A startup founder who served time in prison is looking to court an untapped market: ex-cons
Former white-collar criminal Richard Bronson has launched a startup called Commissary Club, a social platform designed to help formerly incarcerated individuals find employment and housing. The platform uses AI to assist users in navigating the challenges of reentry into society.
Why it matters
It addresses the significant societal challenge of recidivism and the economic barriers faced by individuals with criminal records.
Richard Bronson, an entrepreneur who recently launched a startup called Commissary Club , has an unusual background for a founder: in a previous life, he spent time in prison.
In the 1980s, Bronson worked for the notorious Stratton Oakmont — the corruption-riddled brokerage firm that was run by Jordan Belfort, the so-called “Wolf of Wall Street” whose story became a 2013 film. The firm collapsed in the mid-1990s under the weight of misconduct accusations.
Bronson was a partner at Stratton, but left after a year to start his own firm in South Florida. He was quite successful in that venture, until he wasn’t.
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