Upsolve
{{Undisclosed paid|date=December 2020}}
{{Infobox organization
| name = Upsolve
| image = Upsolve-logo.png
| type = 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization
| founder = Rohan Pavuluri, Jonathan Petts, Mark Hansen
| area_served = United States
| services = Legal Aid
| website = {{url|https://upsolve.org}}
}}
Upsolve is a nonprofit online web application that enables low-income Americans to file for Chapter 7 bankruptcy on their own.{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/12/21/technology/year-in-technology-2018.html|title=The 2018 Good Tech Awards|last=Roose|first=Kevin|date=2018-12-21|work=The New York Times|access-date=2018-12-24|language=en-US|issn=0362-4331}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/for-struggling-consumers-a-cheaper-way-to-file-for-bankruptcy-1505096071|title=For Struggling Consumers, a Cheaper Way to File for Bankruptcy|last=Ferek|first=Katy Stech|work=WSJ|access-date=2018-12-01|language=en-US}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.fastcompany.com/90248370/bankruptcy-is-a-powerful-tool-for-fighting-predatory-bills-this-app-helps-you-do-it-for-free|title=Bankruptcy is a powerful tool for fighting predatory bills. This app helps you do it for free|date=2018-10-09|work=Fast Company|access-date=2018-12-01|language=en-US}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/danielfisher/2017/03/02/harvard-sophomore-draws-attention-with-bankruptcy-project/#3529a1cd42d4|title=Too Broke To Go Bankrupt? Harvard Student Uses Software To Tackle Problem For Poor|last=Fisher|first=Daniel|work=Forbes|access-date=2018-12-01|language=en}}
History
Upsolve received seed funding from Y Combinator,{{Cite web|url=https://techcrunch.com/2019/01/16/upsolve-bankruptcy/|title=YC-backed Upsolve is automating bankruptcy for everyone|website=TechCrunch|language=en-US|access-date=2019-02-11}} the Legal Services Corporation, the Robin Hood Foundation, Harvard University, and former Google CEO Eric Schmidt.{{Cite news|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/chrisdenhart/2018/09/19/upsolve-moves-upward-under-30-cofounders-bankruptcy-service-is-just-one-click-away/#8b5e9e367477|title=Upsolve Moves Upward: Under 30 Cofounder's Bankruptcy Service Is Just One Click Away|last=Denhart|first=Chris Albers|work=Forbes|access-date=2018-12-01|language=en}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.seas.harvard.edu/news/2017/06/fresh-start-to-fight-poverty|title=A fresh start to fight poverty|date=2017-06-22|website=www.seas.harvard.edu|language=en|access-date=2018-12-01}}{{Cite news|url=https://news.harvard.edu/gazette/story/2017/05/harvard-presidents-innovation-challenge-creates-answers-to-future-needs/|title=Harvard President's Innovation Challenge creates answers to future needs|date=2017-05-10|work=Harvard Gazette|access-date=2018-12-01|language=en-US}}
Upsolve was inspired by the Financial Distress Research Project, launched by Professors Jim Greiner (Harvard Law School), Dalié Jiménez (University of California, Irvine School of Law), and Lois Lupica (University of Maine Law School) to study the effectiveness of self-help material in assisting low-income Americans through their legal problems.{{Cite news|url=https://www.inc.com/joshua-spodek/these-two-entrepreneurs-are-revolutionizing-bankruptcy-and-revitalizing-lives.html|title=These Two Nonprofit Entrepreneurs Are Revolutionizing Bankruptcy and Revitalizing Lives|date=2017-01-06|work=Inc.com|access-date=2018-12-02}}{{Cite web|url=https://today.uconn.edu/2017/05/project-designed-help-debtors-fight-back-court/|title=Project Designed to Help Debtors Fight Back in Court - UConn Today|website=today.uconn.edu|language=en-US|access-date=2018-12-02}}{{Cite news|url=https://today.law.harvard.edu/kristin-turner-17-named-public-welfare-foundation-a2j-tech-fellow/|title=Kristin Turner '17 named Public Welfare Foundation A2J Tech Fellow - Harvard Law Today|work=Harvard Law Today|access-date=2018-12-02|language=en-US}}{{Cite news|url=https://today.law.harvard.edu/greiner-hls-students-spearhead-new-consumer-debt-relief-project/|title=Greiner, HLS students spearhead new Consumer Debt Relief Project - Harvard Law Today|work=Harvard Law Today|access-date=2018-12-02|language=en-US}} In 2016, Upsolve spun out of the Access to Justice Lab at Harvard Law School.{{Cite news|url=https://today.law.harvard.edu/harvard-law-schools-access-justice-lab-aims-challenge-legal-exceptionalism/|title=Harvard Law School's Access to Justice Lab aims to challenge legal exceptionalism - Harvard Law Today|work=Harvard Law Today|access-date=2018-12-01|language=en-US}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/maryjuetten/2016/11/29/upsolve-another-piece-in-the-access-to-justice-puzzle/#4d69789b4081|title=Upsolve: Another Piece in the Access-to-Justice Puzzle|last=Juetten|first=Mary|work=Forbes|access-date=2018-12-01|language=en}}
Upsolve began by serving low-income residents of New York City before expanding to the rest of the United States.{{Cite news|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/danielfisher/2017/03/02/harvard-sophomore-draws-attention-with-bankruptcy-project/#587396bb42d4|title=Too Broke To Go Bankrupt? Harvard Student Uses Software To Tackle Problem For Poor|last=Fisher|first=Daniel|work=Forbes|access-date=2018-12-02|language=en}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/chrisdenhart/2018/09/19/upsolve-moves-upward-under-30-cofounders-bankruptcy-service-is-just-one-click-away/#2c6599ed6747|title=Upsolve Moves Upward: Under 30 Cofounder's Bankruptcy Service Is Just One Click Away|last=Denhart|first=Chris Albers|work=Forbes|access-date=2018-12-02|language=en}}
Process
Users take an online screener to see if they qualify for assistance from Upsolve.{{Cite news|url=https://www.fastcompany.com/90248370/bankruptcy-is-a-powerful-tool-for-fighting-predatory-bills-this-app-helps-you-do-it-for-free|title=Bankruptcy is a powerful tool for fighting predatory bills. This app helps you do it for free|date=2018-10-09|work=Fast Company|access-date=2018-12-02|language=en-US}} If they qualify, users then answer a series of questions on the Upsolve web application about their financial situation.{{Cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/outlook/what-happens-when-you-cant-afford-to-go-bankrupt/2018/03/02/343fd882-1d8e-11e8-9de1-147dd2df3829_story.html|title=Analysis {{!}} What happens when you can't afford to go bankrupt|newspaper=Washington Post|language=en|access-date=2018-12-01}}{{Cite news|url=https://techcrunch.com/2018/03/13/legal-tech-is-opening-the-system-to-those-who-need-legal-representation-the-most/|title=Legal tech is opening the system to those who need legal representation the most|work=TechCrunch|access-date=2018-12-01|language=en-US}} When users finish answering questions, Upsolve's application populates the bankruptcy forms.{{Cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/outlook/what-happens-when-you-cant-afford-to-go-bankrupt/2018/03/02/343fd882-1d8e-11e8-9de1-147dd2df3829_story.html|title=Analysis {{!}} What happens when you can't afford to go bankrupt|newspaper=Washington Post|language=en|access-date=2018-12-01}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.post-gazette.com/local/city/2018/01/22/Pittsburgh-bankruptcy-Chapter-7-Neighborhood-Legal-Services-Association-Upsolve/stories/201801220008|title=Armed with high-tech assistance, legal aid attorneys aim to assist more people filing for bankruptcy|work=Pittsburgh Post-Gazette|access-date=2018-12-01|language=en}}
After the paperwork review is finished, users print and deliver their completed bankruptcy paperwork to the court on their own.{{Cite news|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/for-struggling-consumers-a-cheaper-way-to-file-for-bankruptcy-1505096071|title=For Struggling Consumers, a Cheaper Way to File for Bankruptcy|last=Ferek|first=Katy Stech|work=WSJ|access-date=2018-12-01|language=en-US}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/opinion/commentary/ct-perspec-bankruptcy-tax-season-lawyers-chapter-7-chapter-13-0206-story.html|title=What if you can't afford to go bankrupt?|last=Kiel|first=Paul|work=chicagotribune.com|access-date=2018-12-01|language=en-US}} Upsolve is free for end users.{{Cite news|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/for-struggling-consumers-a-cheaper-way-to-file-for-bankruptcy-1505096071|title=For Struggling Consumers, a Cheaper Way to File for Bankruptcy|last=Ferek|first=Katy Stech|work=WSJ|access-date=2018-12-01|language=en-US}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.bna.com/turbotax-bankruptcy-upsolve-n57982092831/|title='TurboTax' for Bankruptcy: Upsolve a Potential Industry Disrupter|website=www.bna.com|access-date=2018-12-01}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.pressherald.com/2018/01/17/program-enables-poor-to-more-easily-file-for-bankruptcy/|title=Program enables poor to more easily file for bankruptcy|date=2018-01-17|work=Press Herald|access-date=2018-12-01|language=en-US}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.usa.gov/legal-aid|title=Lawyers and Legal Advice {{!}} USAGov|website=www.usa.gov|language=en|access-date=2018-12-01}}
In 2020, TIME named Upsolve to its annual 100 best inventions of the year list.{{Cite magazine|title=Upsolve: The 100 Best Inventions of 2020|url=https://time.com/collection/best-inventions-2020/5911367/upsolve/|access-date=2020-11-24|magazine=Time}} In 2018, the American Bar Association Journal named Upsolve a top web tool.{{Cite news|url=http://www.abajournal.com/magazine/article/best_legal_apps_2018/|title=Best web tools of 2018|work=ABA Journal|access-date=2018-12-01|author=Stephen Rynkiewicz|language=en}}