Quanta Raises $20M to Automate Your Accounting Close - The SaaS CFO Recap

Podcast: The SaaS CFO

Published: 2026-02-26

Duration: 24 min

Summary

In this episode, Helen Hastings, CEO of Quanta, discusses how her company is revolutionizing the accounting close process for software companies by combining AI technology with human expertise. Quanta’s innovative approach aims to enhance visibility and streamline financial reporting for its clients.

What Happened

Helen Hastings joins the podcast to share her journey as a software engineer turned CEO of Quanta, an AI-powered accounting service. She reflects on her previous experience at Affirm, where she built in-house accounting systems, leading her to understand the shortcomings of current accounting tools. This experience ignited her passion for creating a better solution that not only handles accounting but also provides insightful financial visibility to clients.

Quanta offers a unique blend of product and service, fully managing the accounting close for early to growth-stage software companies. Helen explains that the company employs experts who leverage their proprietary software to automate much of the accounting process. This dual approach allows Quanta to deliver accurate financial statements along with interactive reporting features that enable users to generate insights through natural language queries. Helen highlights the importance of having a solid financial source of truth, stating that the software's effectiveness stems from the comprehensive data organized through their accounting services.

Key Insights

• Quanta combines AI technology with human expertise to enhance the accounting close process.
• The company's unique approach addresses visibility gaps in traditional accounting systems.
• Quanta's automated reporting allows users to generate insights through natural language queries.
• Helen believes in starting with smaller companies to grow alongside them, ensuring they receive comprehensive service.

Key Questions Answered

What is Quanta's approach to automating the accounting close process?

Quanta's approach integrates both product and service components, where they fully manage the accounting close for their clients. This means that Quanta employs accounting experts who work alongside their proprietary software to ensure a streamlined and efficient close process. By automating many tasks, they can provide timely and accurate financial statements, which is especially beneficial for early to growth-stage software companies.

How does Quanta differentiate itself from traditional accounting services?

Quanta differentiates itself by leveraging technology to enhance human expertise, creating a service that is both efficient and insightful. Their proprietary software not only automates the accounting tasks but also facilitates interactive reporting, allowing clients to ask natural language questions and receive detailed financial insights. This level of integration between accounting and technology is designed to overcome the visibility issues present in traditional accounting systems.

What challenges did Helen Hastings identify in the current accounting tools?

Helen Hastings identified that many existing accounting tools lack the visibility and functionality needed for effective financial management. As she worked with various accounting systems at Affirm, she noticed that even straightforward companies faced difficulties in understanding their financial position. This observation motivated her to create Quanta, which aims to simplify the accounting process and provide clearer insights into financial data.

What is the future vision for Quanta regarding its software offerings?

Helen shared that while Quanta currently combines its software with services, there is a vision to eventually offer a standalone software product. This would allow clients who prefer self-service options to access Quanta's advanced features independently. However, Helen emphasized that the core of Quanta's value lies in the integration of their accounting services with the software, ensuring that the data is organized and reliable.

How does Quanta plan to support its clients as they grow?

Quanta's strategy involves starting with smaller, early-stage companies and growing alongside them. Helen believes that these companies need comprehensive accounting services rather than just software tools. By providing a full-service approach, Quanta can adapt and scale its offerings as clients expand, ensuring that they always have the necessary financial insights and support to make informed decisions.