Propel People Secures $3 Million in Seed Round

Propel People Secures $3 Million in Seed Round

Propel People, a Westfield Center, Ohio-based AI-powered, mobile-first hiring platform for contractors, has secured $3 million in seed funding.

The round was led by 1848 Ventures, an AI-focused venture studio dedicated to supporting SMB-focused SaaS startups. 1848 Ventures is building the operating system for SMB transformation—venture by venture, acquisition by acquisition. Backed by Westfield, 1848 Ventures builds, funds, and scales AI-native SaaS companies designed to help SMBs thrive in a rapidly evolving economy.

The company will use the funds to accelerate product development, expand its engineering and go-to-market teams, and drive expansion into key U.S. contractor markets.

Led by Dexter Bachelder, Propel People is a mobile-first hiring platform built specifically for the construction industry, aiming to solve the skilled labor shortage through intelligent, AI-powered tools. Developed within the 1848 Ventures studio, the platform features smart candidate ranking, instant screening, and bilingual SMS engagement to help contractors hire skilled tradespeople quickly and efficiently. The platform is bilingual by default, tailored for field-based contractors and Spanish-speaking users.

Funding Details

Company: Propel People

Raised: $3.0M

Round: Seed

Funding Date: July 2025

Lead Investor: 1848 Ventures

Additional Investors:

Company Website: https://propelpeople.ai/

Software Category: Construction Tech / HR Tech / AI SaaS