The Digital Service Repair Business Managed and Co-owned by Justice-Impacted Individuals is Offering Free Memberships During Grand Opening Celebration
CHARLOTTE, N.C., June 16, 2025—ReConnex, a digital device repair business launched by City Startup Labs (CSL) and former participants of its ReEntry Entrepreneurship Program, is holding a grand opening celebration on June 19 from 2 – 6 p.m. Members of the community are invited to join the celebration, visit the new digital tech repair business, and enter to win prizes including free membership. The celebration will take place at ReConnex located at 5430 N. Tryon St. Suite 11, Charlotte, NC 28213.
In conjunction with Juneteenth, a celebration of freedom, achievement, and the perseverance of African Americans, ReConnex will celebrate its community-centered worker-owned cooperative model that offers opportunities for shared prosperity among its owners—all of whom have a past with the justice system and have now launched an enterprise committed to creating wealth while addressing market demands. The business aims to deliver reliable, dependable and affordable digital device repair services, especially in neighborhoods that have long been underserved by quality tech support.
“This is the culmination of several years of actively pursuing different iterations of ReConnex and then finally the stars aligned and here we are,” said Henry Rock, Founder and Executive Director of City Startup Labs.
ReConnex, an extension of City Startup Labs’ ReEntry Entrepreneurship Program (REEP), is located in the I-85 and Sugar Creek Road Corridor of Opportunity. CSL, joint owner of the venture, provides leading-edge skills training, mentorship, career building and community to a new class of justice-impacted entrepreneurs and valued-added employees. iFixAmerica (iFA), based out of Omaha, NE guided the business model and standard operating procedures of ReConnex. iFA also provided specialized training to ReConnex co-owners and operators by readying them to offer technology repair services for mobile and desktop devices. Services include:
- Smartphone Repair
- Tablet Repair
- Smartwatch Repair
- Laptop Repair
- Desktop Computer Repair
- Game Console Repair
- Electronic Solder Repair
- Business Device Care and Service
At the intersection of reentry, entrepreneurship, and economic mobility, ReConnex will help to address the digital divide and create wealth opportunities for Charlotte residents. The pilot program is funded by a Digital Champions grant award from the N.C. Department of Information Technology’s Office of Digital Opportunity. Learn more by visiting here.
About
City Startup Labs (CSL) is transforming entrepreneurship and workforce development for formerly incarcerated individuals by equipping them with the skills, support, and opportunities to build businesses and secure careers. Through innovative training, mentorship, and hands-on instruction, CSL promotes economic mobility and community engagement. Its flagship programs include Restorative Pathways, a reentry workplace readiness initiative with “fair chance” employers, and the ReEntry Entrepreneurship Program (REEP), a startup incubator. The newly launched ReConnex program expands on REEP’s mission. Learn more at Citystartuplabs.com.
