AI isn’t coming for tax. It’s already changing how tax professionals research, review, and deliver advice. 

Yuri sits down with Benjamin Alarie, tax law professor at the University of Toronto and founder of Blue J, to talk about the future of tax research, why AI became an existential question for him, and what it took to build a tax technology company long before AI became the thing everyone was talking about. 

They get into the differences between U.S. and Canadian tax systems, the reality of building a startup from academia, how Blue J raised a $122 million Series D, why culture matters so much in a growing tech company, and how small firms can use AI as a second set of eyes on tax work, advisory opportunities, and client questions. 

This is a nerdy tax conversation in the best possible way. 

Episode Highlights: 

0:00 - Intro
 1:04 - Meet Benjamin Alarie
 3:12 - How Ben got into tax law
 6:18 - U.S. vs. Canadian tax systems
 11:49 - Why Ben started Blue J
 19:39 - Leaving academia to build a tech company
 29:15 - Raising capital and scaling Blue J
 32:26 - Building culture in a growing company
 43:02 - How Blue J is changing tax research
 53:03 - How small firms can use AI in tax work
 56:25 - Security, planning, and what’s next for Blue J
 1:00:45 - Where to find Ben and Blue J 

ABOUT HOST YURI KAPILOVICH 

Yuri, aka #thefuncpa, has been in the accounting profession for over 15 years and has seen, first hand, the challenges the profession brings. After seeing that no firm was fitting the bill, Yuri set out to do things his own way with his firm K&A and the journey began with LinkedIn posting at the front end. 

Yuri is proud to bring you #thefuncpa podcast highlighting the fun and all the amazing opportunities our profession can bring us all. 

CONNECT WITH YURI KAPILOVICH 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ykapilovich/ 

Website: https://www.thefuncpa.co/ 

CONNECT WITH BENJAMIN ALARIE

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aitaxman/?originalSubdomain=ca 

Website: https://www.bluej.com/