A former financial services entrepreneur who spent several years in federal prison has launched an AI startup aimed at helping people with criminal records find work, housing and support after release.
Richard Bronson founded Commissary Club, a platform combining AI-assisted job applications with access to housing resources, benefits and an online community for formerly incarcerated people.
Bronson previously worked at Stratton Oakmont, the controversial brokerage firm associated with Jordan Belfort, whose story inspired The Wolf of Wall Street. He later set up his own financial business in South Florida, taking small-cap companies public in a business he says grew to $100m.
However, Bronson acknowledged to TechCrunch that some of his business activities involved securities-law violations. He was subsequently convicted and served several years in federal prison.
Following his release, Bronson found that his previous business experience and education did little to help him find employment. He struggled to secure work despite having built a substantial business, prompting him to consider the difficulties facing former prisoners with fewer qualifications and professional connections.
Commissary Club is designed to address some of those challenges, offering assistance with job applications alongside resources for finding accommodation and accessing benefits. The platform also includes a social element intended to connect users with others facing similar circumstances.
Bronson has described the service as a combination of Facebook and practical reintegration support. The platform also includes dating functionality, according to TechCrunch. The company takes its name from the commissary shops inside prisons, where inmates buy everyday essentials.
The startup is being built with co-founder Roman Kissin, a technology executive who has previously worked at eBay and IBM and served as chief technology officer at LexisNexis. The business currently has a two-person team.
Commissary Club operates a paid model, with the first ten job applications free. Users can then purchase a further ten applications for $149, equivalent to $14.99 per application, according to Bronson.
The pricing model could present a challenge for a customer base that may have limited funds immediately after leaving prison. The business will also need to demonstrate that its AI-assisted services can improve employment prospects in a market where applicants often face barriers when applying for jobs.
Bronson told TechCrunch that people frequently assume the company is a nonprofit, but said it is being run as a commercial business.
The startup has been selected for TechCrunch’s Startup Battlefield 200 competition, which takes place at TechCrunch Disrupt in San Francisco from 13 to 15 October.
The business enters a market where former prisoners can face difficulties securing employment, accommodation and financial stability. Bronson’s own experience has shaped the company’s focus on providing practical support through a single platform.
