Vertex Announces Strategic Investment in AI Tax Compliance Startup Kintsugi
Vertex has made a strategic $15 million minority investment in Kintsugi, acquiring a 10% stake in the AI-native tax compliance startup. The deal includes IP sharing and a commercial arrangement, with Vertex joining Kintsugi's Board of Directors.
Founded in 2023, Kintsugi specializes in automating sales tax compliance for small and mid-size businesses across the US, Canada, and Europe. Their AI-driven platform integrates with digital accounting and payment systems, offering automated tax calculations, filings, and compliance monitoring.
This investment is separate from Vertex's previously announced $10-12 million AI technology spending for 2025. The partnership aims to accelerate Vertex's AI roadmap for mid-market and enterprise customers while supporting Kintsugi's mission to simplify tax compliance for growing businesses. Vertex will not consolidate Kintsugi's results, with the ownership being accounted for at cost on the balance sheet.
Vertex ha effettuato un investimento strategico di 15 milioni di dollari per acquisire una partecipazione di minoranza del 10% in Kintsugi, la startup specializzata in conformità fiscale basata sull'intelligenza artificiale. L'accordo prevede la condivisione della proprietà intellettuale e una collaborazione commerciale, con l'ingresso di Vertex nel Consiglio di Amministrazione di Kintsugi.
Fondata nel 2023, Kintsugi si occupa di automatizzare la conformità fiscale sulle vendite per piccole e medie imprese negli Stati Uniti, Canada ed Europa. La loro piattaforma basata su IA si integra con sistemi digitali di contabilità e pagamenti, offrendo calcoli fiscali automatizzati, dichiarazioni e monitoraggio della conformità.
Questo investimento è distinto dalla spesa di 10-12 milioni di dollari annunciata da Vertex per tecnologie AI nel 2025. La partnership punta ad accelerare il percorso di Vertex nell'IA per clienti di medie e grandi dimensioni, supportando al contempo la missione di Kintsugi di semplificare la conformità fiscale per le aziende in crescita. Vertex non consoliderà i risultati di Kintsugi, contabilizzando la partecipazione al costo nel bilancio.
Vertex ha realizado una inversión estratégica minoritaria de 15 millones de dólares en Kintsugi, adquiriendo una participación del 10% en esta startup especializada en cumplimiento fiscal nativo de IA. El acuerdo incluye el intercambio de propiedad intelectual y un convenio comercial, con Vertex incorporándose al Consejo de Administración de Kintsugi.
Fundada en 2023, Kintsugi se especializa en automatizar el cumplimiento del impuesto sobre ventas para pequeñas y medianas empresas en EE. UU., Canadá y Europa. Su plataforma impulsada por IA se integra con sistemas digitales de contabilidad y pagos, ofreciendo cálculos fiscales automáticos, presentaciones y monitoreo de cumplimiento.
Esta inversión es independiente del gasto anunciado previamente por Vertex de 10-12 millones de dólares en tecnología de IA para 2025. La asociación busca acelerar la hoja de ruta de IA de Vertex para clientes medianos y grandes, al tiempo que apoya la misión de Kintsugi de simplificar el cumplimiento fiscal para empresas en crecimiento. Vertex no consolidará los resultados de Kintsugi, contabilizando la participación a costo en el balance.
Vertex는 AI 기반 세무 준수 스타트업인 Kintsugi에 전략적 소액 투자로 1,500만 달러를 투자하여 10% 지분을 확보했습니다. 이번 거래에는 지식재산권 공유와 상업적 협약이 포함되며, Vertex는 Kintsugi의 이사회에 합류합니다.
2023년에 설립된 Kintsugi는 미국, 캐나다, 유럽 전역의 중소기업을 대상으로 판매세 준수를 자동화하는 데 특화되어 있습니다. AI 기반 플랫폼은 디지털 회계 및 결제 시스템과 통합되어 자동 세금 계산, 신고 및 준수 모니터링을 제공합니다.
이번 투자는 Vertex가 2025년에 계획한 1,000만~1,200만 달러 규모의 AI 기술 투자와는 별개입니다. 이번 파트너십은 중견 및 대기업 고객을 위한 Vertex의 AI 로드맵을 가속화하고, 성장하는 기업들의 세무 준수를 간소화하려는 Kintsugi의 목표를 지원하는 데 목적이 있습니다. Vertex는 Kintsugi의 실적을 연결하지 않으며, 보유 지분은 대차대조표에 원가로 반영됩니다.
Vertex a réalisé un investissement minoritaire stratégique de 15 millions de dollars dans Kintsugi, acquérant une participation de 10 % dans cette startup spécialisée dans la conformité fiscale native en IA. L'accord comprend un partage de propriété intellectuelle et une collaboration commerciale, avec l'entrée de Vertex au conseil d'administration de Kintsugi.
Fondée en 2023, Kintsugi se concentre sur l'automatisation de la conformité à la taxe de vente pour les petites et moyennes entreprises aux États-Unis, au Canada et en Europe. Leur plateforme pilotée par IA s'intègre aux systèmes comptables et de paiement numériques, offrant des calculs fiscaux automatisés, des déclarations et un suivi de la conformité.
Cet investissement est distinct des dépenses en technologie IA de 10-12 millions de dollars annoncées précédemment par Vertex pour 2025. Ce partenariat vise à accélérer la feuille de route IA de Vertex pour les clients de taille moyenne et les entreprises, tout en soutenant la mission de Kintsugi de simplifier la conformité fiscale pour les entreprises en croissance. Vertex ne consolidera pas les résultats de Kintsugi, la participation étant comptabilisée au coût au bilan.
Vertex hat eine strategische Minderheitsbeteiligung von 15 Millionen US-Dollar an Kintsugi getätigt und damit 10 % der Anteile an dem auf KI-basierten Steuer-Compliance spezialisierten Startup erworben. Der Vertrag umfasst den Austausch von geistigem Eigentum und eine kommerzielle Vereinbarung, wobei Vertex dem Vorstand von Kintsugi beitritt.
Kintsugi, gegründet 2023, spezialisiert sich auf die Automatisierung der Umsatzsteuer-Compliance für kleine und mittelständische Unternehmen in den USA, Kanada und Europa. Ihre KI-gesteuerte Plattform integriert sich in digitale Buchhaltungs- und Zahlungssysteme und bietet automatisierte Steuerberechnungen, Meldungen und Compliance-Überwachung.
Diese Investition ist getrennt von den zuvor angekündigten 10-12 Millionen US-Dollar, die Vertex 2025 für KI-Technologien ausgeben will. Die Partnerschaft soll die KI-Roadmap von Vertex für mittelständische und Großkunden beschleunigen und gleichzeitig Kintsugis Mission unterstützen, die Steuer-Compliance für wachsende Unternehmen zu vereinfachen. Vertex wird die Ergebnisse von Kintsugi nicht konsolidieren, die Beteiligung wird zum Buchwert in der Bilanz geführt.
- $15M strategic investment in Kintsugi for 10% ownership stake
- IP sharing agreement to accelerate AI roadmap for mid-market and enterprise customers
- Commercial arrangement and board representation secured
- Investment is separate from previously announced $10-12M AI technology spending for 2025
- Expansion into strategic markets (US, Canada, Europe) through Kintsugi's platform
- None.
Insights
Vertex's strategic $15M investment in AI tax startup Kintsugi enhances its technology capabilities and expands market reach to SMBs.
Vertex's
The transaction structure offers several strategic advantages for Vertex:
- The IP sharing agreement should help accelerate Vertex's AI roadmap for its mid-market and enterprise customers
- Vertex gains exposure to Kintsugi's AI-native platform designed specifically for SMBs
- The minority investment will be accounted for at cost rather than consolidated, simplifying financial reporting
- This investment exists separately from Vertex's planned
$10-12 million AI technology investments for 2025
The partnership addresses market demand for tax compliance automation driven by three key trends identified in the release: eCommerce growth, SaaS expansion, and evolving tax regulations. For Vertex, this represents a complementary strategy that broadens its technology capabilities while potentially establishing a foothold in the SMB segment where Kintsugi has demonstrated expansion across the U.S., Canada, and Europe since its 2023 founding.
The commercial arrangement between the companies indicates potential collaboration opportunities beyond the equity investment, though specific implementation details aren't disclosed. This investment appears well-structured to provide technology access and market insights without significant operational risk.
KING OF PRUSSIA, Pa., April 30, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Vertex, Inc. (NASDAQ: VERX) (“Vertex” or the “Company”), a global provider of indirect tax technology solutions, today announced it has completed a strategic investment in Kintsugi, a San Francisco-based, AI-native startup focused on automating sales tax compliance for small and mid-size businesses (SMBs). Terms of the agreement include a
The adoption of tax automation solutions is growing substantially as businesses face increasing compliance complexity associated with eCommerce and SaaS growth, cross-border trade and a patchwork of new tax regulations. Kintsugi automates the entire sales tax compliance lifecycle for small businesses, including tax calculations, filings, and compliance monitoring across multiple jurisdictions. Founded in 2023, Kintsugi has experienced rapid growth and expansion within the U.S., Canada and Europe.
“Kintsugi brings innovative AI-enabled capabilities to address the needs of the indirect tax market in new and creative ways,” stated Chirag Patel, Vertex Chief Strategy Officer. “Through the IP sharing agreement, this investment will help accelerate our AI roadmap to deliver new innovations for our mid-market and enterprise customers globally.”
Kintsugi’s AI-driven platform seamlessly integrates with digital accounting and payments processing platforms to enable powerful automation, a seamless onboarding experience, and rapid time-to-value for SMB businesses.
"We're thrilled to partner with Vertex, a company that shares our commitment to transforming tax technology," said Pujun Bhatnagar, CEO of Kintsugi. "This investment validates our approach to solving the indirect tax challenges facing small and mid-sized businesses today. With Vertex's support, we can accelerate our mission to make tax compliance painless and accessible for growing businesses."
Together, Vertex and Kintsugi will continue to push the boundaries of AI-driven tax technology and next-level user experiences.
Vertex’s investment in Kintsugi is separate from the
About Vertex
Vertex, Inc. is a leading global provider of indirect tax solutions. The Company’s mission is to deliver the most trusted tax technology enabling global businesses to transact, comply and grow with confidence. Vertex provides solutions that can be tailored to specific industries for major lines of indirect tax, including sales and consumer use, value added and payroll. Headquartered in North America, and with offices in South America and Europe, Vertex empowers the world’s leading brands to simplify the complexity of continuous compliance.
For more information, visit www.vertexinc.com or follow us on X and LinkedIn.
COPYRIGHT © 2025 VERTEX, INC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. THE INFORMATION CONTAINED HEREIN IS INTENDED FOR INFORMATION PURPOSES ONLY, MAY CHANGE AT ANY TIME IN THE FUTURE, AND IS NOT LEGAL OR TAX ADVICE.
About Kintsugi
Kintsugi provides an AI-powered tax automation platform that transforms complex tax management into a streamlined, automated process. By leveraging artificial intelligence and seamless integrations, Kintsugi reduces preparation time by
Vertex Company Contact:
Joe Crivelli
VP, Investor Relations
investors@vertexinc.com
Rachel Litcofsky
Manager, Public Relations
mediainquiries@vertexinc.com
Kintsugi Company Contact:
Steve Moskovitz
Head of Marketing
Steve@trykintsugi.com
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