Propel
Financial services and products for low-income Americans
See open opportunities
To build modern, respectful, effective technology that helps low-income Americans improve their financial health.
Employees
101-200
HQ Location
Downtown Brooklyn, NY
OTTA INSIGHTS
Xav Kearney
CTO of Otta
SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) benefits are used by millions of Americans, but the scheme has long been hampered by a lack of innovation or digitization. Propel offers instant access to balances, plus local offers and discounts, and support in finding work. It also provides a free debit card that can be used for everyday shopping, bills, savings, and online transactions.
Formerly known as Food Stamps, SNAP benefits can be a hassle to use, with some recipients still having to make phone calls to gauge their budget. Propel's users can keep track of and manage their government-provided SNAP benefits from its mobile app, Providers, enabling low-income Americans to make use of this critical safety net more easily.
The Providers app has been used by upwards of 5 million of a potential roughly 40 million people who use SNAP benefits, showcasing both the current reach of the company, and how much space it has in which to grow. With a presence in all 50 states, as well as some territories, Propel raised $50 million in 2022 which it is using to expand its debit card services, widening its reach to a growing customer base.
Last 2 fundraises
Dec 2018
$12.8m
SERIES A
Mar 2022
$50m
SERIES B
This company has top investors
Company benefits
Founders
Jimmy Chen
(CEO)Having studied at Stanford, they worked for 2 years as a LinkedIn Associate Product Manager, before spending a further 2 in the same position at Facebook. They left to co-found Propel in May 2014.