Founder's CPA
Founder's CPA is a Chicago-based outsourced accounting, tax, and fractional CFO firm serving 500+ venture-backed startups with specialized expertise in FinTech, Crypto/Blockchain, and SaaS verticals, using an "accounting department as a service" model and a curated cloud finance tech stack.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2017
- HeadquartersChicago, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Founder's CPA does
Founder's CPA (legal entity FPSG LLC) is a privately held, Chicago-based public accounting firm founded by Curt Mastio that delivers outsourced accounting, tax, and fractional CFO services to venture-backed startups, with explicit vertical specialization in FinTech, Blockchain/Crypto, and SaaS companies. The firm operates an "accounting department as a service" model, scaling technical capacity across client engagements rather than serving any single in-house finance department, and serves a cumulative base of more than 500 clients whose companies have collectively raised over $500 million in venture funding. Service delivery combines an in-house team (26 staff members led by Managing Partner Curt Mastio and Manager of CFO Services Joe Alioto, joined in 2023) with deep integrations into the standard startup finance technology stack — QuickBooks Online, Xero, and Sage Intacct for core accounting; Stripe, Bill.com, Melio, and Brex for payments and spend; Gusto, Rippling, Justworks, and Expensify for payroll and HR; Carta for cap table management; Jirav for financial planning; and CoinTracking.Info for crypto transaction tracking and tax reporting.
The firm's revenue model is professional services, priced on a custom-quote basis with multi-year client engagements rather than disclosed tiered pricing; bookings flow through three core service lines (Accounting, Tax, and CFO Services) plus industry-specific accounting for FinTech, Crypto/Blockchain, and SaaS. Go-to-market is consultative and content-led: the firm publishes an educational blog, offers free downloadable resources (a Startup Accounting & Tax Playbook eBook, Excel templates for financial modeling and R&D tax credit calculation, and an annual Tax Season Guide), and closes deals through free initial consultations. Distribution extends beyond direct website engagement to startup ecosystem channels via active mentorship roles with Techstars Chicago and Techstars Iowa accelerators.
The company is bootstrapped — there are no funding rounds, acquisitions, or institutional investors in the record — and operates from a single Chicago headquarters at 850 W Jackson Blvd., Suite 330. Founder Curt Mastio maintains active operational control, having transitioned from a Big Four public accounting background and prior CFO role at Storage Squad into running the firm. Recognition includes the Illinois CPA Society's Outstanding Young Professional Leadership Award (2020, Mastio) and Inventiva's Top 10 Accounting Firms for Startups in 2026. The firm's customer base spans pre-seed through Series C and beyond, concentrating on smaller startup engagements with no publicly disclosed large anchor clients.
Founder's CPA firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Founder's CPA
- Legal name
- FPSG LLC
- Website
- https://founderscpa.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2017
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Founder's CPA is a Chicago-based outsourced accounting, tax, and fractional CFO firm serving 500+ venture-backed startups with specialized expertise in FinTech, Crypto/Blockchain, and SaaS verticals, using an "accounting department as a service" model and a curated cloud finance tech stack.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Founder's CPA industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Startup Accounting Services
- NAICS
- Offices of Certified Public Accountants (541211), Finance and Insurance (52)
- SIC
- Finance Services (6199), Miscellaneous Business Credit Institution (6159)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Outsourced Finance & CFO Services (BPAHABAE)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Accounting, Audit & Tax (CPA/CA/ACCA CPE) (EDAAALAA)
Keywords
Where Founder's CPA is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Chicago
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Founder's CPA business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Accounting Services: Comprehensive accounting services for startups including bookkeeping, financial statement preparation, and ongoing accounting department support using an 'accounting department as a service' model that is flexible and scalable.
- Tax Services: Tax compliance and planning services including federal, state, and local tax filings, R&D tax credits, and crypto tax services.
- CFO Services: Fractional CFO and financial advisory services providing strategic financial guidance, financial modeling, and investor-ready reporting for growth-oriented startups.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Multi-year contract | Custom quoting based on startup needs and complexity |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels6 records
Founder's CPA product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Founder's CPA provides outsourced accounting, tax, and fractional CFO services to venture-backed startups through an "accounting department as a service" model. The firm delivers bookkeeping, financial statement preparation, federal/state tax compliance, R&D tax credits, crypto taxation, financial modeling, fundraising support, and investor reporting. It concentrates on three startup verticals: FinTech, Blockchain/Crypto, and SaaS, combining technical capabilities across multiple resources into a single, flexible, and scalable engagement.
Product overview
Founder's CPA is a public accounting firm serving venture-backed startups, offering three core service lines: Accounting Services, Tax Services, and CFO Services. These services are delivered through an 'accounting department as a service' model combining technical expertise with scalable processes. The firm specializes in three startup industry verticals: FinTech, Crypto/Blockchain, and SaaS. Clients receive access to complimentary resources including the Startup Accounting & Tax Playbook (free eBook), Excel template suite (financial modeling, cash flow forecasting, chart of accounts, R&D calculators), and annual Tax Season Guides. The company integrates with leading startup technology platforms including QuickBooks Online, Xero, Stripe, Gusto, Carta, and other tools in the startup tech stack.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Accounting Services
Companies that use Founder's CPA
Customer profileNamed customers4 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Founder's CPA technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration21 records
Founder's CPA partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core.
- QuickBooks OnlinecorePrimary accounting software platform recommended and supported by Founder's CPA for startup clients. Deep expertise in implementation and workflow optimization.
- XerocoreAlternative cloud-based accounting platform supported by Founder's CPA, used in 180 different countries with integrations for hundreds of third-party applications.
- Sage IntacctcoreEnterprise-level accounting platform supported for more complex startup accounting needs.
- StripecorePayment processing platform recommended for SaaS companies with subscription management, recurring billing, and global payment capabilities.
- CartacoreCap table management platform used for equity tracking and compliance tools across multiple funding rounds.
- GustocorePayroll platform offering automated tax filings, benefits management, and employee onboarding for startups.
- BrexcoreCorporate card and banking platform for startups, integrated with accounting workflows.
- RipplingcoreAll-in-one HR and payroll platform supported for startup workforce management.
- Bill.comcoreAccounts payable and payment automation platform for efficient bill processing.
- JustworkscorePEO services provider for startups requiring comprehensive HR and benefits administration.
- CoinTracking.InfocorePreferred cryptocurrency tracking software used by Founder's CPA for crypto clients, providing dashboarding, transaction validation, and tax reporting functionality.
- TechstarscoreActive mentorship involvement in Techstars Chicago and Iowa programs, providing guidance to startups within the accelerator ecosystem.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Founder's CPA competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Bench: Bench provides online bookkeeping with dedicated accountants for small businesses and startups, overlapping with Founder's CPA's accounting and tax offering at the lower end of the market.
- 1800Accountant: 1800Accountant offers accounting, tax, and bookkeeping services to small businesses and startups, including entity setup and CFO advisory, with comparable professional-services delivery.
- Kruze Consulting: Kruze Consulting is a CPA firm that provides accounting, tax, and CFO services specifically to venture-backed startups, with similar vertical focus (tech/SaaS) and a comparable "accounting department as a service" model. It is the most direct competitor in the startup-CPA niche.
- Pilot: Pilot combines software with bookkeeping, tax, and CFO services for startups and small businesses, and is one of the most prominent tech-enabled direct competitors in the startup accounting category.
- Botkeeper: Botkeeper pairs AI-driven bookkeeping with human accountants for SMBs and startups, directly competing for the same buyers with a tech-forward delivery model.
- Equation (Equation Tax & Accounting): Equation provides tax, accounting, and CFO services specifically for venture-backed startups and founders, with similar industry specialization and client profile to Founder's CPA.
Broad incumbents
- Andersen Tax: Andersen is a global tax and advisory firm with a presence across the U.S. and international markets, offering services that overlap with Founder's CPA's tax and CFO offerings to growth-stage companies.
- Marcum LLP: Marcum is a top-20 U.S. accounting firm with a strong technology and startup practice, competing with Founder's CPA for venture-backed clients needing audit, tax, and advisory support.
- KPMG (US): KPMG is a Big Four accounting firm with an emerging-company and venture-capital practice that serves startups as they scale, representing the incumbent competition once Founder's CPA clients reach audit-mandated size.
- CohnReznick: CohnReznick is a top-30 U.S. accounting and advisory firm with a dedicated venture-backed startup and emerging-company practice, providing broader scale services that overlap with Founder's CPA's CFO and tax offerings.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Founder's CPA social profiles
Digital presenceFounder's CPA financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Founder's CPA leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
Founder's CPA funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Founder's CPA M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Founder's CPA
What does Founder's CPA do?
Founder's CPA provides outsourced accounting, tax, and fractional CFO services to venture-backed startups through an "accounting department as a service" model. The firm delivers bookkeeping, financial statement preparation, federal/state tax compliance, R&D tax credits, crypto taxation, financial modeling, fundraising support, and investor reporting. It concentrates on three startup verticals: FinTech, Blockchain/Crypto, and SaaS, combining technical capabilities across multiple resources into a single, flexible, and scalable engagement.
Is Founder's CPA a public or private company?
Founder's CPA is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Founder's CPA founded?
Founder's CPA was founded in 2017. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Founder's CPA based?
Founder's CPA is headquartered in Chicago, United States, in the North America region.
How does Founder's CPA make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Accounting Services are the primary driver. The others are tax Services and CFO Services.
Who are Founder's CPA's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Bench, 1800Accountant, Kruze Consulting, Pilot, Botkeeper and Equation (Equation Tax & Accounting). Broad incumbents are Andersen Tax, Marcum LLP, KPMG (US) and CohnReznick.
Does Founder's CPA have an API?
No public API is recorded for Founder's CPA.
What industry is Founder's CPA in?
Founder's CPA's product category is Startup Accounting Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAHABAE, Outsourced Finance & CFO Services, with a secondary code of EDAAALAA, Accounting, Audit & Tax (CPA/CA/ACCA CPE). Its NAICS code is 541211 and its SIC code is 6199.