This Startup Secretly Detects Fraud For Fortune 500s

What this episode covers

In this episode of Founder Firesides, YC Managing Partner Jared Friedman talks to Karine Mellata, co-founder of Variance (W23), who is coming out of stealth and announcing their $21 million Series A. Variance builds purpose-built AI agents for risk and compliance — automating fraud detection, content review, and identity verification for Fortune 500 companies and platforms like GoFundMe. They discuss why Variance built in the shadows for three years, detecting state-sponsored fraud rings, and the accident that nearly ended the company.

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Frequently Asked Questions

How long is this episode of Y Combinator Startup Podcast?

This episode is 31 minutes long.

When was this Y Combinator Startup Podcast episode published?

This episode was published on March 31, 2026.

What is this episode about?

In this episode of Founder Firesides, YC Managing Partner Jared Friedman talks to Karine Mellata, co-founder of Variance (W23), who is coming out of stealth and announcing their $21 million Series A. Variance builds purpose-built AI agents for risk...

Can I download this Y Combinator Startup Podcast episode?

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