Highnote
Highnote is a payments platform that combines card issuing, acquiring, credit, and ledgering for enterprises launching financial products. The company has raised $229M and employs 167 people.
The growth story
Highnote grew from 120 to 167 employees between 2023 and 2026, raising $229M along the way, most recently a Series B in January 2025.
About
Highnote provides a unified platform for enterprises to build and scale financial products, addressing the fragmentation of using multiple vendors for issuing, acquiring, credit, and ledgering. Its solution aims to reduce time to market and improve visibility across the payment lifecycle.
The company, founded in 2020, has raised $229M in funding, including a Series B round in January 2025. Its headcount stands at 167, though growth rates are not disclosed.
Founders and leadership
Engineering is the largest function at Highnote, with 55 employees. The company has a median tenure of 3 years, suggesting stable leadership and team retention.
The Highnote org chart
John MacIlwaine (Chief Executive Officer) leads 44 mapped leaders with 6 direct reports. Click +N to expand a team; names link to the person’s public profile.
Departments, and which ones grew
Headcount by function: Engineering 62 (-3% YoY), Finance 17 (+13% YoY), Operations 16 (-11% YoY), Information Technology 14 (+56% YoY), Sales 10 (+67% YoY), Business Development 8 (+14% YoY).
Talent flow
Highnote draws talent from major payments and fintech companies, including Marqeta (14 hires), Braintree (11), and LendingClub (9). Alumni have moved to companies like Marqeta, PayPal, and MoonPay.
Most common previous employers of Highnote staff: Marqeta (14), Braintree (11), LendingClub (9), PayPal (8), Visa (6), Square (5). Former Highnote employees most often moved to Marqeta (4), PayPal (3), MoonPay (3), Pebl (2), BambooHR (2), TikTok (2).
Alumni worth knowing
The Highnote mafia
Highnote alumni have founded 4 companies, including SparqKids, Verc, Elliott Mobile Vet, and Denful.
4Victoria Ku, was Head of Product Management and Design until 2024Thalita Berpan, was Head of Product (Founding PM) until 2025Marcus Elliott, CAMS, was Director of Compliance until 2026Jason Bowman, was Senior Software Engineer until 2023Hiring now
Web traffic
Traffic mix: 50% direct, 20% search, 6% social, 0% paid.
What this company is made of
Most common skills at Highnote: Java (59), SQL (56), Software Development (46), JavaScript (43), Leadership (41), Management (39), Microsoft Office (38), Agile Methodologies (37).
Where the team actually sits
Highnote people are concentrated in California, United States (51), San Francisco Bay Area (23), Texas, United States (6), United States (6).
Search footprint
Highnote attracts about 682 organic search visits a month, traffic worth roughly $4K a month if bought through ads. It gained 99 ranking keywords and lost 90 in the last period.
Frequently asked
Highnote has 167 employees as of September 2026.
Highnote has raised $229M in total, most recently a Series B round in January 2025.
Highnote was founded in 2020 by Kin Kee.
John MacIlwaine (Chief Executive Officer) sits at the top of Highnote's reporting structure, with 6 direct reports.
The most common previous employers of current Highnote staff are Marqeta (14 people), Braintree (11 people), LendingClub (9 people).
Former Highnote employees most often move to Marqeta (4), PayPal (3), MoonPay (3).
At least 4 companies have a founder who previously worked at Highnote, including SparqKids, Verc, Elliott Mobile Vet.
Highnote attracts about 682 organic search visits a month, worth roughly $4K a month in equivalent ad spend.
The most common skills among Highnote staff are Java, SQL, Software Development, JavaScript, Leadership.
Highnote staff are concentrated in California, United States (51), San Francisco Bay Area (23), Texas, United States (6).
Highnote has about 62 people in Engineering, down 3% over the past year, as of September 2026.
Highnote has about 17 people in Finance, up 13% over the past year, as of September 2026.
Computed from 125 current and 101 former Highnote profiles, as of September 2026. Source: Crustdata.
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