Tech savvy rewarded

Lauderdale startup wins competition.

Xendoo, a startup business in Fort Lauderdale that offers automated accounting services to small businesses, has won this year’s eMerge Americas’ Startup Showcase competition.

The first-place prize, which includes help from Google software architects and other experts, is “life-changing,” said Xendoo co-founder Lillian Roberts. Xendoo also was invited into Silicon Valley investor Jason Calacanis’ incubator and given a $100,000 investment, Roberts said.

The company competed with more than 100 startups from around the world at South Florida’s largest technology conference, eMerge Americas, which took place April 23 to 24 at the Miami Beach Convention Center.

On Tuesday, prizes also were awarded to VendyFlo, which won the Visa Challenge and eMerge Americas Hackathon, and to TidBit, a startup “fan favorite.” Prizes for the competitions included up to $175,000 in cash and services.

Xendoo was founded in 2015 by Roberts, 56, with CPA Steven Gelley, 36, and employs 10 people in Fort Lauderdale.

“We’re reshaping an industry,” Roberts said. “We’re changing the face of the relationship people have with getting their bookkeeping and accounting done.”

For example, small business customers can pull up their financial statements on Xendoo’s mobile app to keep on top of their business as well as have information readily available when applying for a loan, she said.

Gelley, who has previous experience building businesses, said he recognized that small businesses needed easier accounting and related services and began acquiring other accounting services to lay a foundation.

In 2016, the pair worked with developers in Estonia to build an automated platform for services including accounting, tax returns, payroll processing and sales tax remittance.

By 2017, the company had more than doubled its revenue, the cofounders said, and had raised $1.2 million from private investors. It also was featured last year on CNBC-TV’s reality show “The Job Interview,” where job candidates are put through real interviews.

Xendoo provides services for hundreds of clients including ecommerce companies, retailers, professionals, restaurants and franchises. Prices for the monthly service range from $95 to $295, according to Xendoo’s website.

“We are extremely grateful to [eMerge Americas founder] Manny Medina and his organization. What they’re doing for the South Florida community is truly giving back. They’re [putting] the startup community on the map,” Roberts said.

“We’re reshaping an industry.” Lillian Roberts, Xendoo co-founder

EMERGE AMERICAS/COURTESY Xendoo, which offers automated accounting services, competed with more than 100 startups.