Funds of $3 Million Acquired to Assist Construction Contractors in Recruiting Skilled Trade Workers via Propel People
In an industry grappling with a skilled labor shortage of over half a million workers, Propel People, a mobile-first hiring platform, is set to make a significant impact. The AI-driven platform, developed within the 1848V Venture Studio, streamlines and accelerates trade hiring through innovative features like intelligent candidate ranking, instant screening, and engaging SMS communication.
The platform's CEO, Dexter Bachelder, brings extensive experience in construction technology and go-to-market strategies to the table. Bachelder believes that solving the skilled labor shortage is both the industry's biggest challenge and its greatest opportunity.
The funding, led by 1848 Ventures, will be used to boost product development, grow the engineering and go-to-market teams, and support Propel's expansion into key contractor markets across the U.S. The aim is to help contractors build crews faster, smarter, and more efficiently.
Contractors, who primarily work in the field, will find Propel People tailored to their needs. The platform supports both English and Spanish, addressing the diversity within the construction sector.
Kal Amin, Managing Partner at 1848 Ventures, states that labor shortages are the primary threat to growth, profitability, and safety in the construction industry. Amin believes that Propel People is redefining what hiring can look like for the trades by combining AI-native infrastructure with a field-first user experience.
Dexter Bachelder emphasizes that most hiring tools are not designed for how construction actually works, especially in the field and under pressure. With Propel People, contractors can now find skilled tradespeople more quickly, making it easier to deliver quality projects.
Bachelder expresses pride in partnering with 1848 Ventures to support the people who build our world and help solve one of their most urgent problems. The future of construction hiring looks promising with Propel People leading the way.
- Dexter Bachelder, aiming to address the industry's primary challenge and opportunity (labored shortage), plans to invest the funding in boosting product development, expanding the engineering and go-to-market teams, and supporting Propel's expansion, to enable contractors to build crews more efficiently.
- Recognizing that most hiring tools fail to cater to how construction functions, especially in the field, Propel People, an AI-driven platform designed by Dexter Bachelder, offers innovative features like intelligent candidate ranking, instant screening, and engaging SMS communication, revolutionizing the trades' hiring landscape.
