RBBronson123

Some background:

I launched 70 Million Jobs (S17), the first for-profit employment platform for the formerly incarcerated. Inspired by my own incarceration and greatly assisted by my Y Combinator experience, we had success in facilitating jobs for thousands of men and women with records (of which I’m one), thereby dramatically reducing their chances of recidivating. Unfortunately, just as we became profitable, COVID hit and our revenue cratered, shuttering the business.

The problem:

Many with records have limited education and even less experience job-seeking. They don’t have a resume, the social skills or job training to speak of. And to make matters worse, there’s no peer support, no community to turn to for advice, inspiration or connections. With no job, there’s a 75% chance they’ll end up back in jail or prison. The problem destroys lives, families and communities and costs us hundreds of billions of dollars annually.

The solution: Facebook for ex-cons.

A destination for the 100 million Americans—1 in 3 adults (and 1 billion+ globally)—impacted by the criminal justice system. I talked about it with TechCrunch 5 years ago. https://techcrunch.com/2020/10/29/commissary-club-wants-to-help-formerly-incarcerated-people-find-community/ Build a social network that brings this vast population together for the first time, and lets AI handle every phase of the reentry paradigm on behalf of this population:

• Create a resume, search for jobs and apply. • Find housing • Offer personal development and job training opportunities, mentors • Referrals to professional resources (doctors, lawyers, therapists, etc) • Dating, business opps, events, music • Provide new users with voice introductions to network members, so they can find friendship, inspiration, love • Track and reward positive behavior w/tokens A lot of social good but also a great business: Brands—which love niche social networks--have never been able to directly market to this vast demographic efficiently because it’s never been readily accessible. We buy a lot of sneakers and eat a lot of hamburgers.

The bigger picture:

My mission is to be the first to take on the entire utterly f*ked reentry paradigm and have Commissary Club serve, as Women’s Lib did for women and the Civil Rights movement did for African Americans, as the one place that welcomes this historically marginalized, derided population, and allow us to flex our collective social, economic and political muscles.

In 2017, I announced the launch of my YC company, 70 Million Jobs--the first employment platform for 100M Americans with records. In 18 months we attained profitability and helped thousands land jobs. The COVID hit, companies fired our people and stopped hiring. We shut down.

In addition to employment, justice system-impacted people speak of their need for community. Instead of serving life sentences of shame and solitary despair, they crave the support of their peers, a place to find friendship, commiserate and be inspired. And love. And fun. A Facebook of their own. A club that actually wants them.

I believe the confluence of emergent technology and positive changes in society's attitudes towards this population has made the timing right. It's having its "moment."

I think this also represents a seminal business opportunity. They buy a lot of hamburgers and sneakers, but neither McDonald's nor Nike has never marketed directly to them. They could easily elect any president, but no politician seeks their vote.

But if brought together, they could flex their collective economic muscle and political might.

I aim to place Commissary Club at the epicenter of this tectonic shift.

We'll help people get jobs and find housing, except we'll handle the processes every step of the way. Our members will find mentors, lawyers, take classes, gain advice, go on a date and make friends. And have fun. Together. Facebook for ex-cons.

I've been in this space for 15 years and I've done time. We've needed this.

In August, 2017, while going through Y Combinator, I announced on HN the launch of 70 Million Jobs, the first employment platform for those with criminal records. (https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=14911467)

We had great success, but when Covid hit, companies laid off all our people and stopped hiring new workers. Our business was devastated. I announced our closing here: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=31598978

I am now building the 1 thing that this population has always lacked. After spending years surrounded by people while incarcerated, when released, the 70 million people with records are lonely, depressed and desperate. What they are missing is community. That is what I am building.

After my own lived experience, I have worked in this space for 12 years; few know it better. AI will provide the muscle to create connections at scale and do the heavy lifting. A new network will emerge that will inspire, comfort, assist, provide friendship, love, employment, housing, insights and value. Together, this network will build businesses, elect politicians, facilitate marriages, all while rooting out the pernicious layers of bias and racism that have served as barriers to entry for this population to advance socially, economically and politically.

The timing is just right for this community to be galvanized. Fair Chancing hiring, housing and banking have gone mainstream. Now, this population can come together as one. Commissary Club will be their meeting hall.

I'd love to hear your thoughts.

Richard Bronson

Richard@70MillionJobs.com

I've dedicated my life to helping those with criminal records begin a second life that's safe and productive. My YC (S17) company 70 Million Jobs, had a lot of success, but the pandemic devastated us, forcing me to cease operations (https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=31598978 )

But I've got a new idea to help folks with records land jobs (there's a direct correlation between recidivism and unemployment), using AI. I'm in search of a technical co-founder who shares my passion for justice and equality. Ideally someone experience in AI and startups. I'm a subject matter expert on reentry with lived experience (I've got a record). I know pitching investors, product, sales, marketing, PR, etc.

PLEASE NOTE: 1) This would be a for-profit venture. There's lots of money in this. 2)This is at a very pre-seed stage. No funding has been raised; it's just me at this point. I promise you that whatever happens, you will derive enormous satisfaction in doing this work. You'll be amazed. Richard@70MillionJobs.com

I'm the founder and ex-CEO of 70 Million Jobs (1st national, for-profit employment platform for people with criminal records). We helped thousands of deserving men and women land jobs, but when the pandemic hit in force, it destroyed our business.

Several months ago I announced with great sadness that I was ceasing operations. Both the HN and Y Comb. (I was in S17) were incredibly supportive. I'll never forget that.

But I'm not done with my work. Like most, I'm amazed at the potential of AI. I know that employing it to help people with records land jobs would be enormously effective, so I am planning to launch a new company, SecondChance AI.

Most of the people coming out of prison have no clue on how to land a job; how to create a resume and cover letter, where to look, how to apply, etc. And that's assuming they have the most basic of tech skills--which many don't.

If that wasn't challenging enough, nearly all employer HR departments have internal parameters for who they can and cannot consider, based on criminal records. Unfortunately, they generally don't share this information, so we have job seekers applying to jobs they can never land, and HR departments assessing candidates that they can never hire (they only know this after getting a background check, which happens at the very end of the assessment process).

What if jobseekers (and there are 70 million Americans--1 in 3 adults) with records could access an app powered by AI that would create the resume, cover letter, search for available jots (most importantly, those that would accommodate their record) and apply on their behalf?

Obviously a great service to job seekers, but to employers as well--saving them time and money.

I think this would be very fundable and would scale very well.

I'm considered a national expert on reentry, and I certainly know how both sides of this marketplace work. I'm seeking a co-founder and/or CTO/tech lead to work with me on this.

I can't begin to describe how gratifying this work is. If interested in learning more, contact me at Richard@70MillionJobs.com.

When I announced that I was shutting down my company, 70 Million Jobs/Commissary Club, I received enormous support from the Hacker News & YC communities. (The pandemic decimated my business helping the formally incarcerated land jobs and find community.) It was just what I needed at the time.

Since then, I’ve worked as a consultant to several nonprofits. But I very much miss being on the team of one special company.

What do I bring to the table? I think it’s fair to say that my profile is unusual for a tech person, much less a YC founder. My technology chops are woefully limited. I’m certainly one of the oldest founders to go through YC. And I have a criminal record. (I built a huge financial services firm years ago, got greedy and lost everything, including my freedom, circa 1995.)

What, then do I bring to the table? • A very mature, strategic mind. • A track record of success. • Great at sales of all kinds. • Great at partnerships/bizdev • Very good at marketing. • Passion for social impact. • Great at recruiting and evangelizing. • Good at fund-raising. • Unrelenting loyalty and dedication. • I approach every opportunity as if I am the founder.

If you’re building something magical, I can help make it come alive.

Two weeks ago, I announced (https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=31598978) that I was shutting down my companies, 70 Million Jobs and Commissary Club (companies that helped the formerly incarcerated get on with their lives). The overwhelming volume of support I received just through Bookface and Hacker News stunned me; my heart overflowed with pride and gratitude.

Now I am facing another challenge: I need a job. I’ve spoken with many recruiters and HR professionals, along with people who are interested in either acquiring my company(s), funding them or just want to make themselves available for a chat. I’ve received offers for leadership positions at nonprofits, but I haven’t yet discovered the right fit. Maybe I love the startup life too much. Maybe my criminal record hurts my chances. (Maybe!?!) Maybe my age is a deterrent.

Before I accept a position that doesn’t thrill me, I thought I’d get the word out to the YC community. Perhaps your company has—or has been considering—beginning a foundation or some other mission-based, social impact endeavor. Perhaps you need to hire lots of folks for your work force and want to seriously access the largely ignored 70 million Americans with records. I can help.

What else am I very good at? Business development, sales training and management.

Please note: I’m not very technical.

If you’ve got ideas, I’d love to hear them. Thanks for your time and consideration.