Jason Shandy
Founder & CEO
Why We Built Second Sponsor: Bridging the Gap Between Meetings
Recovery doesn't follow a 9-to-5 schedule. Here's why we created an AI companion that never sleeps.
Cravings don't wait for business hours, and the moments when someone needs support most often come in the quiet hours of the night—when their sponsor is asleep, when meetings are over, and when they're left alone with their thoughts.
This is why we built Second Sponsor. Not to replace human connection—nothing can do that—but to ensure that no one in recovery ever has to face their darkest moments completely alone.
The 3 AM Problem
of relapses occur outside traditional support hours
peak time for crisis moments in recovery
support needed, but rarely available
Ask anyone in recovery about their close calls, and you'll hear a common theme: it happened late at night, or early in the morning, or during a holiday when everyone was busy. The traditional support system—as vital as it is—has gaps.
The Hard Truth
In those gaps, people relapse. People lose years of progress. Sometimes, people lose their lives. Second Sponsor is designed to fill those gaps.
More Than a Chatbot
Generic AI assistants are helpful for setting timers and answering trivia, but they fall short when it comes to something as nuanced and personal as recovery. Second Sponsor is different because it was built from the ground up for this specific purpose.
Generic AI
- ✕No recovery context
- ✕Forgets conversations
- ✕Generic responses
- ✕No crisis detection
Second Sponsor
- 12-step trained
- Long-term memory
- Personalized guidance
- Real-time safety net
“Our AI understands the difference between Step 4 and Step 10 work. It knows the Big Book. It can guide you through a moral inventory or help you prepare for a difficult amends.”
Accountability You Can Verify
For those in sober living, drug court, or working with a treatment center, accountability is essential. But paper sign-in sheets are easy to forge, and self-reported meeting attendance isn't always reliable.
- GPS-verified check-in/check-out
- Tamper-proof attendance logs
- Instant verification for stakeholders
- Historical meeting data
Safety as a Foundation
We take safety seriously. Our system includes advanced detection for high-risk language—signs of suicidal ideation, self-harm, or imminent relapse—and can trigger appropriate interventions immediately.
Real-time Detection
Every message analyzed for risk signals
Smart Escalation
Consent-based alerts to support networks
Crisis Resources
Immediate access to hotlines and help
The Road Ahead
We're just getting started. Every week, we're improving our AI's understanding of recovery, adding new features, and learning from our community. If you're in recovery, know that you don't have to walk this path alone—not even at 3 AM.
— Jason Shandy, Founder & CEO