Juno Secures $12M Seed Funding to Solve CPA Burnout With AI Tax Platform

Transparent Automation for Tax Professionals

Juno, a tax preparation automation platform founded by CPAs, has raised $12 million in seed funding to expand its artificial intelligence technology. Led by Bonfire Ventures, the round includes participation from Impression Ventures and X Fund. The San Diego-based startup aims to cut tax preparation time in half by automating 90% of the manual data entry that currently plagues the industry during busy seasons.

The platform distinguishes itself through a clear box approach, providing full source-to-return traceability for every data point. Unlike opaque AI systems that risk IRS audits or professional liability, Juno keeps a human in the loop with side-by-side verification windows. This allows practitioners to validate automated decisions instantly rather than trusting a black-box algorithm that may hallucinate or miscalculate.

Founder David Haase developed the software within his own regional accounting firm after seeing the potential for AI to handle complex returns efficiently. He spent over a year refining the tool before selling his practice to scale Juno for the broader market. Today, nearly 500 firms utilize the platform to handle more than 92 different document types, including complex K-1 forms and varied tax schedules. Early adopters report significant efficiency gains, often doubling or tripling the number of returns processed daily. By integrating with existing software like TaxDome and UltraTax CS, Juno removes the bottleneck of manual entry that often leads to staff burnout. This shift allows tax professionals to move away from transactional tasks and toward high-value advisory services that clients prioritize. Investors believe Juno addresses a fundamental crisis as over 300,000 accountants have left the profession since 2020. Jim Andelman of Bonfire Ventures noted that the industry is currently wasting its best minds on repetitive tasks. The new capital will be used to scale operations and expand support for complex business returns, specifically Forms 1120 and 1065, later this year.