1/ Marcus Bullock went to prison in the mid-90s at the age of 15.
Today, he's the CEO of Flikshop -- the "Instagram for the Incarcerated", an alternative to the outrageously expensive phone call system.
This is a truly inspirational founder story ππ
2/ In 1996, Bullock was living in Maryland. One night, he and a friend carried out an armed carjacking on a man sitting idle in a shopping mall parking lot.
It was the biggest mistake of this life.
3/ Several years prior to hit actions, there was the famed 1989 Central Park "Jogger Case", in which 5 minority youths were (falsely) accused of raping a jogger.
In the aftermath, nearly every state passed new laws that made it easier for courts to try youth as adults.
4/ For the carjacking, Bullock was charged as an adult and served 8 years in prison.
With onerous prison phone charges ($18 / 15 mins), Bullock's mother kept in touch with him by sending a photo or letter every day.
"She saved me," he says of his mom's efforts.
5/ The $1.2B+ prison phone system is dominated by 2 PE-backed firms (Global Tel Link, Securus Tech).
For the right to operate these phones lines, prisons effectively pay kickbacks to state and local government. The highest kickbacks win bids, which drive up costs.
