U.S. financiers Oak HC/FT and Sapphire Ventures led the round for the Toronto-based startup, with participation from Ten Coves Capital and Toronto’s Intrepid Growth Partners. The Globe & Mail first reported the funding, at a valuation of over US$300 million, on Friday. (The Logic, The Globe & Mail)
Talking point: Accountants and lawyers use Blue J’s chatbot to answer their questions about tax codes, case law and filing requirements, as well as to generate emails and other client communications. Founded in April 2015, the firm previously sold AI tools that helped HR teams analyze employment-law situations. Blue J launched the tax chatbot, powered by large language models, in August 2023; usage and revenue have since grown rapidly, the firm claims. It will use the new funding to hire, further develop its technology and market its products.