In The Arena with Darrious Hilmon

The Wilmette Wonder

Program Air Date: 03/21/2023

Program Overview

Matt Strauss grew up in Wilmette, where professionals have no problem networking their way to new jobs. But while mentoring at tech incubator nonprofit I.C. Stars, he saw first-hand how many job seekers on the South and West sides of —particularly those with criminal pasts or gaps in employment didn’t have the same networking ability, or the resources so readily afforded to him and his Wilmette peers..

When he came upon research confirming that a person’s ZIP code at birth is a major indicator of economic success throughout their lives, he was compelled to launch RiseKit, a software company that connects job seekers to employers and social services.

This week’s guest is the founder and CEO of RiseKit, Matt Strauss.