Area tech startup using AI for better accounting raises $120K

Pezzi, a tech startup with offices in Tampa and Sarasota that uses artificial intelligence to create accounting software for small businesses, has raised $120,000 from undisclosed investors. 

The funding, according to a statement, is pre-seed, meaning it will likely be used for product development in return for equity in the business. The company, which means pieces in Italian, was founded by Andres Hernandez, who grew up in the region, the release states. Hernandez has worked in software engineering for the past three years, according to his LinkedIn profile, including a stint as quality assurance engineer for Walt Disney Co.

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"Our successful funding round is a pivotal moment for Pezzi,” Hernandez says in the statement. “It's a validation of our vision to revolutionize small business financial management through innovative technology."

Pezzi, according to a spokesperson, does about $324,000 a year in revenue and around 150 clients/business owners use the technology. It has an office in Sarasota, where it was founded, and Tampa, where Hernandez has shared space with the company CFO and a marketing specialist. The company was founded in January 2023.

Hernandez, according to the statement, founded the company “to break down the complexities of accounting into manageable segments,” using AI to offer “custom solutions tailored for small businesses.” Pezzi's capabilities, the company says, include “automated bookkeeping, minimization of human error, automatic tax adjustments and real-time data processing through seamless bank integration.”

This story was updated to reflect the correct number of clients/business owners that use the technology.