Modus helps companies hire and retain only the people they need instead of becoming bloated messes. Modus connects your HRIS, ATS, and analyzes extensive data across your organization so leaders can detect, inspect, and correct their workforce plans - without relying on spreadsheets or complex systems. 
 
Lin experienced these challenges firsthand as a VP BizOps at HashiCorp, scaling from 100 employees to IPO, while Amar faced similar issues scaling 40+ person teams as a fractional CTO. They’re motivated by the belief that companies should have the least number of employees possible. 
Headcount management to save costs as you scale
Title: Modus: Unlock revenue per employee with AI-powered headcount management | Y Combinator

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### Unlock revenue per employee with AI-powered headcount management

Modus helps companies hire and retain only the people they need instead of becoming bloated messes. Modus connects your HRIS, ATS, and analyzes extensive data across your organization so leaders can detect, inspect, and correct their workforce plans - without relying on spreadsheets or complex systems. Lin experienced these challenges firsthand as a VP BizOps at HashiCorp, scaling from 100 employees to IPO, while Chris and Amar faced similar issues scaling 40+ person teams as a fractional CTO. They’re motivated by the belief that companies should have the least number of employees possible.



Modus

Founded:2024

Team Size:3

Location:

### Active Founders

### Lin Ling, Founder

Lin is Co-founder and CEO of Modus. Before Modus, she was a VP BizOps at HashiCorp and helped scale from 100 to 2500 employees to IPO (rang the bell in NY). Prior to that, she implemented ERP systems at five Fortune 500 companies as a Deloitte Consultant. The clunky nature of these tools led her to appreciate the flexibility of spreadsheets but also the craft in modern software. Lin received her Bachelor's in Econ, Comp Sci, and Math at NYU Stern.



### Amar Kota, Founder

Amar is the co-founder of Modus. Before Modus, he co-founded a SaaS and developed their AI to identify key remarks in large financial disclosure statements. After his child was diagnosed with ASD, Amar focused on data analysis that led him to Modus where he is building a solution that plagued him while managing his workforce. Amar received his MS from Carnegie Mellon University and is a tenured teacher for the University of California.



### Company Launches

[### Modus: Headcount management to save costs as you scale](

[Modus]( is headcount management that helps companies never over-hire as they scale. Modus brings Finance, HR, and Hiring Managers to detect, inspect, and correct their workforce plan in one unified workflow.

Today, much time is wasted reconciling headcount across departments and exporting across disparate systems. Incomplete and outdated data adds to the pain. Companies overhire, then fire. Cycle perpetuates. Bloat and inefficiencies persist.

[Lin]( experienced these pains directly as VP of BizOps at HashiCorp, scaling from 100 to 2500 through IPO. Modus was founded on the belief that companies should have the fewest employees possible.



🤯 **The Problem: Headcount planning and reporting remains manual and painful**
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Overhiring in tech has led to over 200,000 layoffs, costing companies billions. Workforce costs account for 70-80% of a company’s expenses, yet companies still make workforce decisions in error-prone, manual spreadsheets with incomplete data. Re-orgs, department changes add to the pain. Reconciliation is messy and time-consuming. Accuracy suffers. The cycle perpetuates. As Taylor Swift might say, _“I’ve seen this film before, and I didn’t like the ending.”_

🪄 **Our Solution: AI-powered headcount management**
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Modus integrates with your existing HRIS and ATS systems, using AI to help you detect anomalies, inspect, and correct your workforce plan.

With Modus:

❌ Overhiring  
❌ Layoffs  
❌ Incomplete data  
❌ Useless meetings  
✅ Hire and retain only the people you need  
**✅** Increase visibility  
**✅** Collaborate off a single source of truth  
**✅** Save costs as you scale

The more Modus learns, the more it streamlines and automates your headcount management processes at scale.

🙋🏻‍♀️**The Ask**
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**Share this post!**

Know anyone in your network managing headcount, bogged down by spreadsheets? A VP in Finance, HR, or Operations? Please share this post (or the blurb below).

*   _Modus is headcount management to save costs as you scale. With the help of AI, our software analyzes extensive data across your organization, helping you remove the bloat and correct your workforce plan – all in one unified workflow. Founders are Lin (ex-HashiCorp), Amar (ex-Finfare), and Chris (ex-OpenGov, 2x founder) with combined experience scaling companies from 0 to 1, to $8B+, and through IPO. Contact _[_lin@himodus.com_](mailto:lin@himodus.com)_ for a demo and trial._



### Hear from the founders

#### What is your long-term vision? If you truly succeed, what will be different about the world?

Our ‘level 5’ vision is to automate workforce management at scale and to build efficient companies with the least number of employees possible.
