API. He previously founded and exited a cryptography startup and a consumer mobile app called PrayScreen, and has experience in hardware engineering.
Founder, CTO at GradeYC W26
Intro paths
James went through Y Combinator (Winter 2026) — any YC alum in your network can reach them through the YC community.
Their group partner at YC was Brad Flora, Backing expeditions into the future — the partner who ran Grade's batch and knows the company first-hand. YC profile ↗
In turn, James can intro founders to Grade's investors below.
Grade's investors · 1
Co-founders at Grade
Experience
- Grade (YC W26)Co-Founder, CTOcurrent2025 — presentSan Francisco, California, United States
- Founders, Inc.Studio Founder and Engineer2024 — 2025San Francisco, California, United States
- Midnight Innovations, IncCo-Founder, CTO2021 — 2022
- SunnybrookSoftware Engineer2019 — 2022Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Skills & more
+10 more
JavaJavaScriptPythonC++CC#React.jsReact NativeAngularJSSQLFrom James's professional profile.
Frequently asked questions
- Who is James Heaney?
- James Heaney is CTO of Grade, a performance-based payroll API. He previously founded and exited a cryptography startup and a consumer mobile app called PrayScreen, and has experience in hardware engineering.
- Where does James Heaney work?
- James Heaney is Founder, CTO of Grade.
- What companies did James Heaney found?
- James Heaney founded Grade.
- Where did James Heaney go to school?
- James Heaney studied at Ryerson University (Mechanical Engineering, BEng, Mechanical Engineering).
Founder mafias
Y Combinator mafia8,773
Also came through, then founded or led a company.
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Founders mafia19
Also came through, then founded or led a company.
+ 12 more
Ryerson University mafia8
Also came through, then founded or led a company.
+ 1 more
Same school
Also attended Ryerson University34
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