With Tabby, a former accountant is using AI to make accountants obsolete
Tabby is designed to be a real-time bookkeeping interface, handling clients’ paperwork as it gives them up-to-the-minute data on their business’s profit and loss.
In May of 2025, Ahad Ali, a former accountant, was overseeing a team of 20 people and managing over 2,000 returns annually. Initially, the accounting field seemed stable, but Ali noticed that his work was becoming increasingly reliant on the shortcomings of accounting software such as QuickBooks. Frustrated by the software's limitations and the broader concept of SaaS-based accounting, Ali realized that small businesses didn't require enhancements in accounting software; instead, they needed a solution that simplified the process, handling it almost entirely for them.
Now, Ali has developed Tabby, a product designed to be a real-time bookkeeping interface. It imports live account data using Plaid and utilizes AI to create a dashboard that presents financial health in real-time. Tabby also offers a version for accounting firms seeking a smarter alternative to QuickBooks, but Ali aims to serve end-users directly.
His vision is to automate bookkeeping to the point where it becomes a monthly charge akin to internet access or payroll services. By achieving this, Tabby could significantly alter the way small businesses operate.
Tabby has already attracted 5,500 small businesses and generates approximately $100,000 in annual recurring revenue. The team, comprising Ali, his technical co-founder, four engineers, and a go-to-market specialist, is actively raising $1 million in pre-seed funding. Currently, Tabby is preparing to launch Tabby Talk, a natural language interface for the product.
The accounting landscape is competitive, especially with the advent of AI, which has disrupted traditional models. Ali is particularly focused on challenging QuickBooks, the leading player in the industry. However, he anticipates competition from well-funded startups like Rillet, as well as major tech companies launching their own finance tools.
Despite the challenges, Ali remains optimistic about Tabby's potential, believing that the market is vast with 30 million more businesses to serve. Learn more about Tabby and other innovative startups participating in our exclusive Battlefield competition at TechCrunch Disrupt, taking place on October 13-15 in downtown San Francisco.
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