Honest Jobs Holdings

High-Level Overview

Honest Jobs is a technology platform that connects formerly incarcerated individuals—referred to as justice-involved or returning citizens—with employers offering fair-chance hiring opportunities.[1][2][3][5] It serves job seekers with criminal records and employers seeking talent from this 30% of the U.S. workforce, solving the problem of employment barriers post-incarceration through an algorithm that matches candidates to roles while minimizing negligent hiring risks.[2][4] By 2022, the company had partnered with over 1,200 employers and supported more than 40,000 job seekers, raising over $3 million in prior funding and planning a Series A round amid strong growth in second-chance employment.[1][2]

Origin Story

Honest Jobs was founded in 2018 by CEO Harley Blakeman, a two-time felon and Ohio State University graduate who personally struggled to find work after incarceration.[1][3][4] Blakeman's idea emerged from his own job-hunting challenges amid rising numbers of Americans with criminal records—now nearly equal to those with college degrees—prompting him to create a platform for fair-chance hiring.[3] Early traction included graduating from Techstars’ Workforce Development Accelerator in 2020, securing a $1.08 million seed round from Matchstick Ventures, partnering with 400+ companies like Koch Industries, and helping 9,000 individuals; the company relocated from Ohio to Denver in 2021 to scale.[4][6]

Core Differentiators

• Matching Algorithm: Analyzes job descriptions and candidate records to prioritize fits, filtering out conflicts (e.g., no driving roles for DUI convictions) to reduce employer liability while maximizing hire success.[4]
• Two-Sided Platform: Serves job seekers with tailored resources like job postings and guidebooks, and employers with low-cost, low-risk access to vetted talent from the overlooked 30% of the workforce.[1][2][5]
• Mission-Driven Team: Six of seven early employees had records themselves; founder authored *GRIT: How to Get a Job and Build a Career with a Criminal Record* and speaks at TEDx and SHRM.[3][4]
• Proven Scale: Nation's largest fair-chance platform with 1,200+ employer partners, 40,000+ job seekers supported, and tools for quick employment plus support services.[1][2]

Role in the Broader Tech Landscape

Honest Jobs rides the second-chance employment trend, fueled by market forces like 70 million Americans with records facing hiring bans and growing employer demand for diverse talent amid labor shortages.[1][2][3] Timing aligns with "fair chance" policies (e.g., ban-the-box laws) and VC interest in impact tech, as seen in its Techstars graduation and seed funding.[4][6] It influences the ecosystem by normalizing platforms for underserved workers, lowering recruitment costs/risks for employers, and proving digital matching can reintegrate millions—expanding into career paths and new categories.[1][4]

Quick Take & Future Outlook

Honest Jobs is poised for Series A funding to fuel hiring, expansion (e.g., Texas, Ohio, Colorado), and algorithm enhancements, building on $3M+ raised and revenue nearing $8.4M.[1][2] Trends like AI-driven HR, workforce reentry post-pandemic, and impact investing will accelerate growth, potentially scaling to Blakeman's goal of 1,000 intentional-hiring employers.[3] Its influence may evolve from niche platform to standard in recruitment, redefining access for 30% of workers while delivering ROI—cementing its path from personal redemption to industry hub.[1][2]