Building a robust financial future for you and yours.
Penelope understands that as a small business owner or founder, you’ve got a million things to juggle. Some are small, some are big, and some seem so large that it’s easier to pretend they aren’t there.
When it comes to retirement planning, Penelope provides streamlined, affordable savings vehicles for you and your employees without hassle, unnecessary jargon or hidden charges.
A low-cost 401(k) subscription model, Penelope’s intuitive technology platform automates employee investing, streamlines costs and paperwork, and provides learning tools for employees.
Our Story
As a child growing up in Los Angeles, Jean Smart watched her immigrant parents work tirelessly to provide for their family and employees.
As owners of a grocery store and a restaurant, Jean’s parents valued education and hard work. While her parents took care of everyone around them, they didn’t formally invest in their own retirement, leaving them vulnerable in their later years. Jean’s parents were an all too familiar story in the US; equal parts inspiration and cautionary tale.
After a career in financial services, Jean decided to start Penelope - a 401(k) platform focused on micro and small businesses. She brought on Paul Choi and Monica Barry as co-founders. Today, Jean and the Penelope team are on a mission to enable every small business owner and employee to build a bright financial future.
Penelope understands that as a small business owner or founder, you’ve got a million things to juggle. Some are small, some are big, and some seem so large that it’s easier to pretend they aren’t there.
When it comes to retirement planning, Penelope provides streamlined, affordable savings vehicles for you and your employees without hassle, unnecessary jargon or hidden charges.
A low-cost 401(k) subscription model, Penelope’s intuitive technology platform automates employee investing, streamlines costs and paperwork, and provides learning tools for employees.
Our Story
As a child growing up in Los Angeles, Jean Smart watched her immigrant parents work tirelessly to provide for their family and employees.
As owners of a grocery store and a restaurant, Jean’s parents valued education and hard work. While her parents took care of everyone around them, they didn’t formally invest in their own retirement, leaving them vulnerable in their later years. Jean’s parents were an all too familiar story in the US; equal parts inspiration and cautionary tale.
After a career in financial services, Jean decided to start Penelope - a 401(k) platform focused on micro and small businesses. She brought on Paul Choi and Monica Barry as co-founders. Today, Jean and the Penelope team are on a mission to enable every small business owner and employee to build a bright financial future.
Location: United States, New York
Employees: 1-10
Total raised: $2.1M
Founded date: 2021
Investors 1
| Date | Name | Website |
| - | Slauson &a... | slauson.co |
Funding Rounds 1
| Date | Series | Amount | Investors |
| 17.03.2022 | Seed | $2.1M | - |
Mentions in press and media 4
| Date | Title | Description |
| 21.03.2022 | Penelope raises $2.1 million | New York-based self-service retirement platform for small and micro businesses Penelope Penelope Founded: 2021 Headquarters: New York, NY, US Total Funding: $2.1M See full company profile "> has raised $2.1 million in pre-seed fundr... |
| 17.03.2022 | Penelope Raises $2.1M in Pre Seed Funding | Penelope, a NYC-based of a self-service retirement platform for small and micro businesses, raised $2.1m in pre-seed funding. The round was led by Slauson & Co. Additional investors include Amplify LA, Black Jays and executives from Wel... |
| 16.03.2022 | A Fintech Makes It Easy For Small Businesses To Offer 401(k) Retirement Benefits | Woman Restaurant Owner With Waiting Staff getty |
| 25.01.2022 | Penelope Launches Retirement Savings Platform for Small Businesses and Entrepreneurs | Saving through a Penelope 401(k) is the first step to becoming an investor, for your own retirement and for the next generation,” said Jean Smart, CEO and Founder of Penelope. NEW YORK (PRWEB) January 25, 2022 On a mission to enable every s... |