Emerge Career: Revolutionizing Education and Job Training for the Incarcerated
Despite the best intentions of educators, education options during and after incarceration have historically been limited. However, a new company is working to change this status quo. Emerge Career, a startup that emerged from Y Combinator’s latest batch in August, is making waves with its innovative approach to job training for the incarcerated.
A Problem Rooted in History
The team behind Emerge Career previously worked on Ameelio, which addressed the issue of exploitative video calling services in prisons. However, their experience highlighted a significant problem: limited access to education and job training for those within the system. Security concerns and budget constraints at vocational and community colleges often result in inadequate support for incarcerated individuals.
Traditional education methods also have their limitations. Courses from GEDs to trades often take a "study by mail" approach during incarceration, or a traditional brick-and-mortar approach upon release. This can lead to inconsistent learning experiences and difficulties in applying knowledge in real-world settings.
A Tech-Forward Approach
Emerge Career is changing the game with its modern video lectures and regular video call office hours with educators specializing in specific subjects. Initially focused on commercial driver’s licenses, the company has already seen success in helping former inmates find employment soon after release. Now, Emerge Career is expanding its offerings to include nursing assistant and welding courses.
Why These Professions?
According to Gabe Saruhashi, co-founder of Emerge Career, these professions were chosen because they address two significant issues: labor shortages and high compensation rates. "Besides the clear labor shortage and high compensations, these are two professions that the justice-involved people we met in prisons and reentry centers across the country showed a lot of interest in," Saruhashi explained.
Trucking has proven to be an exciting starting point, but Emerge Career is aware that not everyone can be away from home for extended periods. The company’s goal is to offer training programs for individuals from all walks of life.
Early Success and Feedback
Co-founder Uzoma Orchingwa reported positive feedback from the company’s first students, highlighting the self-paced training (since it can be accessed piece by piece whenever convenient), its speed (aiming to go from zero to job in about two months), and the hands-on support provided by Emerge Career’s career coaches.
Graduate Success Stories
Emerge Career reports that graduates from their program, who once averaged $13 an hour with a stable job, are now pulling in an average of $78,000. The new programs aim to broaden appeal and allow the company to support more students and locations.
Government Funding and Investment
The company’s pitch has attracted local officials, paving the way for state-funded institutions. Emerge Career has landed a two-year, $845,000 contract with the Connecticut Department of Labor using American Rescue Plan funds. They also have several letters of intent, pending outcomes from other programs.
This early success has brought in significant investment: a $3.2 million seed round led by 776, with participation from the SoftBank Opportunity Fund, Y Combinator, Lenny Rachitsky, and Michael Seibel. The money will be used to hire engineers and start up new welding and nursing programs, as well as expand to three more states.
Ambition and Future Plans
Saruhashi’s ambition is to make Emerge Career the first choice for anyone in the country with a disadvantaged background looking to get a second chance in the modern workforce. With its innovative approach and early success, Emerge Career has the potential to revolutionize education and job training for those within the system.
Topics
- emerge career
- Government & Policy
- Startups
