Launch HN: Upsolve (YC Nonprofit W19) – TurboTax for Bankruptcy

Re:Launch HN: Upsolve (YC Nonprofit W19) – TurboTax for Bank... by ramarkable on Wednesday January 23, 2019 @07:42PM (#18984891)

Perhaps I am in the minority here, but I think Turbotax for Bankruptcy is a helpful analogy. You should also look at the Free File Program Turbotax runs - while it's gotten some heat for not being 'Free For All' it is a free (and useful) service for lower income individuals who do bring in an income. They partner heavily with libraries to ensure that people who may not have internet/computer access at home, are aware of this offering. Probably some overlap in demographics here.

As for the funding model: are there any businesses that stand to benefit from people being able to file for bankruptcy more easily? Collection agencies? Hospitals? There is a certain cost associated with tracking down a non-payer. Who could stand from this cost being eliminated? Non-profit is well and good, but it's even better if a business will stand up a foundation to specifically fund your product because it supports their revenue generating business.

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Re:Launch HN: Upsolve (YC Nonprofit W19) – TurboTax for Bank... by rpavuluri on Thursday January 24, 2019 @12:55AM (#18986322)

I agree. We've been in search for the last two years for a business that seriously benefits from our work. Have found people who see our work as "nice to haves" but have not found any businesses that view our work as mission critical to what they do.

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Re:Launch HN: Upsolve (YC Nonprofit W19) – TurboTax for Bank... by ramarkable on Thursday January 24, 2019 @08:20PM (#18994694)

Perhaps it's an acquisition play - as the other comments on the thread point out: if it helps offload work from attorneys (who could be making money from clients with resources) and/or can somehow serve as a philanthropic endeavor for a profitable company (or organization) in desperate need of some good PR (big law firms doing work for questionable foreign nationals, pay day lenders, etc.), there is some intangible value to be had. A nice diversion from people calling on lawmakers to regulate a company out of business can be motivation enough to look in to opening up a more charitable, less profitable, line of business.

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