Another year, another incredible Startup Showcase Live at Venture Atlanta 2024! This year’s pitch competition brought together dozens of the Southeast’s most promising tech startups, all vying for a chance to take home $500,000 for their company.
These startups went through intensive preparation, mentorship sessions, and rigorous pitch coaching, all leading up to an in-person finale in front of a panel of all-star judges and a packed audience of investors, founders, and industry leaders.
But in the end, only one startup could walk away as the 2024 Seed-Stage Pitch Competition winner—and that honor went to SmartWiz.
Keep reading to learn more about Tevin Harrell, Founder and CEO of SmartWiz tax software, and explore SmartWiz’s journey, the biggest lessons he’s found as an entrepreneur, and of course, what he and his company plan on doing with the $500,000 investment prize.
What Is SmartWiz?
SmartWiz tax software is a cutting-edge software platform designed to revolutionize the tax preparation industry by empowering tax professionals and CPAs with automated tax preparation, powered by AI.
While many people think of TurboTax when they hear “tax software,” the reality is that it only serves about 28% of the market—the vast majority of individuals and businesses still rely on tax professionals. However, the traditional tax filing process is time-consuming, often taking four hours or more per return.
How Does SmartWiz Help Tax Professionals?
By leveraging AI-driven tax automation, SmartWiz tax software streamlines the tax preparation process, reducing the time it takes to as little as five minutes. The platform helps CPAs and tax professionals work smarter, not harder—allowing them to increase efficiency, reduce errors, and serve more clients without added stress.
What Was the Idea That Sparked SmartWiz?
Tevin launched Taxx Wiz, a virtual tax prep business, in 2018.
From the beginning, Taxx Wiz was ahead of the curve. Long before COVID normalized remote services, they were handling tax filings virtually—using Zoom and other online tools to collect documents, prepare returns, and serve clients across the country. And it worked.
The company grew rapidly, doubling revenue year over year and amassing 20,000 Instagram followers. Within four years, Taxx Wiz hit seven figures in revenue. But growth brought new challenges—demand was outpacing their ability to keep up. Like most tax firms, they found themselves overwhelmed during tax season, scrambling to hire people just to handle data entry.
Then, the pandemic happened.
During that time, Tevin and his team built an internal system that allowed them to 5x the number of tax returns they could process. That’s when the light bulb went off:
“What if we could sell this system to other tax pros and CPAs?”
That question set everything in motion. Over the next two years, they worked through IRS approvals and e-filing licenses, transitioning from a tax preparation service to a full-fledged software company.
Finally, in January 2023, SmartWiz tax software officially launched—marking the transformation from a tech-enabled service business to a true B2B SaaS company dedicated to making life easier for tax professionals.
What Are the Biggest Things You’ve Learned on Your Entrepreneurial Journey?
The entrepreneurial journey has been anything but easy for Harrell. Building SmartWiz tax software from the ground up has been a challenging, relentless process, but through it all, one lesson stands out above the rest:
“The most important thing isn’t just working on the problem—it’s working with the people you’re solving it for.”
Startups come with endless distractions—fundraising, hiring, scaling, operations—but none of that matters if you’re not obsessively focused on your customers. Tevin has learned that by consistently talking to, building for, and validating with customers, everything else becomes more manageable.
“If you stay locked in on the problem and the people you’re solving it for, the rest falls into place. Customers validate your business with their checkbooks. If they’re willing to pay for what you’re building, that’s the best signal you can get.”
That focus on customers makes pitching to investors easier. It makes applying for grants and raising venture capital more compelling. It makes hiring and scaling more strategic. While the startup journey is always going to be tough, staying obsessed with the problem and deeply connected to the people you’re building for makes it just a little bit easier.
What’s Your Pitch Advice for Entrepreneurs?
Delivering a winning pitch isn’t just about knowing your business—it’s about knowing your audience and making them care.
“The first pitch competition we ever did was Alabama Launchpad, and we quickly learned that taxes are a boring subject. People tune out almost immediately.”
That realization changed everything. Instead of just explaining SmartWiz, Tevin and his team started testing and iterating their pitch like they would a product.
They pitched to anyone who would listen—mentors, friends, incubator staff, fellow founders—constantly tweaking their approach based on feedback. Over time, they found ways to make their pitch more engaging, infusing humor and storytelling to break through the noise.
One of their favorite lines?
“There are only two certainties in life: death and taxes… and this isn’t a funeral.”
That mix of strategy and personality helped SmartWiz tax software stand out, even in crowded pitch competitions.
But it wasn’t just about what they said—it was also about how they delivered it. Tevin studied what makes great storytelling compelling, incorporating techniques like:
- Strategic pauses to create anticipation.
- Well-placed humor to keep people engaged.
- Rhythm and pacing to build momentum, like the climax of a movie.
At events like Venture Atlanta, where investors sit through dozens of back-to-back pitches, those small details can make all the difference.
“At the end of the day, your pitch is just another way to think about your customer. Whether it's an investor, a judge, or a room full of potential partners, ask yourself—how do I make them listen?”
How Did You Hear About Venture Atlanta? How Has It Helped?
Venture Atlanta was an opportunity that kept coming up in conversations with mentors, peers, and other founders.
“Everybody just kept talking about it. I was in Goodie Nation, and people there were raving about it. Then, a friend sent me an email saying, ‘Hey, you should really consider this.’ At that point, I’d heard it enough times that I thought, ‘Why not?’ and applied.”
That decision turned out to be a game-changer for SmartWiz tax software, bringing three major benefits:
1. Building a Network of Strong Allies
Venture Atlanta immediately expanded SmartWiz’s network. Whether someone loved the pitch or just connected with Tevin afterward, the exposure led to lasting relationships.
“To this day, I have people reaching out saying, ‘Hey, I was just in a meeting with a friend—turns out he’s the head of sales at Deloitte and would love to meet you.’ And those kinds of conversations keep happening because of Venture Atlanta.”
2. Raising SmartWiz’s Seed Round
Venture Atlanta lived up to its reputation as a launchpad for startups. The event directly led to SmartWiz securing its lead investor for their seed round—a process that moved quickly after the competition.
“We met our lead investor at Venture Atlanta. We had lunch right before they were heading to the airport, and the synergy was immediate. A few quick follow-up meetings later, they led the round. Within 45 days of pitching at Venture Atlanta, we had closed the round.”
3. Attracting Top Talent
Beyond investors and allies, Venture Atlanta helped SmartWiz tax software build a pipeline of potential hires.
“The reach has been amazing. Whether it was someone in the audience or someone who heard about us from a friend who attended, we’ve had incredible talent reach out. It’s helped us start conversations with people we may eventually bring onto the team.”
Even beyond winning, simply being on stage at Venture Atlanta created opportunities that continue to drive SmartWiz forward.
“Win, lose, or draw—Venture Atlanta has been huge for us.”
What’s Next for Smartwiz After Venture Atlanta?
The $500,000 investment prize is going directly to fueling the company’s next phase of growth.
“The biggest focus has been bringing on top-tier talent. We even convinced a PhD candidate in AI and machine learning to drop out and join us full-time.”
That investment in cutting-edge expertise is helping SmartWiz tax software push the boundaries of AI-driven tax automation. But talent isn’t the only priority.
The other major focus? Unmatched customer success.
“We talked about this on stage—our goal is to provide the ultimate customer success and support experience. We know that building a better product and creating massive customer love is what drives exponential growth.”
By doubling down on product development and customer support, SmartWiz tax software is making sure that every tax professional using the platform doesn’t just like it—they can’t imagine running their business without it.
What’s Your Final Piece of Advice for Entrepreneurs?
Success in entrepreneurship boils down to one fundamental truth:
“Build a great business, and they will come.”
And “they” means everyone—customers, investors, talent, and opportunities.
“It’s easy to get caught up in the noise—conferences, panels, speaking engagements—but at the end of the day, none of that matters if you’re not building a strong business.”
So, stay focused on solving the problem.
In the early days of Taxx Wiz, Tevin and his team immersed themselves in understanding their customers and the nuances of the tax industry. They worked relentlessly to build something people actually needed—and had fun doing it.
“It doesn’t have to be miserable. It’s hard, but it doesn’t have to feel like a grind just to get to the next round.’”
He also emphasizes the importance of filtering advice.
“Nobody is an expert on your business but you. Take in advice from mentors and advisors, but at the end of the day, you have to eat the fish and spit out the bones. Stay laser-focused on solving the problem.”
Be the Next Venture Atlanta Pitch Competition Winner
SmartWiz tax software isn’t the only company making waves. Each year, Venture Atlanta showcases the Southeast’s most promising startups, giving them a platform to pitch in front of top investors, industry leaders, and potential partners.
Think you have what it takes to be the next $500,000 pitch competition winner? Stay tuned to Venture Atlanta’s event page to make sure you don’t miss your chance to be on stage next year!
In the meantime, read through our pitch competition winner spotlights from 2023: Seed-Stage Pitch Competition Winner Enrichly, Early-Stage Pitch Competition Winner Rainforest, and Growth Stage Pitch Competition Winner Cloud Range.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who Is Tevin Harrell?
Tevin Harrell is the founder and CEO of SmartWiz, an engineer-turned-entrepreneur who built SmartWiz tax software to revolutionize the tax industry.
Why Did Smartwiz Win the 2024 Venture Atlanta Competition?
SmartWiz stood out due to its innovative AI-driven tax automation, its rapid growth, and its status as one of only 15 IRS-approved software providers.
