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Propel

Financial services and products for low-income Americans

Propel logo
101-200 employees
  • B2C
  • Financial Services
  • SaaS
Downtown Brooklyn, NY

Company mission

To build modern, respectful, effective technology that helps low-income Americans improve their financial health.

Top investors

Many candidates hear
back within 2 weeks

14% employee growth in 12 months

Otta's take

Xav Kearney headshot

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.

Benefits

  • Unlimited sick days
  • 16 week parental leave
  • Remote first
  • Generous vacation policy
  • Healthcare and a 401k
  • New tech tools

Company values

  • Listen first
  • We're doers, not philosophers
  • Embrace a growth mindset
  • Light up at our mission

Funding (last 2 of 5 rounds)

Mar 2022

$50m

SERIES B

Sep 2020

$16.5m

SERIES A

Total funding: $84.5m

This company has top investors

Founders

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.