AI Meets Accounting: Slava Akulov's Jupid Redefines Financial Management for America's Micro-Entrepreneurs
Slava Akulov, the visionary co-founder of British fintech ANNA Money, has set his sights on a new frontier in financial technology. With a decade of experience in simplifying accounting for small businesses, Akulov has now turned his attention to the United States, where millions of entrepreneurs struggle with the complexities of financial management. His latest venture, Jupid, is poised to revolutionize how small and medium-sized businesses handle their finances through the power of artificial intelligence.
In an exclusive interview with AI World Today, Akulov shares his journey from accidental accounting student to fintech innovator. He reveals the inspiration behind Jupid, an AI-powered assistant that serves as a "pocket CFO/CTO" for businesses earning under $300,000 annually. This groundbreaking solution aims to automate everything from transaction categorization to tax compliance, potentially eliminating the need for traditional accountants altogether.
Akulov's mission is clear: to empower the over 35 million U.S. entrepreneurs who generate nearly a third of the nation's GDP but often lack the resources for dedicated financial support. By leveraging AI and natural language processing, Jupid offers a 24/7 conversational interface that integrates seamlessly with existing banking platforms, promising to transform the financial landscape for small businesses across America.
Can you introduce yourself and tell us about your background in fintech and entrepreneurship?
Ten years ago, I stumbled on a question that’s guided me since: why does accounting feel like a punishment for starting a business? As operations lead at Anna Money, I helped UK entrepreneurs manage taxes and compliance, building tech so smooth that one accountant could serve 12,000 clients—a true game-changer. Still, I knew this solution needed to reach more people. Last year, I left Anna Money to bring this tech to U.S. entrepreneurs with Jupid, a company focused on automating tax accounting. We’re not just making tools; we’re changing how software works, turning it into a partner, not a problem.
What inspired you to create Jupid, and how does it differ from traditional accounting software?
I studied accounting by mistake. With mild dyslexia, tax forms felt like a foreign language. Running my dance school and grocery, I was swamped by compliance, not customers. It hit me: small business owners aren’t confused—they’re overwhelmed. I felt that stress. For seven years, I built tools to simplify compliance. Now, Jupid goes further, making accounting vanish. Unlike software that speeds up your accounting, Jupid asks: why do it at all? It’s not about better forms—it’s about no forms. Our AI assistant understands your business, asks questions, and files for you. Just talk, no dashboards. We’re different: we target micro-entrepreneurs ($300K-$400K revenue), use a messaging interface, and integrate with banking apps, adding power to tools you already trust.
You've mentioned that Jupid is designed for U.S. micro-entrepreneurs earning under $300K/year. Why did you choose to focus on this specific market segment?
The U.S. small business market, with over 35 million entrepreneurs driving nearly a third of GDP, is our target. These micro-entrepreneurs, often with fewer than 50 employees, are overworked, can’t afford accountants, and are swamped by compliance tasks. Jupid’s AI-powered accounting simplifies their work, ensures timely filings, and prevents penalties, filling a major gap. Imagine a shop owner who wakes early, fixes the espresso machine, serves customers cheerfully, then struggles with a 1099 at night. I get it—I ran a dance school and worked in a grocery, loving the job but hating the paperwork. These business owners lose weeks to red tape yearly. They deserve better, and Jupid makes it happen.
How does Jupid's AI-powered assistant work, and what are some of the key features that make it a "pocket CFO/CTO"?
Jupid is built for entrepreneurs, not accountants, unlike typical accounting software. Think of a self-driving car—you don’t improve the steering wheel; you redesign the car. Accounting doesn’t need better spreadsheets—it needs none. With Jupid, you just say, “Send an invoice,” “Was I paid?” or “Can I expense this?” Taxes, sorting, and filing happen automatically. By integrating with banking apps, Jupid keeps your finances right where your money is.
Can you elaborate on how Jupid addresses both the functional and psychological challenges faced by small business owners in managing their finances?
Jupid helps entrepreneurs feel secure by making accounting easy. Picture a system that reviews your filings, reminds you if something’s missing, and sorts transactions without you needing to understand complex tax rules. That’s our “pocket CFO.” It’s available anytime through messaging or voice, letting you ask simple questions like, “Did I file taxes right?” It automatically organizes transactions, keeps you compliant, and gives instant financial advice. With free LLC setup and a low monthly fee, Jupid offers complete accounting without the hassle of typical software. Built on AI that understands plain language, as seen in trends like the New Relic x ChatGPT report, Jupid lets you ask questions and get clear answers right away—no new software to learn.
You've stated that Jupid aims to eliminate the need for an accountant. How do you envision this transformation in the accounting industry?
It’s less about replacing accountants and more about redefining what they do. The real shift is that accountants who embrace AI will outcompete those who don’t. Most professionals in the field aren’t actually afraid of automation — they welcome it. They’d rather focus on high-value consulting and complex projects than deal with repetitive admin work or managing junior staff. That’s where tools like Jupid come in: we automate the grunt work so they can scale without scaling headcount. Over time, we’ll see fewer accountants, but the ones who remain will be significantly more skilled — hybrid experts, what we call Accountant Developers — equally fluent in financial logic and tech.
How do you see Jupid evolving to handle more complex accounting scenarios in the future?
Our approach to complexity is to break it down. Any complicated accounting case is really just a bundle of simpler scenarios — the challenge is volume, not mystery. We’ve built an AI-driven complexity model that classifies each case based on parameters like data sources, account structures, and risk. For example, if a client uses AmEx, that’s a flag — higher complexity. From there, we categorize cases into three zones: green (low risk, fully AI-handled), yellow (medium risk, human-in-the-loop), and red (high risk, requires full manual review). The product strategy is simple: push as much as possible from red to yellow, and from yellow to green. Right now, maybe 5% is red, 15% yellow, and the rest is green — and that green zone is constantly expanding.
Can you tell us more about Jupid's selection by MDC and what this means for the company's growth and partnerships?
Around 80 banks have launched an internal R&D arm that operate like accelerator. But unlike traditional VCs, this team isn’t chasing exits. Their model is revenue-sharing: if a startup’s solution is deployed in the bank and generates revenue, they get a cut. So their incentives are fully aligned with ours — they want us to succeed because our success directly drives their bottom line. It’s a super pragmatic model: we know exactly who our customer is, the accelerator helps shape the pitch, and the goal is simple — get adopted by as many banks as possible and turn those integrations into shared revenue.
What are some of the biggest challenges you've faced in developing and launching Jupid, and how have you overcome them?
It’s not just about the tech—it’s about trust. People are okay with self-driving cars but nervous about AI handling their taxes, even though AI makes fewer errors. That fear isn’t logical; it’s emotional, and we need to build trust to overcome it. Clear design and openness help, but the key is being reliable when it counts and getting it right every time. Trust grows slowly, like money earning interest.
How does Jupid's approach to financial management align with your vision of fintech disappearing into infrastructure?
Fintech is becoming a commodity — especially in the U.S., where consumers care more about credit card perks and cashback than sleek UX. That’s why products like Revolut haven’t taken off there. The same shift is coming for accounting. Right now, bookkeeping isn’t commoditized because it still runs on trust and personal relationships — you hire someone you know, or who was recommended. But once the rules and edge cases are fully codified and handled by AI, that human layer disappears. Our vision is that accounting, tightly integrated with fintech, becomes invisible infrastructure. No more personal referrals — it just works, automatically, in the background.
Can you share some success stories or feedback from early users of Jupid?
One of our users opened an LLC and got official-looking spam mail, sparking panic. We saw this happening a lot, so we created a tool where users can forward suspicious letters via WhatsApp or iMessage. Our AI reads it, explains it, and takes action if needed. What was once scary is now a quick five-second task. That’s what we mean by emotional safety.
What sets Jupid apart from other AI-powered financial tools in the market?
Two things. First, we build a proprietary micro-LLM for each company based on its specific context and financial history — not a generic AI, but one that's deeply personalized to how your business actually runs. Second, we’re invisible by design. You don’t need to install another app or learn a new tool — Jupid is already embedded inside your internet banking experience. If you’re using your iPhone to check your bank, you’re already using us. That level of integration and personalization is what really sets us apart.
How do you see Jupid contributing to the overall economic growth and success of small businesses in the U.S.?
The biggest barrier to entrepreneurship isn’t ambition — it’s complexity. I know people who turn down freelance gigs or speaking opportunities just because dealing with the admin and taxes isn’t worth the hassle. Jupid lowers that barrier. If we make starting and running a business feel safe, simple, and automated, more people will take the leap. Especially in a future where AI displaces traditional jobs, we expect a surge in solo entrepreneurs and side hustlers. Our goal is to make entrepreneurship a default career path — not something risky, but something accessible. That shift could double the number of people building small businesses — and that’s real economic impact.
What's your long-term vision for Jupid, and how do you plan to achieve it?
Soon, every bank will include Jupid when you open an account, giving you an AI assistant that manages your finances automatically, without extra tools or dashboards. You won’t need to explain your business over and over—it just works. Accounting will fade away, like dialing up the internet, letting entrepreneurs focus on what they love. Right now, AI is seen as a helper, but we’re building something bigger: agents that handle tasks for you, start to finish. Jupid’s AI will track regulation changes, tweak your filings, and suggest when to save or spend. It’s not just a calculator—it’s a dependable, scalable assistant. In the future, you won’t say, “My accountant does that.” You’ll say, “Jupid handles it.”
Slava Akulov's Jupid represents a paradigm shift in how small businesses manage their finances. By harnessing the power of AI to automate complex accounting tasks, Jupid is not just streamlining processes—it's redefining the very nature of financial management for entrepreneurs. As the company continues to evolve and tackle increasingly complex scenarios, it has the potential to democratize access to high-quality financial services, enabling millions of small business owners to focus on growth rather than paperwork. With its selection by MDC and its innovative approach to embedded accounting AI, Jupid is well-positioned to lead the charge in making fintech disappear into infrastructure, ultimately transforming the entrepreneurial landscape in the United States and beyond.