Our Story
Building the AI-powered accounting platform that businesses deserve
Who We Are
Bean was born from firsthand frustration with the state of accounting technology. We watched talented finance professionals spend their careers wrestling with disconnected systems, manual reconciliations, and endless spreadsheets - tools that hadn't fundamentally changed in decades.
The breaking point came when Anees noticed talented accountants leaving the profession entirely - not for better opportunities, but out of frustration. They were stuck doing manual, unstrategic work because there was no one else to do it. Skilled professionals reduced to data entry and spreadsheet maintenance, unable to use their expertise where it truly mattered. It was clear: accounting teams deserved better.
We envisioned a platform that would eliminate the busywork and amplify strategic thinking. Not another bolt-on solution promising minor improvements, but a fundamentally reimagined platform built on AI from day one - one that truly understands accounting workflows and empowers teams to work at the speed of modern business.
Anees Pretorius
Cofounder & CEO
Inactive CPA, Chartered Accountant (South Africa)
Cono Onorato
Cofounder & CTO
Anees is an inactive Chartered Accountant (South Africa) and CPA who began his career at Deloitte and EY before transitioning into technology. His unique combination of accounting expertise and product development experience shapes Bean's mission to build AI tools that truly understand accounting workflows.
Cono is a seasoned technologist who helped scale companies from startup to market leaders. His deep expertise in building enterprise software for Fortune 1000 companies, combined with his track record at high-growth startups like Belle and Giftful, gives him the unique ability to build AI systems that accountants can trust at scale.
Our Mission
Eliminate Busywork
Free accounting teams from manual reconciliations, data entry, and repetitive tasks that technology should handle automatically.
Amplify Expertise
Empower accountants to focus on strategic analysis, business insights, and high-value work that drives organizational growth.
Transform the Profession
Elevate accounting from a compliance function to a strategic powerhouse through purpose-built AI technology.
Today, forward-thinking accounting teams at leading companies use Bean to close 50% faster, cut audit preparation time in half, and reclaim their time for strategic work. We're building the future where accounting teams are valued not for hours spent but for insights delivered - and we're just getting started.