On The Brink with Castle Island Cyrus Shirazi (Haven) on Better Bookkeeping for Crypto Startups & Beyond (EP.648)
Jul 21, 2025
Cyrus Shirazi, CEO of Haven, leads a modern tax and accounting firm tailored for early-stage businesses. He discusses the intricacies of R&D tax credits, essential for startups to leverage. Shirazi emphasizes the significance of reliable accounting partners and the balance between automation and personal oversight. The conversation highlights the challenges of traditional payments versus the advantages of cryptocurrencies for international transactions. He offers vital accounting advice for startups, underlining the necessity for compliance and strong client relationships.
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Haven's Origin Story
- Cyrus Shirazi started Haven by helping friends claim R&D tax credits, which quickly grew to tax and bookkeeping services.
- This expansion led Haven to serve 500+ companies, including crypto startups and AI firms, with over $6M ARR.
Automation Limits in Accounting
- Revenue recognition is complex and unlikely to be fully automated due to contract variability.
- However, expense-related accounting tasks are highly automatable due to their repetitive nature and standardization.
Adopt Automation According to Size
- Startups with smaller finance teams are often more open to workflow changes that reduce manual work.
- Larger startups appreciate automation that eases their existing finance teams' workload.