We work really hard to build tools that take difficult things and make them easy and affordable. So when we see another company with the same sort of philosophy, we definitely take notice.

We're very proud of what we've accomplished at Wave since we launched at the end of 2010. We've had nearly a quarter of a million small businesses sign up, with tens of thousands of new businesses joining every month.

What's the only thing better than an easy to use, free online accounting application? An awesome website redesign to go with that easy to use, free online accounting application! For the first time since Wave launched in November 2010, we've done a full website redesign.

On November 10, we got the phone call that Wave had been named one of Canada's most innovative companies by CIX (Canadian Innovation Exchange) and would be listed in the CIX Top 20. Competing in the Information Communication Technology (ICT) category, Wave would be presented to a live audience at the MaRS Discovery District, where audience members were given virtual currency to bid on stocks for each company.

I’ve always been big on commemorating important events. Birthdays, anniversaries, I’m a fan of them all. Whenever it’s an employee’s birthday at Wave, we celebrate. These milestones are important to me, and worth drawing a little attention to. So it seems only fitting that I take a moment to recognize today’s important milestone, Wave’s first anniversary.

More exciting news to share with you: Wave is now getting into small business payroll.

Looks like the word is out, and it's my pleasure to officially announce that Wave has raised $5 million in series A financing, led by Charles River Ventures (CRV), with the participation of OMERS Ventures.

We like to think Wave is proof that a small business can do something big. A year ago we were only 6 people; since then we've launched an awesome accounting app, signed up nearly 60,000 small business customers in 192 countries, and grown to a team of 21.