Marble Raises $9 Million to Transform Tax Work with AI
Marble, a startup developing AI tools for tax professionals, has raised $9 million in seed funding to address critical challenges in the accounting industry, including a severe labor shortage and escalating regulatory complexity.
Funding Round
The investment round was led by Susa Ventures, with contributions from MXV Capital and Konrad Capital. Marble aims to bring AI to an industry where technological adoption has lagged behind other knowledge‑based sectors like law and software development.
CEO Perspective
“Accounting generates $250 billion in fee‑based billing in the US every year,” said Bhavin Shah, Marble’s CEO. “There’s a tremendous opportunity to increase efficiency and improve margins for accounting firms.”
AI‑Powered Tax Research Tool
To demonstrate its capabilities, Marble has launched a free AI‑powered tax research tool that converts complex government tax data into clear, citation‑backed answers for practitioners. The company plans to expand into AI agents that can analyze compliance scenarios and eventually automate significant portions of tax preparation workflows.
Industry Challenges
The accounting industry has lost approximately 340,000 workers since 2019, a 17 % decline that has left firms struggling to meet client demands. This exodus is driven in part by the retirement of baby boomers and a drop in the number of new CPAs entering the field. The American Institute of CPAs estimates that 75 % of all licensed CPAs reached retirement age by 2019.
AI Adoption Trends
Despite these challenges, AI adoption in accounting has been slow compared to adjacent industries. However, recent data shows a rapid shift. A 2025 survey found that 84 % of finance and tax teams now use AI heavily in their operations, up from 47 % in 2024.
Strategic Vision
Marble’s founders argue that AI can help accounting firms shift from compliance work to more strategic advisory services, which are higher‑margin and more valued by clients. The company has made data security a priority, obtaining software compliance certification before releasing any product.
Competitive Landscape
Marble faces competition from well‑funded rivals and established players in the industry. However, the founders see opportunity in the current transition moment and aim to build trust with practitioners by offering a free research tool.
Future Outlook
“AI is going to change every industry,” Shah said. “We believe AI is ultimately going to make accounting firms’ businesses better and more profitable, and at the same time, end clients will get better services at better prices.”
