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