Defying Odds

Last July, I spent the afternoon with my colleagues listening to pitches from eager entrepreneurs, a common scene in the VC world. However, these entrepreneurs were different, every one had a criminal record.

If you’ve served prison time it’s extremely hard to find gainful employment. Which means entrepreneurship isn’t a nice option, it may be the only option.

Thankfully, there is an organization working with high potential candidates to help them transition from prison to business owners. Defy Ventures is a non-profit organization that transforms the lives of people with criminal histories through entrepreneurship, employment and character training. I first learned about Defy from Seth but only became involved in their programs when Nick invited me to participate in the pitch event.

I was incredibly impressed with the caliber of talent and quality of the business plans at that event last July. One of the businesses that stood out was Coss Athletics. It’s a prison-style bootcamp, a workout utilizing on bodyweight only, offered daily in NYC. The classes were originally all taught by Coss, the founder, as he got the business off the ground. Now that it’s expanded in demand, Coss aims to employ individuals like himself, former non-violent criminals who are looking for meaningful employment. The system continues to give opportunities to those in transition. On top of that, the product improves lives by providing fitness, encouragement and community.

I’ve recommended the class to a few folks but I didn’t try it out until this past weekend. My colleague claimed it kicked his butt so I was both nervous and curious to try it out. There were three things that stood out:

This workout is tough! Lots of cardio, body weight exercises and Coss Althetics-custom moves that will get your heart rate up. There is also an element of surprise that you’ll have to take the class to see!
Though tough, this workout is for everyone. The instructors are positive, responsive to individuals’ needs and encouraging. Anyone can access this class.
Positive attitudes abound. Workout classes in NYC are normally treated like one-on-one coaching. You ignore everyone else in the class and only interact with the instructor. Not here. You’ll be encouraged by others, you’ll be cheering people on, and you’ll actually get to introduce yourself to the people around you. Great vibe, especially for a workout that can be pretty challenging.

So whether you’re looking to try something new out or want to support a new entrepreneur, I highly encourage you to check out a class. If you have ClassPass, you’ll find them there too - but you’ll have to move quick, spots fill up early.

This week I’ll be spending more time with the next class of Defy Venture Entrepreneurs in Training. If you’re interested, I’d encourage you to check out other ways to get involved. They have opportunities throughout the year. I guarantee you’ll learn something new.

So what’s next for Coss Marte? NPR did a piece on Coss Athletics you can listen to here. You can also drop by a class to see him in action.