ESP

The Hustle House

We envision a future where every returning community member has the opportunity to regain the freedom and self-determination to create a prosperous future for themselves and their communities.

Gradient House

The Hustle House is a program dedicated to providing support, services, and funding for justice-involved entrepreneurs as they reintegrate into their communities. We recognize the systemic barriers and discrimination that formerly incarcerated individuals often face, and we are committed to making a positive impact on their lives.

The mission of The Hustle House is to establish a safe and supportive environment where returning community members can access economic opportunities through a cooperative of member-owned businesses, each operated by individuals who have been previously incarcerated. We aim to break down the barriers that have held these individuals back and empower them to bring their dreams to life.

GET INVOLVED

2025 is the second year of our program, and the Hustle House will partner with 5 small businesses owned and operated by justice-involved people who need support to take their businesses to the next level.

This could be you!

Questions? Email us at hi@thebambifund.org or call (623) 777-9551‬ and leave a message with your name and phone number - we’ll get back to you as soon as possible.

MEET OUR INDEPENDENT

SELECTION COMMITTEE

PJ Boone-Edgerton Longoni is passionate about the internal work of justice and creating ‘Beauty, Blessings, and Human Flourishing’ for all. A mother of sons who experienced incarceration, PJ founded The Tadini House in Arizona, advocating for individuals and families impacted by the criminal justice system. PJ has a certification in Sathya Sai Education in Human Values, to assist individuals and re-entry organizations the values needed to serve the community, and also has her masters degrees in Public Administration, Education, Theology and Counseling. She teaches a class at ASU Polytechnic on Social Change and Human Agency, emphasizing the capacity for human beings to make meaningful choices and put them into practice as empowered, responsible citizens.

Meet Frank Velásquez Jr., Storyteller Extraordinaire, Social Justice Warrior, and Community Connector! Frank leads and collaborates with passion, authenticity and an open mind, connecting to the stories that make each of us who we are and the stories that inextricably connect us to each other. Frank possesses practical knowledge in post-secondary education and nonprofit organizational development practices using effective communication skills. As the founder of 4 Da Hood and creator of the groundbreaking fellowship program, Ascending Leaders in Color, Frank brings local, regional, and national attention to the inequities that communities of color face, so that they too can economically advance and build their generational wealth.

Michael and Ana have worked hard to overcome the challenges faced by those with justice-impacted backgrounds. Together, we've become strong advocates for underserved and Spanish-speaking families, showing them that it's possible to succeed and rise above systemic barriers. Our business, Al’s Pools—a generational pool maintenance company passed down from Michael’s father—has grown tremendously thanks to the support and resources we received through The Bambi Fund’s Hustle House program in 2024. That program changed the course of our lives and helped us turn our vision into a thriving business. Now, we’re committed to giving back and helping others believe in their ability to create a better future.

Francis Yu is a restaurateur based in New York City. His food and beverage career spans nearly a decade with several restaurants from multiple food disciplines under his belt. His upbringing in Asia, experience in hospitality, and passion for food has given him an appreciation for diverse cultures and people from all walks of life. As a business owner, he has a deep commitment to service to his team and customers, enforcing strong adherence to scalable systems, and creating fundamentally sound organizational structure. He is a firm believer in equal business opportunities for all and a proponent for second chances in life.

APPLICATION

PROCESS      

VER EN ESPAÑOL

Thank you for your interest in applying to participate in the second Hustle House cohort! We aim to make our application process as simple and transparent as possible.
Please find information below regarding the application and selection process. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact us by emailing hi@thebambifund.org or calling (623) 777-9551.

2025 Cohort
In spring 2025, The Hustle House will recruit 5 formerly incarcerated business owners to participate in our first cohort of entrepreneurs.

Key Dates
Launch
Virtual Info Session
Virtual Info Session
Application Deadline


May 02
May 07
May 28
June 01

    • Business owners who have experienced incarceration or detention.

    • Be currently running your own business in the state of Arizona.

    • Your business should be established for at least 6 months and should constitute your main source of income or side hustle.

    • Your business should be generating regular and continuous revenue for at least 3 months.

    • You should be working on your business at least 2 days per week (if not yet full-time).

    • You should have already registered your business LLC/EIN, or be willing to do so as part of the program.

    • Attend an in-person or virtual information session hosted by The Hustle House (see “Application Process” below for details).

    • Be willing to commit 3 - 6 hours per week to The Hustle House program.

    1. Attend an information session: To be eligible to apply, all potential applicants must attend an in-person or virtual information session in May 2025 hosted by the Hustle House. Potential applicants must complete an information session registration form to attend. Complete the registration form by visiting: bit.ly/m/thehustlehouse2025.

    2. Complete an Application Form: Everyone who attends an in-person or virtual information session will receive a link to complete the full application form. The full application form should be completed online. Details on where and how to complete the full application form will only be provided to people attending an in-person or virtual information session. The deadline to complete the full application form is June 1, 2025.

    3. First Round Application Review: All applications will be reviewed internally by the Hustle House team, and the top 10 applicants will move to the final review phase.

    4. Final Review: Hustle House's Independent Selection Committee will review pre-screened applications and interviews. Information about committee members will be publicly available through The Bambi Fund website. The Independent Selection Committee will make final decisions on which applicants will be awarded a place in our first cohort for The Hustle House pilot program.

    5. Award Notification: All applicants will be notified of the results of their application no later than 6 weeks from the application deadline.