The Story Behind Upsolve

Before starting Upsolve, I was a business bankruptcy associate at a large law firm in New York. In my free time, I took on pro bono cases helping low-income New Yorkers file for Chapter 7 bankruptcy. That’s where I saw just how life-changing bankruptcy could be for someone stuck in debt with no way out.

I still remember Kisha, one of the first people I helped. She couldn’t afford the $2,000 it typically costs to hire a bankruptcy lawyer, and the process was far too complex to handle alone. With a bit of guidance, she was able to file successfully. A year later, she reached back out to tell me she was working again, had improved her credit, and finally felt like she could breathe.

She said, “If I hadn’t found you, I’d still be trapped.”

That stuck with me. It made me realize how many people across the country were in the same position — needing help, but unable to afford it. Bankruptcy is a powerful tool, but only if it’s accessible. I wanted to do something about that.

I met Rohan Pavuluri at a pro bono lunch in the Bankruptcy Court held by my mentor, the Honorable Elizabeth Stong. Rohan had been researching at the Justice Lab at Harvard Law School, looking at how technology could expand access to legal help. Rohan, Ben Jackson, Mark Hansen and I then launched Upsolve as a community legal aid nonprofit in Brooklyn, and we started building a tool that could serve people at scale.

We didn’t do it alone. We were lucky to have guidance from retired bankruptcy judges and trustees who helped us design a tool that’s simple, effective, and rooted in the realities of the legal system.

Today, Upsolve is the largest bankruptcy nonprofit in the United States. Our free filing tool has helped more than 19,000 Americans erase over $911 million in debt — all without charging a cent. We’re able to provide our services for free thanks to funding from the Legal Services Corporation (LSC)—a government-funded nonprofit established by the U.S. Congress—as well as support from charitable foundations like the Gates Foundation, Robin Hood Foundation, and AlleyCorp.

Upsolve’s impact has been recognized by major national media outlets and innovation leaders, including TIME Magazine (Best Inventions 2020), Fast Company (World Changing Idea of the Year – Social Justice, 2019), and The New York Times (Good Tech Award, 2018).

We believe no one should be too broke for a fresh start. If you’re feeling overwhelmed by debt, just know, there may be a way forward.

👉 Ready for your fresh start? See if you qualify — it just takes two minutes and our services are 100% free.

Warmly,

Jonathan Petts