About Us

Propeller is transforming the way venture stage businesses are built.

We offer enterprise-grade financial horsepower to growing companies – fueled by state-of-the-art technology and nearly fifteen years of insights gained from the experiences of some of the country’s most iconic startups.

Meet our founder, Chris Fenster

I started my career in consulting before a detour into an entrepreneurial venture inspired me to choose a different path. As the head of finance at four startups, I developed a deep passion for company-building but was frustrated by the risk and inefficiency of running finance in smaller companies. I knew there had to be a better way.

I launched Propeller Industries in 2008 as it became clear that cloud software and digital documents would make it feasible to decouple financial work from the physical location of each company. Our breakthrough came with the ability to replicate enterprise-company efficiencies by aggregating the finance and accounting workload of many emerging businesses with a standard set of processes and controls and a global team.

As our clients raised billions in venture capital, my colleagues and I bootstrapped Propeller through twelve years of rapid, organic growth. We worked to narrow our focus as we methodically integrated learnings from each client experience into our service model, in the belief that Propeller’s work should get better as the firm got bigger. In 2020, we partnered with Newlight Partners for a growth equity investment to help us accelerate faster and bring more tech-enablement to the company to unlock our full potential.

Today, my original vision has come to fruition, as our global team surpasses 350 full-time people who have served 800 companies and counting, including some of the world’s most successful startups.

As we look ahead to the future, we continue to build world-class talent and a next-generation platform for shared-services partnership, where our embedded teams harvest insights and share guidance to help our community of great entrepreneurs build great companies.

Jeff Gustafson

Since joining Propeller in 2010, I’ve had the opportunity to serve as CFO and advisor to hundreds of venture-stage companies, helping entrepreneurs through the twists and turns of growing (and selling) a business. It’s incredibly gratifying to see the impact of working in a multi-client environment where I can deliver exponential value to more founders through shared experiences and learnings.

Jeff Gustafson|Partner, Client CFO & Transaction Advisory Founder

Why we’re different

In a sea of options, Propeller stands out.

No one has better experience in the categories we serve. Our team has partnered with some of the highest-performing companies, backed by the world’s best investors, to help build over $50B in enterprise value since 2008. This exceptional level of trust and access has enabled us to develop an unparalleled repository of knowledge and pattern recognition that delivers an unfair advantage to our clients.

What we’re all about

We believe that you deserve a financial partner as ambitious and innovative as you are. That's why we created a culture that attracts and develops the best and the brightest in the business. We look for individuals who share our values and passion for helping entrepreneurs bring their vision to life.

We’re hard-working

Caring…

And a little bit quirky

Down with data

Number nerds all the way

Our Values

    Together we’re stronger

    We are “One Propeller” and believe in the power of collaboration and teamwork as a force multiplier. We are compassionate people that seek out and embrace our differences and know that greatness is achieved by integrating diverse views, experiences, and perspectives.

    We do the right thing

    We are guided by a moral compass, holding ourselves and our work to the highest standards. We use logic and reason to make sound judgments and always do what’s is right over what’s easy.

    An entrepreneurial spirit is part of our DNA

    We are passionate about making an impact in the lives of the people we engage with, in our work, and in the world. We are builders and creators, adaptable, and inquisitive – constantly striving for growth.

    We get it done

    We are trustworthy and reliable in our actions and own our outcomes. We pride ourselves on being relentlessly resourceful and upholding our responsibilities no matter what.

Looking for financial services and leadership that grows with you? Let’s chat. Schedule a free consultation today.

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