Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
Axios
Axios
Technology
Ina Fried

Appolition, a crowdfunding app for those who can't afford bail, wants to be acquired

Appolition's Kortney Ziegler (L) and Tiffany Mikell (R). Photo: Diane Poindexter for Appolition

Appolition, an app to help crowdsource bail for those who can't afford it, is looking for someone to acquire the product, according to co-founder Kortney Ziegler.

Why it matters: Many people are stuck in jail pending trials because they can't afford cash bail or a bail bond. Appolition and others are trying to blend technology and crowdsourcing to help address the issue.


What's new: Ziegler, who announced his desire in a Tweet last week, told Axios he believes the app can help more people if it were under the auspices of a larger organization. Appolition currently is a mix of volunteers and part-time staff, when what's really needed is at least 3 people full time, he said.

  • "We have capped onboarding users to manage a few thousand so that we can provide the best experience from our small team," Ziegler said.

Details: Appolition, which keeps 15% of pledges to fund itself, is set up as a public-interest B corporation, so Ziegler is looking for a buyer that aligns with the company's mission.

  • "I know that with the right support in the form of dedicated engineering, product and marketing resources, Appolition could become the ActBlue or GoFundMe for fighting mass incarceration," he said.

Go deeper: The upside of humans — a lot of them

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.