Matthew Newman is the founder and CEO of TruSo, a new audio-visual social networking app targeting the Black community. The app is in both 2D and metaverse, making him the first Black person to own a social networking app in the metaverse.
“What TruSo is building is perfectly suited for the metaverse— and one thing we don’t want, is for the Black community to be left behind as the world enters this new frontier,” stated Newman, according to Black News.
In recent years, metaverse has been a hot topic in the social media sphere with giants like Facebook and Microsoft staking claims. The term metaverse is traced to author Neal Stephenson. He coined the term in his 1992 science fiction novel “Snow Crash.”
In that book, he envisioned life-like avatars who met in realistic 3D buildings and other virtual reality environments. The metaverse is a combination of multiple elements of technology, including virtual reality, augmented reality and video where users “live” within a digital universe.
TruSo provides an engaging community experience; the app also offers monetization opportunities for Black people, as stated by Black News. It is designed to empower and advance personal and career aspirations and has a content calendar for individuals to engage across several categories like Arts & Culture, Business and Marketing, and more.
What is more, the app is positioned to disrupt technology in the social networking space. As a social networking app, it ncludes integrated chat, accessibility for the Deaf, and built-in monetization for users.
The app has the backing of celebrities like Sway Calloway, Kareem Grimes, Terrell Owens, and Miki Barber. “I believe in the power of community – especially cultural communities,” Newman said. “As it relates to the Black community, the entire world has witnessed what we can accomplish when we join together behind a cause – we create a phenomenon.”
Newman said that he founded the company as a result of growing racism and discrimination Blacks face on various social media platforms that they do not control.
“At its core, TruSo is the barbershop, beauty shop and brainchild of the Black community,” he said. “Over the past few years, we’ve seen racism and discrimination creep into social media in a way that attempts to mute Black voices. In contrast, TruSo amplifies Black voices.”
Since it was launched, the app has raised more than $30K from individual shareholders who wanted in, Black News said. And for those who want to come on board as early-stage investors or shareholders, they can do so with as little as $100.
