PROPELLER

To drive, or cause to move, forward or onward.

Social Impact Ventures launched Propeller to accelerate black and brown founders, entrepreneurs and business owners. We apply our real world experience and our operating and capital market expertise to businesses and revenue models we think have potential to scale and catalyze change.

Propeller leverage's Oakland's rich pool of startup resources by connecting Propeller participants with investors, entrepreneurs and technologists that will provide tools, assistance and support to help them accelerate and grow their business. 

We work with "committed capital" from select private investors on a transaction by transaction basis with the goal of maximizing invested capital and social impact.

What do you get from Propeller?

Community

We know how difficult it can be to be black and launch, build and grow a company. Propeller fosters a community of founders, entrepreneurs other people to enhance your capabilities and efficacy.  Our community is an extremely valuable resource.

Hands-on Support

We work together on your business and revenue model, product strategy, growth, key performance indicators, and investor pitches.

Advice

You get access to a network of founders, mentors, and our team, who will give you guidance when you need it the most.

We have built startups, scaled businesses and raised capital before. We make sure you don’t make the same mistakes we did.

Networks

Thanks to our extensive network, companies build relationships and partnerships that wouldn’t be possible at their size without us.

Simply put we have connections. Our goal is to connect you to what you need within 3 phone calls.

Learning

We bring in a wide variety of experts focused on marketing, culture, accounting, product design, mobile, user testing, sales, and more.

Investment

Being a Social Impact Venture company will validate your business, and our network and crowdfunding platform will help you connect with investors when the time is right.

Our Demo Day is a great opportunity to meet and pitch people who might invest in you.

Frequently Asked Questions

When are applications for Propeller due?
We accept applications on a rolling basis. 

Do you only fund technology startups?
No, we are industry agnostic. We have worked with service to product companies and everything in between.

Do we have to be on Oakland/SF Bay Area?
Unfortunately yes. In order to have the full Propeller experience, you need to be here in person. 

Do we need to write a business plan?
Not for us. We make our decisions based on your application and personal interviews. We are happy to see and demos, prototypes or products, but a business plan is not necessary.

We have been working on our startup for a while. Is Propeller appropriate for us?
Yes! We particularly like working with early and growth stage companies that have been active prior to coming to Propeller.

We already have funding. Can we still apply?
You sure can.