How Bankruptcy Changed My Life — And Why I’m Helping Others: The Story Behind Upsolve

Hey — Ben here. I’m one of the co-founders of Upsolve, and I want to tell you a bit about where this all started and why it matters to me.

Eight years ago, I was buried in $60,000 of credit card debt from a small business that went under. I was driving for Uber, working 60-hour weeks, and still couldn't keep up with interest payments. I relied on food stamps to get by.

I knew bankruptcy could offer a fresh start, but I couldn't afford a lawyer. Figuring out how to file on my own was confusing, frustrating, and filled with dead ends. It took months of trial and error with court websites, conflicting advice, and complicated legal forms.

Eventually, I made it through — and the experience changed my life. I went on to graduate from law school and co-found Upsolve alongside Jonathan Petts, Rohan Pavuluri, and Mark Hansen. I'm now a dad, a husband, and someone who wakes up every morning driven by a simple mission: to make it easier for others to get the fresh start that changed my life.

Today, Upsolve is the largest bankruptcy nonprofit in the United States. Our free filing tool has helped more than 17,000 Americans erase over $750 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.

If you're feeling stuck like I once did, I hope Upsolve can be your first step forward.

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

Ben Jackson, COO and Co-Founder