City Startup Labs

Year Founded
2014
EIN
45-5028985
Local Leader/Exec. Director
Henry Rock
Primary Contact Name
Megan Van Fleet
Main Address

1112 Charlottetowne Ave
Office 206
Charlotte, NC 28204
United States

City Startup Labs
1112 Charlottetowne Ave.
Office 206
Charlotte, NC 28204
United States

What We Do

City Startup Labs (CSL), a Charlotte, NC-based nonprofit, is bridging the entrepreneurial divide, where under-represented populations of African American millennials, as well as returning citizens (justice-involved individuals) are not adequately represented in startup activity or the workforce. CSL creates this new class of entrepreneurs by providing a robust, accelerated, progressive, and disciplined approach to developing entrepreneurial talent, new venture creation, and deployment. Since 2014 CSL has been the preeminent accelerator in Charlotte for aspiring African-American millennial entrepreneurs. In 2018-19 it piloted the ReEntry Entrepreneurship Program (REEP). The goal has been to not only provide business-ready skills for launching new ventures but to also to help improve the participant's ability to become better innovators, problem-solvers, and leaders within the community more broadly. City Startup Labs has also created the Restorative Pathways Project, a workplace readiness training program, in partnership with Atrium Health, to equip returning citizens with 21st-century workforce skills, and to begin their careers with Atrium Health.

Interesting Info
  • Through 9 entrepreneurial cohorts, we have 96 graduates who report that CSL helped 90% become better employees, as well as business owners.
  • Restorative Pathways has held 7 cohorts in Winston-Salem and Charlotte, and have had 72 graduates enter the workforce at Atrium Health.
  • REEP is helping returning citizens become solopreneurs with a business-in-a-box funding and support services.
Geographic Location

Uptown