Connecting Justice-Impacted Individuals with Employment Opportunities
Eli Rivera and Ruben Gaona fought through adversities and turned their experience in the justice system into a business that supports people just like them. Milwaukee Software Company, The Way Out, was created in 2019 to connect formally incarcerated individuals to gain access to potential employers, re-entry service providers, training programs, and transportation to and from work.
According to a press release, the company has matched more than 300 justice-impacted individuals with over 1,000 supportive services. The Way Out also has a retention rate of 90% for job seekers who have been matched with an employer through the platform.
“We want to build careers and beyond that,” said Rivera. “We’re in this for the long haul.”
Strong Investment Support
In 2022, Co-founders Rivera and Gaona recently closed a $400,000 investment from Gateway Capital Partners. Most of the investment will be used for software development with future goals to expand the business nationally.
History in the Making
These two men are history in the making. The amount of Latinx founders that receive investment funding is extremely low. Gaona admits to sometimes feeling imposter syndrome but fights through it with the help of Rivera. He also knows that what they are doing is needed.
“Always be mindful that no matter what you do in life…the mistakes don’t define who you are,” said Gaona.
Rivera remembers growing up in Milwaukee on 32nd and Brown where he often felt like he wasn’t good enough. He and Gaona are proof to people that you can turn your life around and help others while doing it.
“To have someone legitimately invest in us a business is so validating,” said Rivera.
It’s About Not Judging A Book by its Cover
As 2022 wraps up, Rivera and Gaona have high hopes for where their business is going because they know first-hand what’s needed when justice-impacted individuals re-enter back into the world.
“At the end of the day, it’s about not judging a book by its cover,” said Rivera.