Unlocked Ventures selects its social enterprises with intention. Every business launched by the fund is evaluated against a consistent set of criteria, beginning with the individuals who will do the work.

The first social enterprise is a kitting and packaging operation. Contract kitting and packaging was chosen because it meets every criterion the fund applies. The work is learnable without prior experience. The pace is manageable and does not require the kind of high-volume intensity that creates barriers for individuals who are building their footing in the workforce. Startup costs are low relative to the revenue the business can generate. And the work environment is one where a trauma-informed, human-centered culture can be established and maintained without the pressures that undermine it.

Every future enterprise launched by Unlocked Ventures will be evaluated by the same formula. The business must be accessible to individuals with conviction histories without requiring credentials or experience they do not yet have. The work environment must be compatible with a culture where dignity is non-negotiable and pace is responsive to the individual. Startup costs must be manageable relative to early revenue potential, so the enterprise can reach profitability without requiring years of subsidy. And the business must be capable of generating consistent profit that contributes meaningfully to the annual distribution pool.

The specific businesses that follow will differ. The criteria that select them will not.