Turned Down for 37 Jobs in 60 Days, Andre Peart Built the Platform That Fixes It

Andre Peart knows exactly what a closed door feels like.

He spent five and a half years in a New York State prison. After he came home, he was turned down for 37 jobs in a single 60-day stretch because of his record. Even when employers didn't ask about it in the interview, the mandatory background check did.

He has described getting out as the toughest part. Finding housing, leaving the shelter system, and landing work all felt like another sentence. That's when it clicked for him that something better was needed.

In 2020 he started building it. The company began as ConConnect and is now Untapped Solutions. Peart is also a certified personal trainer and a three-time crime novelist, which tells you something about his range.

His insight was twofold. Employers want talent but don't know where to find second-chance candidates. And the caseworkers who support returning citizens are working with outdated tools, still leaning on paper and pens, as he describes it. So he built for both sides.

Here's what the platform does today:

• Case management CRM. One hub for clients, donors, volunteers, and programs, with reporting and workflows automated.
• Client tools. LifePath Navigator lets clients track progress, referrals, and milestones.
• AI agents. Digital teammates that help with intake, referrals, and client engagement.
• Reentry technology. Tools for correctional facilities and reentry programs, built to work even offline.
• Second-chance job board. The company reports 70,000+ candidates and 98% data accuracy.

The results are showing up. By 2024, about 400 employers were using Untapped Solutions to find workers in retail, technology, construction, manufacturing, and warehousing. Peart has said caseworkers using the platform can handle cases roughly ten times faster. In 2025, with new investment, the company launched AI built specifically for nonprofits and social services.

His advice to employers who want to try second-chance hiring is practical: don't start from scratch. Work with the caseworkers and platforms that already know the talent.

Why this lands for us: at IndeedBlack, our mission is to help solve the Black unemployment rate by connecting Black candidates with Black-owned companies. A record is one of the heaviest barriers between a qualified person and a paycheck. Peart's story is about taking that barrier apart.

Learn more at untappedsolutions.com. Andre Peart is the founder and CEO.