What E2D does

E2D is a private, 501(c)(3) non-profit organization founded in 2013 in Davidson, North Carolina (operating labs in nearby Charlotte and Cornelius), focused on eliminating the digital divide for low-income families across North Carolina. The organization collects used and decommissioned laptops from corporations and individuals, refurbishes them in student-led technology labs where high-school students are hired and trained as technicians, and distributes the devices to families, students, and community members lacking a home-based computer. By late 2025, E2D had distributed more than 68,000 computers serving an estimated 217,600+ users across 63,000+ families since inception.

Its core operating model is a four-stage pipeline: corporate laptop donation (135+ corporate donors including Honeywell, Barings, EY, AvidXchange, Lowe's, and others), refurbishment in dedicated labs (the AvidXchange Technology Lab in Charlotte and the E2D EY Lab, a 2,500-square-foot pro-bono space in EY's Charlotte wavespace), distribution through 175+ nonprofit partners and 170+ Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools, and three-month-warranty tech support. Supporting programs include the I.T. Workforce Development training pipeline (300+ student alumni since 2013), Digital Navigation support through the Center for Digital Equity, broadband-access work via a Connected Nation / eero (Amazon) partnership distributing 5,000 mesh Wi-Fi devices, and a First-Generation Laptop Initiative for college-bound high-school seniors — including HBCU-bound CMS graduates (700 laptops valued at approximately $500,000 distributed in 2024).

E2D's revenue mechanics reflect its non-profit structure: laptop sales to qualifying families at $100 per device (with a limit of two per family, both inside and outside Mecklenburg County), free devices through the CDE partnership, corporate financial and in-kind donations, and government and foundation grants — most notably the $1.5M NC Digital Champion Grant awarded by the state of North Carolina in 2024. Go-to-market is hybrid: community-led partnerships channel the majority of distribution, complemented by direct-to-consumer request forms on the website (available in English and Spanish). The organization is led by the co-founding Millen family — including Pat Millen as Co-Founder and President — supported by a board drawn from major corporate partners and a 51-100 employee staff supplemented by 75 on-staff student technicians.

Name

E2D

Legal name

E2D, Inc.

Website

https://www.e-2-d.org/

Company type

Private

Founded year

2012

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

E2D is a 501(c)(3) non-profit that refurbishes donated corporate laptops in student-led labs and distributes them to low-income North Carolina families lacking home computers, also providing IT job training, broadband access support, and digital-navigation services.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Digital Inclusion Services

NAICS

Computer Training (611420)

SIC

Computer & Office Equipment (3570)

akta.pro primary industry

ITAD, Electronics Recycling & Parts Harvesting Retail (CRACAJAF)

akta.pro secondary industries

Enterprise Hardware Recycling (Servers, Storage, Networking) (BPALAIAI), Maker / DIY Electronics & Physical Computing Platforms (EDAFANAC)

Keywords

• Laptop refurbishment services
• Digital inclusion programs
• Computer donation services
• Digital workforce training
• Broadband access support

Headquarters

HQ city

Davidson

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Laptop Donations: Corporations and individuals donate used laptops and technology. These donations form the core product supply for E2D's mission. The donations are refurbished and distributed to families in need.
2. Laptop Sales: E2D sells refurbished laptops to individuals and families for $100 each (both in and outside Mecklenburg County). Cash, money order, and credit card accepted. Limit of 2 laptops per family.
3. Financial Donations: E2D accepts monetary contributions from individuals, corporations, and foundations that help buy parts, cover operational costs, and expand impact across North Carolina.
4. Grants: E2D receives government grants such as the NC Digital Champion Grant ($1.5 million) to expand mission and eliminate digital divides.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

E2D collects decommissioned corporate laptops, refurbishes them in student-led technology labs, and distributes the devices to families, students, and underserved communities across North Carolina who lack home-based computers. The organization also trains high school students as IT technicians, distributes eero mesh Wi-Fi routers, and provides digital navigation and tech support services to bridge the digital divide.

Product overview

E2D is a nonprofit organization (not a software company) that operates a single integrated program focused on eliminating the digital divide in North Carolina. The core offering consists of a laptop refurbishment and distribution ecosystem that combines: (1) collecting donated corporate laptops, (2) refurbishing them through student-led technology labs, and (3) distributing devices to families in need. Supporting services include IT Workforce Development (training students as technicians), Device Access (low/no-cost distribution), Digital Inclusion/Broadband Access (addressing internet connectivity), First-Generation Laptop Initiative (HBCU-bound students), eero Wi-Fi router distribution (in partnership with Connected Nation/Amazon), CDE Digital Navigators (digital skills support), and Tech Support/Repair Services. The organization does not offer a traditional software product, API, or SaaS platform.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Laptop Refurbishment Program E2D collects used laptops from corporations and individuals, refurbishes them in student-led technology labs through cleaning, reimaging with new operating systems, and quality checks, and distributes them to families who lack access to computers at home.
• I.T. Workforce Development Program employing 75 on-staff high school students as computer technicians in E2D's technology labs to refurbish laptops, with 300+ students trained since 2013 (80% going on to college, 20% finding IT employment). Includes Technology Academies covering software development, web design, networking, cybersecurity, and coding.
• Device Access Program Refurbished laptops provided to families and individuals at low or no cost through partnerships with nonprofits, schools, and community organizations. Devices are thoroughly cleaned, reimaged with new operating systems, and quality-checked before distribution.
• Digital Inclusion / Broadband Access Program Program addressing the five pillars of digital inclusion: affordable broadband internet, internet-enabled devices, digital literacy training, quality technical support, and access to applications designed for self-sufficiency.
• First-Generation Laptop Initiative Program providing free refurbished laptops to college-bound high school seniors across North Carolina who will be the first in their families to attend a four-year college or university, removing technology barriers to higher education.
• eero Mesh Wi-Fi Device Distribution E2D distributes free eero Pro mesh Wi-Fi routers (Amazon company) to households needing faster, more reliable internet connectivity, as part of Connected Nation's program to bridge the digital divide with 5,000 devices nationwide.
• CDE Digital Navigators Digital navigation support provided through partnership with Center for Digital Equity (CDE), helping residents with password setup, scam protection, basic computer/tablet/smartphone use, job searching, internet access, and accessing online services for bills, healthcare, benefits, and housing.
• Tech Support and Repair Services Technical warranty and repair support for distributed laptops. E2D offers a three-month technical warranty on all laptops from distribution date, with repair services provided at labs for in-warranty devices.

Quantifiable outcome

• 68,001+ computers distributed since 2013
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.

• BaringsflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerBarings has become an essential partner for E2D in expanding digital access for families across the Charlotte-Mecklenburg area, particularly in affordable housing communities. With Barings' support, E2D has advanced digital inclusion across more than 15 affordable housing communities, providing over 1,700 devices. Partnership includes a major initiative with Habitat for Humanity of Charlotte Region to place 680 laptops into homes of Habitat families by end of 2026. Barings' team donates retiring corporate laptops, volunteers at events, and provides financial support.
• HoneywellflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerHoneywell committed to donate 13,000 laptops to E2D over several years, valued at over $5 million. This transformational gift will help E2D bridge the digital divide for at least 40,000 additional citizens. Honeywell CTO Sheila Jordan and the Corporate Social Responsibility team led the initiative.
• EY (Ernst & Young)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEY US provides the E2D EY Lab housed in the EY Charlotte wavespace in South End - a 2,500-square-foot space offered pro-bono. The space includes five offices, conference room, and open workspace fully enabled with technology E2D needs. EY team members volunteer and support the Mayor's Racial Equity Initiative and Center for Digital Equity.
• AvidXchangecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAvidXchange hosts the AvidXchange Technology Lab and serves as a laptop donor. Students receive laptops at the AvidXchange technology lab for HBCU distribution events.
• Lowe'scoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLowe's partnered with E2D to provide $100,000 of free computer technology for recently displaced workers. Donated laptops to families affected by the Pactiv Evergreen mill closing in Haywood County. Also a laptop donor and financial supporter.
• Connected NationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerConnected Nation partnered with E2D and eero (Amazon) to distribute 5,000 eero mesh Wi-Fi devices to households in need across the country. E2D is one of three organizations chosen to participate in this device distribution program.
• eero (Amazon Company)coreStrategic or Co-development Partnereero is partnering with Connected Nation and E2D to provide 5,000 eero Pro mesh Wi-Fi devices to underserved households. The devices help eliminate Wi-Fi dead zones and provide reliable connectivity for low-income families, students, and rural households.
• Center for Digital Equity (CDE)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCDE is E2D's key partner for providing free devices to Mecklenburg County residents. E2D collaborates with CDE's Digital Navigators to help residents with technology setup, digital skills, and internet access. The partnership is central to the collective impact strategy for digital equity in Mecklenburg County.
• Habitat for Humanity of the Charlotte RegioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Barings to place 680 laptops into homes of Habitat families by end of 2026. E2D provides devices for Habitat families as part of the affordable housing initiative.
• Charlotte-Mecklenburg SchoolscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerE2D has worked with 170 schools in the CMS system since 2013. Partnership includes laptop distribution to students and workforce development opportunities for CMS students.
• National Digital Inclusion AllianceminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in the eero Connectivity Community Donation Program alongside E2D and Human-I-T, working to distribute Wi-Fi devices to underserved households.
• BelkminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCorporate partner that donates laptops to support E2D's mission.
• TIAAminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCorporate partner supporting E2D's workforce development programs and HBCU laptop distribution initiatives.

Scale indicators13 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Human-I-T: Nonprofit that refurbishes donated technology and distributes it to underserved communities, while training workers in IT skills. Closest direct peer to E2D by mission, model, and target population.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/E2DInc
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@eliminatethedigitaldivide
• Facebookfacebook.com/E2DEliminatetheDigitalDivide
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/e3d
• Instagraminstagram.com/e2dinc/?hl=en

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds2 records

Investors2 records

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about E2D