# Rilla CEO Offers Housing Stipend to Reduce Commute > Source: > Published: 2026-07-04 08:58:45+00:00 Proximity stipends are an increasingly visible lever startups use to reduce commute friction, concentrate in-person collaboration, and compete for talent in high-rent cities. Reported facts: Rilla, an AI startup that builds speech-transcription and analytics tools, offers employees up to **$1,500 a month** (about **$18,000 a year**) to live within roughly a 10-15 minute commute of its New York office, according to reporting by Fortune and HR Grapevine. Fortune reports eligibility is tied to an expectation of extended in-person hours, roughly **70 hours a week** and a `996`-style schedule; Business Insider published an as-told-to essay by CEO Sebastian Jimenez describing the stipend and the company culture. Fortune says about a dozen of roughly 80 employees have accepted the offer. Jimenez is quoted directly in the coverage on the company's productivity rationale.