"Creating a New Class of Entrepreneurs" City Startup Labs (CSL) is a Charlotte-based, business accelerator delivering training and coaching to African American milliennials (18-34 yrs.), while guiding them to plan and launch successful ventures, and be catalysts for change in their communities. It seeks to create is a new class of entrepreneurs – from the most determined, driven, best and brightest young folks that inner-city America has to offer. Until recently, City Startup Labs specifically offered a unique approach to the persistent question of, “what to do with our young black men”? They are valuable resources, who literally cry out to make contributions and be included in a conversation about their role and worth. They have all too often been marginalized, at a time when we most need their talents, energies, innovation and human capital. Many have the capabilities — what’s been missing is targeted education, a clear path to success, along with the support needed to fulfill their visions. Now CSL is opening the effort to include young women was well, in order to meet the demand for a program, such as this. Further, we want to make sure that no innovation is left on the sidelines, while the entrepreneurial parade goes by. City Startup Labs also sees teaching entrepreneurship as 21st century vocational training. It’s an important key to new workforce development, especially for this under-employed population. The Urban League of Central Carolinas, in Charlotte, NC was CSL's collaborative partner during its 2014-15 pilot. In 2016, City Startup Labs is establishing a Center of Excellence for Entrepreneurship, Leadership & Innovation at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, in affiliation with Ventureprise. In 2018, we will launch a new pilot designed for returning citizens (the formerly incarcerated).