1848 Ventures Leads $3M Seed Round for Propel People

Jul 22, 2025
1848 Ventures has led a $3 million seed funding round for Propel People, an AI-powered hiring platform for skilled trades, and appointed Dexter Bachelder as CEO.

1848 Ventures has led a $3 million seed funding round for Propel People, an AI-powered hiring platform designed to assist contractors in hiring skilled tradespeople more efficiently. Announced in a press release, the investment aims to accelerate product development and expand the company's engineering and go-to-market teams.

Propel People, built within the 1848V venture studio, addresses the construction industry's pressing challenge of labor shortages. The platform uses AI to simplify and speed up the hiring process through smart candidate ranking and instant screening. Dexter Bachelder, a veteran in construction tech, has been appointed as CEO to lead the company.

The funding will also support Propel People's entry into key contractor markets across the U.S., reinforcing 1848 Ventures' commitment to scaling AI-native software companies that address real-world SMB challenges.

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