A PUBLIC BENEFIT CORPORATION · ATLANTA
Our Culture.
Our Commerce.
Our Connection.
Our North Star.
Trusted, culturally competent news. A verified marketplace for Black-owned businesses. Civic tools and real-world community hubs. All in one place, built for the African Diaspora, and launching first in Atlanta.
WHY NSN, WHY NOW
We drive the culture. We rarely own the infrastructure that informs it.
In times of uncertainty, communities have always looked for a guiding point. As traditional pathways narrow and the information environment fragments, NSN is building that guiding point: reliable, grounded, and accountable to the people it serves.
The trust gap: Too little news coverage is credible, consistent, and informed by the lived experience of Black communities.
The visibility gap: Black-owned businesses struggle for lasting exposure on fragmented platforms, with limited access to affordable media.
The ownership gap: Our attention powers the media economy, yet the platforms that inform and monetize it are rarely ours.
WHAT WE’RE BUILDING
A new kind of network.
Not a channel that talks at us. Four connected parts that inform, connect, and invest in the community.
Independent newsroom: Local Atlanta reporting alongside national Black news, from staff journalists and vetted partners, plus NSN Radio and podcasts.
Civic tools: Voter registration and election tools, candidate profiles, and plain-language guides to what's on your ballot.
Verified marketplace: A searchable directory and live map of Black-owned businesses near you, and a place to follow and buy from the brands you love.
NSN Centers: Physical hubs for production, creators, civic forums, and community events. A newsroom you can actually walk into.
THE APP
Meet My North Star.
Your city, your news, and your community in one app. Free to download, with an optional premium membership for ad-free media and enhanced experiences.
News feed: Local-first reporting through a culturally competent lens.
NSN Radio: Live and on-demand news, culture, and community conversation.
Marketplace and map: Find Black-owned businesses near you and shop your favorite brands.
Community: Moderated discussion, event notices, and local alerts.
THE NSN CENTERS
A national network of physical hubs for Black content, culture, commerce, and community.
Unlike digital-only platforms, NSN shows up in person. Every NSN market gets a Center: part production studio, part event venue, part civic gathering place.
Content production: Local news, podcasts, interviews, livestreams, and town halls, produced on site.
Creator studios: Bookable studios, podcast rooms, and production space for creators and entrepreneurs.
Community activations: Live events, watch parties, mixers, and workshops that bring people together.
Civic forums: Moderated discussions and broadcasts where candidates and leaders meet the community.
Business onboarding: Black-owned businesses can register on site to be featured across the NSN app.
Resource hub: A trusted place for information, networking, education, and opportunity.
OUR STANDARDS
Trust is the product.
These commitments are built into how NSN is structured and how it makes money.
Editorial independence: Advertisers and sponsors have no influence over editorial decisions or community moderation. Ever.
Not reliant on political ads: We accept political advertising, but our business doesn't depend on it, so neither does our coverage.
A Public Benefit Corporation: Advancing Black media ownership, digital literacy, and equitable representation is part of our legal purpose.
10% back to the community: We reinvest at least 10% of net revenue into education, journalism training, and community-based learning.
WHERE WE’RE GOING
Atlanta first. Then Black America.
Launching first in Atlanta, then New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, and Houston. And beyond the city limits: we plan to cover local government in the metro Atlanta cities that get the least attention, from South Fulton and Union City to Forest Park, Riverdale, Stockbridge, Lithonia, and Douglasville.
LEADERSHIP
The people building NSN.
Lawrence Rapier II, Founder & CEO: Morehouse graduate and founder of Daboiis House animation studio. Built partnerships with Andscape/ESPN, and helped grow a YouTube channel for Black audiences past one million subscribers.
Nigel Gaye, Chief Technology Officer: Built and shipped software across retail, energy, banking, and healthcare informatics for 20+ years. BS in Computer Science, Bowling Green State; MBA, University of Georgia.
GET INVOLVED
Build it with us.
Black-owned businesses: Get listed in the verified marketplace before launch and be found by customers nearby. Claim your listing
Journalists and creators: Report, produce, and create with a newsroom built to center your community. Work with us
Brands and sponsors: Reach a trusted audience through clearly labeled, mission-aligned sponsorships, audio, and events. Advertise with NSN
Investors and partners: Institutions, funders, and investors who share the mission: let's talk. Start a conversation
Your North Star is waiting.
Be among the first to get access. Drop your email and we'll reach out before the public launch.
Put your business on the map.
Black-owned business in Atlanta? Get listed in the NSN marketplace before launch so customers nearby can find you on day one. We’ll follow up to verify your listing.