Mentorship
Ability to network and receive mentorship from prominent investors, strategic partners, customers, and founders in Justice Tech.
Innovations in Justice Tech
Disrupting the criminal and civil justice system
About the Program
Innovations in Justice Tech is a fellowship program that will support entrepreneurs building innovations that improve the lives of individuals and communities impacted by the justice system and reduce the footprint of the criminal justice system.
This robust fellowship program will expand upon the groundwork Village Capital and AmFam Institute started in 2020 including building and mapping the Justice Tech ecosystem in the US and launching an Investing Framework to help inform investors in this nascent space on how to approach making ethical Justice Tech investments.
The partnership with Dream.org is a complement to their work to end the disrupt the justice system and create more pathways to opportunity in the tech industry for people of color.
About Justice Tech
"The United States is ranked 126 of 139 countries on the affordability of access to justice and has the highest rates of incarceration in the world." Systemic issues ranging from over-policing and over-surveillance to expensive and extortionary cash bails disproportionately impact Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) and low-income communities.
Recognizing that involvement with the criminal justice system can have devastating impacts on the health, career, and financial wellbeing of those engaged with the system, Innovations in Justice Tech focuses on solutions that reduce inequities in criminal and civil justice and create opportunities for justice system impacted individuals.
Meet the Cohort
Advisory Board
Nyra Jordan
Social Impact Investment Director, AmFam Institute
Amber Porter
Senior VC Associate, AmFam Institute
Janos Marton
Vice President for Political Strategy, Dream.org
Maya Markovich
Executive Director, Justice Tech Association
Marcus Glover
General and Managing Partner, Lockstep Ventures
Brian Howe
Venture Partner, Stand Together Ventures Lab
Harley Blakeman
Chief Executive Officer, Honest Jobs
Celia Colón
Chief Executive Officer and Founder, Giving Others Dreams (GOD)
Eligibility
We are looking for startups that address the following areas for justice system-impacted individuals and communities:
Financial Health: Helping achieve financial security and stability
Future of Work: Helping access to education and employment
Healthcare: Supporting mental and physical health
Legal Tech: Expanding access to civil & criminal legal resources and representation
Communications Tech: Connecting with family, friends and service providers
Government Tech: Enabling government systems to be more accessible or efficient
Must be legally incorporated in the US as a for-profit entity; with at least one full-time founder based in the US; operations in the US market, an MVP, under $1.5 million in equity; and meaningful customer or business validation (e.g., revenue, successful pilots, number of users, and/or strategic partnerships).
Startups Benefits
Connections
Build deep connections with other founders in your cohort and our larger Village Capital investor and alumni network.
Training
Join interactive sessions tailored to help your company identify early milestones and prepare for your next round of capital.
Exposure
Exposure on Village Capital’s program website and other communications collateral.
Advice
1:1 coaching with an investment analyst focused on building a financial model, unit economics, and using financial metrics to drive both their business and investor diligence.
Catalytic Capital
$10,000 equity-free participation stipend to one founder/C-suite Fellow from AmFam Institute. Upon program and milestone completion, an additional $10,000 in non-dilutive capital from AmFam Institute. Dream Corps will deploy $100,000 in investment capital to three Fellows participating in the program.
Program Timeline
Applications Open
July 20th
Application Deadline
August 15th
Cohort Selection
September
Program Workshops
September - December
Latest News
10 Startups Selected for the Innovations in Justice Tech Fellowship Program
Learn more about the tech startups selected to gain tailored support to further scale their solutions.
Justice Tech Investing Framework
Our new report helps investors maximize the probability that a Justice Tech investment has a positive impact on justice-involved individuals.
Justice Tech for All: A Market Analysis
Read our original report mapping the Justice Tech ecosystem in the US.