Propel Venture Partners is a San Francisco–based seed-stage venture capital firm focused on startups that are redefining how financial value is created, moved, and secured. Founded in 2016 and backed by long-term LP BBVA, Propel is known for investing early in execution-focused founders operating at the intersection of technology and financial services. The firm takes a hands-on approach to company-building, maintaining a concentrated portfolio and long-term alignment with its founders.
Propel invests globally in startups operating across:
The firm focuses on both vertical fintech applications and horizontal technologies that large incumbents in finance cannot ignore. While it has a global remit, Propel is particularly active in Latin America, with a strong presence in Brazil and Colombia.
In July 2025, Propel Venture Partners announced the close of its $100 million Fund V, bringing its total capital commitments to more than $436 million. The new fund continues the firm’s strategy of leading pre-seed and seed rounds with initial check sizes typically ranging from $1 million to $4 million. Fund V will enable Propel to expand its global investment activity in sectors where AI, crypto, and financial technology converge.
The firm has already made five investments from Fund V, including AI-native startups focused on financial planning and analysis, payment infrastructure, and energy-related technologies.
The fund allows Propel to maintain deep involvement with portfolio companies while supporting high-conviction bets at the earliest stages.
Leadership
Propel is co-led by General Partners Jay Reinemann and David Mort. Reinemann brings a background from BBVA, Visa, and Silicon Valley Bank, combining institutional finance experience with early-stage investing. Mort previously held roles in venture and financial services and is focused on staying closely aligned with founders while investing at the product-risk stage. Together, they emphasize founder trust, speed, and product-first partnerships.
Investment Strategy
Propel takes a high-conviction, low-volume approach to investing.
The firm actively supports founders from the pre-seed and seed stages, concentrating capital and time on a small number of companies each fund cycle. Its strategy is grounded in identifying transformative opportunities in financial services and technology infrastructure, particularly where traditional institutions struggle to innovate quickly.
Propel favors companies building new rails, new platforms, and new categories of value exchange, often with a global lens.
Notable Investments
Propel has backed 62 companies since inception, including:
Its portfolio spans eight countries, with a growing footprint in emerging markets like Brazil, Colombia, and India.
Notable Exits
Among its most notable exits are:
These exits highlight Propel’s ability to identify breakout companies in financial infrastructure and consumer fintech.
Other
Propel has invested over $98 million across 13 companies in Latin America, with São Paulo emerging as a key regional hub.
The firm is positioning itself to lead in the next wave of fintech disruption, driven by AI and new economic infrastructure. Its global perspective and close founder alignment make it a compelling partner for seed-stage companies aiming to reshape financial ecosystems.
Propel’s concentrated fund structure ensures that portfolio companies receive meaningful support, both strategically and operationally, from its core team.
