ZeroPaper

ZeroPaper is a financial management software company that was established in Brasília, Brazil, in 2012. The company was founded by André Macedo, Arley Moura, Carlos Eduardo Braga, and Carlos Carvalho, who identified a gap in the market for a simple financial tool for micro and small businesses that were still relying on spreadsheets or pen and paper. The founders' journey began after conducting market research that revealed a significant need for an intuitive and educational financial management solution among small entrepreneurs.

The company's core product is a cloud-based platform designed to help individual entrepreneurs, freelancers, and micro-enterprises manage their finances effectively. The software allows users to handle accounts payable and receivable, generate financial reports, track key performance indicators, and issue payment slips (boletos). A key feature is its educational component, which aims to improve the financial literacy of business owners through the day-to-day use of the platform. The business model operates on a freemium basis, offering a free version with the option to upgrade to a paid subscription for additional features and benefits.

ZeroPaper's growth was accelerated after participating in the 21212 Digital Accelerator program in Rio de Janeiro in 2012, which helped them develop the first version of their product. The company secured investments from the accelerator 21212, TOTVS Ventures, and angel investors. By January 2015, ZeroPaper had amassed approximately 450,000 users. This rapid growth and significant market penetration in Brazil attracted the attention of Intuit, the global financial software developer. In January 2015, Intuit acquired ZeroPaper for an undisclosed amount, marking a significant exit for the Brazilian startup ecosystem. Following the acquisition, the company became known as QuickBooks ZeroPaper, and its founders took on management roles within Intuit Brazil, with André Macedo becoming the Country Manager. Keywords: financial management, small business accounting, fintech, SaaS, cloud software, expense tracking, cash flow management, invoicing, financial reporting, accounts payable, accounts receivable, Brazilian startup, Intuit acquisition, QuickBooks, SME finance, entrepreneur tools, financial literacy, business management, micro-enterprise, 21212 accelerator