Propel Impact
Propel Impact is a Canadian nonprofit operating fellowship programs and 10 local impact-investment funds that train talent and deploy $25k-$70k in patient capital to impact-first organizations.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2019
- HeadquartersVancouver, Canada
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingServices
What Propel Impact does
Propel Impact is a Vancouver-headquartered nonprofit founded in 2019 that operates a hybrid talent-development and impact-investing platform across Canada. It runs three fellowship-style programs (Consulting Fellowship, Investing Fellowship, and a 14-week paid Analyst Program) plus a 13-week Professionals Program, training cohorts that collectively number 550 participants. For organizations, it sells three service lines: Consulting and Project Support at $3,500 per 100-hour engagement, Analyst Placement at tiered fees of $3,000-$13,800, and impact-adjusted investments of $25,000-$70,000 through 10 local Propel Impact Funds spanning Vancouver to Newfoundland and Labrador.
The organization is not a technology company. Its core technology is human: a trained, mission-aligned talent pipeline that performs consulting, due diligence, and impact measurement for impact-first organizations. Investment instruments are conventional impact-finance vehicles (SAFEs, term loans, revenue-based financing, convertible notes), and the investment process takes 8-10 weeks from first conversation to closing.
Revenue mechanics combine four streams: Analyst placement fees from partner organizations, consulting project fees from impact-first clients, tuition from Professionals Program participants ($449-$1,099 CAD across three tiers), and returns on the $974k of capital deployed through local funds. GTM is community-led at the individual level (fellowship applications, information sessions) and sales-led at the organization level (direct outreach, partner-network referrals). Operations are Canada-only, with no proprietary technology platform, mobile app, API, or third-party integrations disclosed.
Propel Impact firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Propel Impact
- Legal name
- Propel Impact
- Website
- https://propelimpact.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2019
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Propel Impact is a Canadian nonprofit operating fellowship programs and 10 local impact-investment funds that train talent and deploy $25k-$70k in patient capital to impact-first organizations.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Propel Impact industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Social Finance and Impact Investing
- NAICS
- Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813), Grantmaking and Giving Services (81321), Funds, Trusts, and Other Financial Vehicles (525)
- SIC
- Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Management Consulting Services (8742), Investment Advice (6282)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Impact Investing & Social Finance (Funds, CDFIs, Microfinance) (BPAGALAA)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Sustainable Private Markets (Impact PE/VC, Private Credit, Infrastructure) (FSAAALAG), Impact / ESG Venture Capital (FSANAAAG), Impact Investment & Social Finance Programs (BPADAOAJ)
Keywords
Where Propel Impact is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Vancouver
- HQ country
- Canada
- HQ region
- North America
Offices10 records
Markets served
Propel Impact business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- Analyst Placement Fees: Partner organizations pay fees to hire pre-trained Analysts from Propel Impact's fellowship pipeline. Pricing is tiered based on organization type and budget size, ranging from $3,000-$6,900 per full-time Analyst placement for the 14-week program.
- Consulting Project Fees: Organizations pay $3,500 per consulting project that provides 100 hours of project support over 10 weeks, focused on market research, feasibility assessment, financial modeling, or impact measurement.
- Professionals Program Tuition: The 13-week Impact Investing Stream program charges tuition in three tiers: Standard ($1,099 CAD + GST), Partially-subsidized ($849 CAD + GST), and Community Rate ($449 CAD + GST).
- Investment Returns: Propel Impact local funds invest between $25,000-$70,000 in equity (SAFEs, common shares, preferred shares), debt (term loans, impact-adjusted loans), and hybrid vehicles (convertible notes, revenue-based financing) in impact-driven organizations.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Multi-year contract | Tier 1 for small non-profits: $6,900/Analyst full-time, $3,000 part-time |
| Subscription | Multi-year contract | Tier 2 for mid-size non-profits and small for-profits: $10,350/Analyst full-time, $4,500 part-time |
| Subscription | Multi-year contract | Tier 3 for impact-first organizations: $13,800/Analyst full-time, $6,000 part-time |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Consulting project support: $3,500 per project |
| Subscription | Annual | Standard Rate: $1,099 CAD + GST |
| Subscription | Annual | Partially-subsidized Rate: $849 CAD + GST |
| Subscription | Annual | Community Rate: $449 CAD + GST |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels6 records
Propel Impact product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Propel Impact is a Canadian nonprofit social innovation organization that runs fellowship training programs and places paid analysts with impact-first organizations. The organization delivers consulting and project support to social-purpose ventures and deploys impact-adjusted investment capital through 10 local Propel Impact Funds operating across Canadian cities.
Product overview
Propel Impact is a Canadian social innovation and impact investing organization offering a portfolio of programs and services. The core offerings include three Fellowship programs (Consulting Fellowship for individuals aged 18-30, Investing Fellowship for undergraduate students, and Analyst Program for paid internships), a Professionals Program for mid-career impact investing education, and three service offerings (Consulting and Project Support, Analyst Placement, and Local Propel Impact Funds). These offerings work together to support impact-driven organizations through talent development, direct investment, and consulting services, with local funds operating across 8 Canadian cities.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- NextGen Funds: Impact-adjusted investment designed for impact-driven organizations
Products and services
- Consulting Fellowship
- Investing Fellowship
- Analyst Program
- Professionals Program
- Consulting and Project Support
- Local Propel Impact Funds
Quantifiable outcome
- 550 Program Participants trained through fellowship programs
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Propel Impact
Customer profileNamed customers10 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Propel Impact technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Propel Impact partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Two partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- MakeWay Charitable SocietycoreWestern Arctic Youth Collective (WAYC) is a project on MakeWay's Charitable Society's Shared Platform, which provides a network community of like-minded initiatives, operational support, governance, and charitable expertise for change makers.
- Atira Women's SocietyminorEast Van Roasters was acquired by Atira Women's Society in 2023, ensuring long-term continuation of the program and opening doors for future expansion.
Scale indicators9 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Propel Impact competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Amplify Capital: Canadian venture fund investing in impact-driven founders, with similar thesis to Propel Impact funds around overlooked impact-first entrepreneurs in Canada.
- Acumen Academy: Global learning platform for social innovators and impact investors offering online courses and fellowships; closely comparable to Propel Impact's Professionals Program and Consulting Fellowship model.
- Rally Assets: Canadian impact investment management firm offering pooled funds and advisory services to foundations and impact investors; comparable in mission and asset class focus to Propel Impact's investment services.
- Renewal Funds: Vancouver-based venture fund investing in environmental and social impact companies across Canada; comparable as a fellow Canadian early-stage impact investor, though typically at larger ticket sizes than Propel.
- Fairlead Social Impact Fund: Atlantic Canada-focused impact investment fund housed at Memorial University; directly comparable as a regional impact fund that partners with Propel Impact's Newfoundland team to deploy capital.
- Echoing Green: Global fellowship program that identifies and invests in emerging social impact leaders; comparable to Propel Impact's fellowship-to-analyst pipeline as a developer of impact talent.
- SVX (Social Venture Connection): Canadian impact investing platform and network that connects impact funds, foundations, and retail investors to social ventures; directly comparable to Propel Impact's local impact funds and screening infrastructure.
Broad incumbents
- MaRS Discovery District: Toronto-based innovation hub offering impact programming, advisory services and capital connections for social enterprises; comparable as a broader ecosystem player Propel Impact's partner organizations tap into.
- Impact Hub Network: Global network of impact-focused co-working spaces and accelerator programs; comparable as a broader ecosystem and community platform serving impact-first organizations and entrepreneurs.
Regional players
- TELUS Pollinator Fund for Good: Canadian corporate venture fund backing early-stage social impact startups; comparable investment thesis to Propel Impact funds, and notable because Propel's co-founder Bruno Lam was previously a Principal there.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Propel Impact social profiles
Digital presencePropel Impact financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Propel Impact leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Propel Impact funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Propel Impact M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments1 record
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Propel Impact
What does Propel Impact do?
Propel Impact is a Canadian nonprofit social innovation organization that runs fellowship training programs and places paid analysts with impact-first organizations. The organization delivers consulting and project support to social-purpose ventures and deploys impact-adjusted investment capital through 10 local Propel Impact Funds operating across Canadian cities.
Is Propel Impact a public or private company?
Propel Impact is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Propel Impact founded?
Propel Impact was founded in 2019. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Propel Impact based?
Propel Impact is headquartered in Vancouver, Canada, in the North America region.
How does Propel Impact make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Analyst Placement Fees are the primary driver. The others are consulting Project Fees, professionals Program Tuition and investment Returns.
Who are Propel Impact's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Amplify Capital, Acumen Academy, Rally Assets, Renewal Funds, Fairlead Social Impact Fund, Echoing Green and SVX (Social Venture Connection). Broad incumbents are MaRS Discovery District and Impact Hub Network. TELUS Pollinator Fund for Good is listed as a regional player.
Does Propel Impact have an API?
No public API is recorded for Propel Impact.
What industry is Propel Impact in?
Propel Impact's product category is Social Finance and Impact Investing. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAGALAA, Impact Investing & Social Finance (Funds, CDFIs, Microfinance), with a secondary code of FSAAALAG, Sustainable Private Markets (Impact PE/VC, Private Credit, Infrastructure). Its NAICS code is 813 and its SIC code is 8300.