Lotanna Ezeike
FounderCEO, Co-founder at Grade
San Francisco, California, United States
FoundedGrade Β· YC
About
Lotanna Ezeike was a product lead at Barclays focused on digital payments, and previously managed contractor payouts at another venture-backed company. He is now building Grade, an API for performance-based payments to AI agents and contractors.
CEO, Co-founder at GradeYC W26
Intro paths
YC
Lotanna went through Y Combinator (Winter 2026) β any YC alum in your network can reach them through the YC community.
GP
Their group partner at YC was Brad Flora, Backing expeditions into the future β the partner who ran Grade's batch and knows the company first-hand. YC profile β
β
In turn, Lotanna can intro founders to Grade's investors below.
Grade's investors Β· 1
Co-founders at Grade
JH
James HeaneyFounder, CTO
Experience
- Grade (YC W26)Co-Founder, CEOcurrent2025 β presentSan Francisco Bay Area
- Founders, Inc.Principal Product Officer (Consumer AI)2024 β 2025San Francisco, California, United States
- MorressierSenior Product Manager2023 β 2024Greater London, England, United Kingdom
- AccruentProduct Manager2022 β 2023Greater London, England, United Kingdom
- TripVisaFounder2022 β 2023Greater London, England, United Kingdom
- XPOFounder & Chief Product Officer2019 β 2022London, United Kingdom
- BarclaysProduct Manager/Digital Lead2016 β 2019
- SwiftKeyAssociate Product Manager2012London Area, United Kingdom
Skills & more
Competitive Landscape13Competitive Analysis12Collaboration Tools2Cross-functional Team Leadership2User Stories1Product DevelopmentProduct ManagementProduct Lifecycle ManagementDigital StrategyProduct Road MappingKey Performance IndicatorsBusiness-to-Business (B2B)
+12 more
Market AnalysisResearchSalesTrainingData AnalysisCustomer ServiceSocial MediaAnalytical SkillsJiraCreative IdeationMicrosoft OfficeManagementLanguages English Β· Igbo Β· Mandarin
From Lotanna's professional profile.
Frequently asked questions
- Who is Lotanna Ezeike?
- Lotanna Ezeike was a product lead at Barclays focused on digital payments, and previously managed contractor payouts at another venture-backed company. He is now building Grade, an API for performance-based payments to AI agents and contractors.
- Where does Lotanna Ezeike work?
- Lotanna Ezeike is CEO, Co-founder of Grade.
- What companies did Lotanna Ezeike found?
- Lotanna Ezeike founded Grade.
- Where did Lotanna Ezeike go to school?
- Lotanna Ezeike studied at Y Combinator; University of Leicester (Economics, Economics); Dartford Grammar School (Economics).
Founder mafias
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Barclays mafia41
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Founders mafia19
Also came through, then founded or led a company.
Huzaifa AhmadStudio Software EngineerFounded Parameter +1Furqan RydhanFounderFounded ThirdwebCG ChenFounder in ResidenceFounded Ruta HealthOscar RojasStudio FounderFounded NaraIan LaffeyStudio EngineerFounded TheseusSky YangFounder @Founded Imagine AI
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University of Leicester mafia5
Also came through, then founded or led a company.
Same school
Also attended Y Combinator2,000
Tarek MansourCo-founder & CEO of KalshiSuhail DoshiFounder of Mixpanel; founder of ParticleSubomi OluwalanaCo-founder & CEO of ConvoyMaroof AhmedFounder at Octopus VenturesJustin SwartPartner at Bitkraft Esports VenturesCollin WallaceGeneral Partner at Lobby Capital
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Also attended University of Leicester42
Drew BurdonInvestor at LSP (Life Sciences Partners)Nick CheethamGTM and Culture Expert at Notion CapitalDavid CassellsChief Financial Officer at GVP ClimateEd GregorySenior Legal Counsel at AirTree VenturesVasso FantousiLegal Counsel at RTP GlobalJonathan MilnerInvestor at Cambridge Innovation Capital
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Shared employers
Also worked at Founders, Inc.19
Furqan RydhanFounder at FoundersHubert ThieblotGeneral Partner at FoundersCG ChenFounder at Ruta HealthOscar RojasFounder at NaraIan LaffeyFounder at TheseusSky YangFounder at Imagine AI
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Also worked at Morressier2
Also worked at Accruent7
Alice ReimerCo-Founder & Venture Partner at Inovia CapitalDavid C. SchwabFounder and Managing Director at Vertical Venture PartnersHany NadaCo-Founder and Partner at ACME CapitalKyle ReesingManaging Partner at Vegvisir CapitalRam GuptaAdvisor at Altos VenturesKatie BullardManaging Director at Insight Partners
+ 1 more
Also worked at Barclays182
Bertie AykroydPartner at Mayfair Equity PartnersShemina MekkyExecutive Assistant, MENA at Golden Gate VenturesChiraag DeoraPrincipal at GreycroftSunil RaoCOO, SVP Finance at Plum Alley InvestmentsJarrid TingleInvestor at Harlem Capital PartnersPhil VenablesVenture Partner at Ballistic Ventures
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