Paul M. Purcell

Private Investor / Board Member / Adviser

📍 Greater Chicago Area, United States🔄 Updated September 2026💼 18 investments📅 19 years investing🗓 Last invested Jan 2026𝕏 @upgrade_to_unlock
VC🌍 United StatesInvested this year
18
Total investments
4
Early stage
8
Mid stage
4
Late stage
19y
Years active

Portfolio

16 investments · sorted by recency
All investments
Early stage
Mid stage
Late stage
Board Member
Jan 2026
60% of Americans live paycheck-to-paycheck. Zirtue Pay turns that reality into an opportunity for billers to get paid—faster, easier, and with zero friction. Zirtue Pay is the alternative bill payment solution that helps billers: 🔥 Increase revenue 🔥 Reduce delinquency 🔥 Strengthen customer loyalty 🔥 Prevent collections, service interruptions, and credit damage for their customers Backed by Mastercard, Morgan Stanley, TruStage Insurance, and Northwestern Mutual, we empower customers with same-day and next-day bill payment options that meet them where they are—without adding cost or operational lift to billers. No friction. No integration. No cost. Just a bold, smarter way to get bills paid.
Board Member
Feb 2025
Verdata has built a proprietary data network that empowers the rapidly growing embedded retail lending sector—rent-/lease-to-own, buy-now-pay-later, point-of-sale, SMB Lending, Merchant Acquirers/Payment Processors, Healthcare--Medical Financing and others to assess, mitigate, and monitor for fraud, regulatory exposure, and customer service risk that has emerged as a threat.
Board Member
Aug 2023
A savings account where you earn more interest and prizes depending on the results of sports games, series, seasons, tournaments and brackets.
Board Member
Oct 2021
Prizeout is an advertising and financial technology company that helps put money back into people’s pockets. Through Prizeout’s technology, brand-funded offers are available to all partners, including financial institutions, gaming companies, gig economy startups, and more, giving them access to instant cashback from national and local brands when they shop with digital gift cards. The company was founded in 2019 and is headquartered in New York City.
Board Member
Oct 2021
Lantern is an on-demand cannabis marketplace and home delivery service that guides you through different strains and products so we can guide you to what's right for you. For those who are canna-curious but overwhelmed, to those who are experienced looking for new ways to explore, we're here to bring transparency, equity, and access to cannabis.
Board Member
Dec 2020
Businesses use Gig Wages lightning-fast, premium payments network to attract, retain, and delight more independent (1099) contractors. We call it GigForce Management. We welcome businesses in contractor dependent industries; you can launch, grow, and scale your 1099 initiatives on Gig Wage with help from industry experts, specialized partners, and purpose built tools.
Board Member
Sep 2020
Aeropay is a financial technology company that helps people move money with bank-to-bank (ACH) transfers. We enable businesses to accept compliant, digital payments, giving customers the freedom to spend. Leaving cash and cards behind and paying with a personal mobile device promotes safety, convenience and a modern lifestyle. Enabled with sophisticated and secure technology, with compliance at the core, Aeropay is the better way to move money.
Board Member
Mar 2019
Sezzle is a mission-driven fintech empowering the next generation with interest-free installment plans that enhance purchasing power online and in-store. Focused on transparency and inclusivity, Sezzle gives consumers tools to manage spending, take control of their finances, and work toward financial independence. As the only B Corp in fintech, Sezzle proves that all industries - even payments - can do their part to provide solutions and make a positive impact today and into the future. For more information visit Sezzle.com. Disclaimer: Pay in 4 and Pay in 2 loans are originated by WebBank except loans in Iowa and Puerto Rico. For example, for a $300 loan, you pay one $75 down payment today, then three $75 payments every two weeks for a 35.40% total annual percentage rate (APR) and a total of payments of $305.99 which includes a $5.99 Service Fee (finance charge) charged at loan origination. Service fees vary and can range from $0 to $5.99 depending on the purchase price and Sezzle product. Actual fees are reflected in checkout.
Board Member
Jul 2018
Listo provides Latino communities in the US with financial services that not only help them meet their needs today but also turn their dreams into reality. Customers trust Listo because we treat them with respect and transparency, helping them make the smartest decisions that are optimal for their situation.
Board Member
Jul 2018
Winestyr is a curated collection of the best small-production wines you won't find on store shelves. Delivered quickly and conveniently to your door. We work directly with all of our portfolio wineries. These are real wines made by passionate people in small lots in a world overwhelmed with mass-produced wines and marketer-created brands. We're going back to the basics and bringing the best of wine country straight to your door.
Board Member
Jan 2016
Align Income Share Funding was started as Cumulus Funding in 2011, as the first source of Income Share Agreements (ISAs) to the general public in the United States. ISAs are a more flexible alternative to a personal loan. Instead of payments being based on a fixed interest rate over a set time frame, ISA payments are based on a small percentage of a consumers future income over a fixed period of time. Payments fluctuate with income, potentially all the way to zero if someone becomes unemployed. At Align, we understand that incomes arent always steady and that there is a need for a more flexible financial tool to account for this. Align customers use ISAs to pay for almost anything you can imagine - medical bills, consolidate more expensive debt, car repairs, or even a wedding. We are a team of dedicated professionals who pride ourselves in aligning our interests with our customers​. Visit us at www.helloalign.com to learn more.
Investor Board Observer
2015
Now powered by Ellucian. Higher education transforms lives and has the power to change the trajectory of millions of students and the communities they live in. CampusLogic’s Student Financial Success model is the backbone of our work, which supports degree completion for millions of students at nearly 800 schools across America. At the heart of this work is our committed, mission-driven team, who enable Student Financial Success every single day. Equipped with our core values and the will to transform higher education, the CampusLogic team is steadfast in its shared commitment to remove barriers that stop students from earning degrees. For more information, visit campuslogic.com.
Board Member
Dec 2013
Drizly, an Uber company is the worlds largest alcohol marketplace and the best way to shop beer, wine and spirits. Our customers trust us to be part of their lives – their celebrations, parties, dinners and quiet nights at home. We are there when it matters - committed to lifes moments and the people who create them. We partner with the best retail stores in over 1200 cities across North America to serve up the best buying experience. Drizly offers a huge selection and competitive pricing with a side of personalized content.
Board Member
2013
We will no longer be posting from this account as of 4/1/23. You can continue to receive #WePay news by following @JPMorgan.
Board Observer/Investor
2012
LevelUp is building next-generation mobile experiences for over 200 brands nationwide: empowering businesses to engage customers, grow sales and build a long-term scalable mobile strategy. LevelUp’s platform offers a broad range of customized functionality: mobile rewards, payments, native online ordering, customer relationship management, a campaign creator with custom messaging, loyalty, gifting, and much more. You can find out a lot more on http://www.thelevelup.com. The LevelUp omnichannel loyalty and CRM platform gathers data from all in-store and order-ahead transactions, enabling merchants to develop and implement targeted marketing campaigns to increase customer spend and frequency. LevelUp apps see over 35% usage on average - the highest in the industry and higher than adoption at Starbucks, Dunkin’ Donuts and Panera Bread. We have a potent combination of UI/UX best practices that make our restaurant apps easy for customers to download and use and a marketing playbook that sets your app up for quick and persistent growth. LevelUp has two patents for integrated mobile payment at the point-of-sale, making us the only partner that can provide a seamless pay-at-the-counter experience. Our team of expert engineers build best-in-class mobile apps and ensure the LevelUp CRM, dashboard and marketing campaigns engine are at the cutting-edge of the industry. Our network engineers build partner integrations that enable restaurants to acquire new customers from distribution channels like Chase Pay, Facebook, Slack, Google, etc. LevelUp’s strategic partnerships with Chase, Facebook, Google, and more give restaurants access to millions of customers in addition to those using their app. LevelUp is the only provider who is building a network that will enable you to take advantage of future shifts in the mobile landscape. LevelUp is disrupting the world of online ordering and mobile payments on the consumer front. Our order ahead feature empowers people to skip the wait at thousands of their favorite restaurant locations nationwide. Our powerful order ahead network and in-store payment scanners allow customers to earn rewards at frequented restaurants, while saving time and money to win back their breakfast, lunch and dinner hours. LevelUp is truly a revolutionary solution to online ordering and mobile payments for restaurants.
Show all 16 investments ↓
Experience · 20 entries
All (20)
Investments (18)
Board (18)
2026
Board Member
Jan 2026
60% of Americans live paycheck-to-paycheck. Zirtue Pay turns that reality into an opportunity for billers to get paid—faster, easier, and with zero friction. Zirtue Pay is the alternative bill payment solution that helps billers: 🔥 Increase revenue 🔥 Reduce delinquency 🔥 Strengthen customer loyalty 🔥 Prevent collections, service interruptions, and credit damage for their customers Backed by Mastercard, Morgan Stanley, TruStage Insurance, and Northwestern Mutual, we empower customers with same-day and next-day bill payment options that meet them where they are—without adding cost or operational lift to billers. No friction. No integration. No cost. Just a bold, smarter way to get bills paid.
2025
Board Member
Feb 2025
Verdata has built a proprietary data network that empowers the rapidly growing embedded retail lending sector—rent-/lease-to-own, buy-now-pay-later, point-of-sale, SMB Lending, Merchant Acquirers/Payment Processors, Healthcare--Medical Financing and others to assess, mitigate, and monitor for fraud, regulatory exposure, and customer service risk that has emerged as a threat.
2023
Board Member
Aug 2023
A savings account where you earn more interest and prizes depending on the results of sports games, series, seasons, tournaments and brackets.
2021
Board Member
Oct 2021
Prizeout is an advertising and financial technology company that helps put money back into people’s pockets. Through Prizeout’s technology, brand-funded offers are available to all partners, including financial institutions, gaming companies, gig economy startups, and more, giving them access to instant cashback from national and local brands when they shop with digital gift cards. The company was founded in 2019 and is headquartered in New York City.
Board Member
Oct 2021
Lantern is an on-demand cannabis marketplace and home delivery service that guides you through different strains and products so we can guide you to what's right for you. For those who are canna-curious but overwhelmed, to those who are experienced looking for new ways to explore, we're here to bring transparency, equity, and access to cannabis.
Show all 20 entries ↓
Investment activity
2007–2026 · 18 investments
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