GoodApril

GoodApril, Inc. developed online software focused on automating tax planning for American consumers. The company was founded on March 19, 2013, by Benny Joseph and Mitchell Fox. The idea originated from Joseph's personal experience of missing out on significant tax deductions, which made him realize the potential for using financial data aggregation to provide proactive tax advice. Joseph, with a background as an ex-E*TRADE engineer and an MBA from The University of Chicago Booth School of Business, served as CEO. Fox, a former management consultant at Bain & Company with experience in marketing and product management, focused on the external business aspects like user experience and business development.

The company's core service was designed to prevent 'April tax surprises' by offering ongoing, in-year tax guidance. The software would connect to a user's financial accounts—such as banks, brokerages, and payroll providers—to create a real-time tax forecast. This allowed users to monitor their tax liability throughout the year. The platform identified potential tax savings opportunities, such as optimizing investment losses or adjusting paycheck withholdings, and provided actionable recommendations. GoodApril operated on a 'freemium' model, offering some tools and services for free. One of its products, 'Tax Checkup', allowed users to upload a tax return to receive feedback on eligible credits and deductions. The primary clients were consumers, particularly freelancers and professionals seeking to minimize their tax burden.

GoodApril's potential was recognized early on, securing a place in the prestigious Techstars Boulder accelerator program and the SoFi Entrepreneur Program. In a notable achievement, the company was acquired by the financial software giant Intuit in August 2013 for an undisclosed amount, reported to be under $20 million. This acquisition occurred before GoodApril's scheduled presentation at Techstars' Demo Day, a first in the accelerator's history. Following the acquisition, the GoodApril products were discontinued, and both founders, Joseph and Fox, accepted director positions within Intuit's Consumer Tax Group, the division responsible for TurboTax. Keywords: tax planning software, personal finance, tax savings, financial data aggregation, real-time tax forecast, tax deduction, tax credits, Intuit acquisition, Techstars alumni, SoFi Entrepreneur Program, Benny Joseph, Mitchell Fox, fintech, tax liability, tax minimization, freemium, consumer tax solutions, automated tax advice, TurboTax, financial technology