IonRouter: High-Throughput, Low-Cost AI Inference Router (YC W26)
What it is
YC-backed inference routing platform that automatically selects the cheapest/fastest AI model for each request across providers (OpenAI, Anthropic, Google, open-source). Reduces AI API costs by 40 to 70% without quality loss by routing simple tasks to cheaper models and complex tasks to premium ones. Single API endpoint, no code changes.
Why we picked it
Launched this week on HN. Cost is the #1 barrier for founders running AI automations at scale. IonRouter directly solves this, students building AI-powered services can immediately cut their API bills. Essential knowledge for Module 7 students building profitable automation businesses.
How you might use it
Operations work is often invisible until something breaks. This fits the Run Smoother Operations workflow, which is about fixing the processes you run more than once a week. Pick one of those processes and test it there first.
Visit the resource
Go to ionrouter.ioOpens the official site in a new tab.
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The guided path
Want the guided path? The playbook shows you what to build first, step by step.
Seven workflows. The best tools from this library, arranged into a sequence that gets your first automation running in your first session.