About Noir Culture

Founded on a vision that began in 2017 and shaped by global perspective in 2018, Noir Culture is a nonprofit business incubator dedicated to transforming the futures of young entrepreneurs of color ages 13 to 15 in low-income communities across Boston.

Noir Culture is an emerging program, that spans 3 to 4 years and provides hands-on education in entrepreneurship, business fundamentals, finance, law, and product development. In the early years, students participate in structured classes while being paired with mentors of color who are entrepreneurs and professionals from their communities. These relationships provide guidance, representation, and support that extends beyond the classroom.

Beyond Noir's Incubator

Beyond the incubator, Noir Culture is designed to function as a community hub, for ages 13 to 18. Our future center will include a gym, art room, computer lab, design lab, classrooms, and student lounges open to incubator participants and youth across the broader Noir Culture program. We will also host workshops and classes for students not enrolled in the incubator, ensuring access to creativity, leadership development, and skill-building opportunities.

A core feature of the organization is the Research Lab, where students examine issues affecting their neighborhoods, explore root causes, and work toward solutions that create meaningful change in their own lives and communities. For upperclassmen, we will also offer college and career readiness programming to help guide students in exploring their options and preparing for life beyond high school.

About the CEO

Nia Simpson, born and raised in Dorchester, Boston, is deeply connected to the community she serves. As a student in the METCO program, she attended Wayland High School, where she faced the challenges of navigating predominantly white spaces while trying to maintain a strong connection to her roots. Graduating in 2019, Nia set out to pursue her passion for entrepreneurship and business, earning a Bachelor's in Business Administration with a concentration in Entrepreneurship in 2023. Driven by the desire to give back and empower others like herself, Nia completed her Master’s in Business Analytics in 2024 to further enhance her ability to make an impact.

The Inspiration

In 2017, Nia conceived the idea of this nonprofit as she recognized the gap in resources and opportunities for students of color in underserved neighborhoods. Her journey was solidified after a transformative two-week trip to India in 2018 with the Boys & Girls Club of Boston, where she witnessed firsthand how young people, much like herself, often have brilliant ideas but lack the necessary resources to bring them to life. This experience motivated Nia to create a program where students of color could access the same resources, mentorship, and opportunities that she wished she had growing up. Nia's personal experiences navigating Boston’s underserved communities, coupled with her passion for entrepreneurship, laid the foundation for this nonprofit initiative.

The Need

While there are many programs in Boston, few focus on hands-on entrepreneurship. There’s a gap in teaching youth how to bring ideas together and actually build a business from start to finish. While guiding youth in creating products and services that reinvest in and uplift their own communities.

Our Mission

Our mission is to empower youth of color ages 13–15 in Boston through a hands-on business incubator that provides mentorship, education, and real-world support to launch sustainable businesses while teaching them how to sustain generational wealth.

Our Vision

Our vision is to bridge societal gaps, promote economic inclusivity. While cultivating a sense of pride and ownership within communities through empowerment. Allowing students to explore entrepreneurship, research, and creative arts.

Our Goal

Our goal is to "Bring Power Back to the Community" by helping students create sustainable businesses, products, and services that serve their own neighborhoods. We believe real change happens when solutions are built and led by the people within the community itself.

What is a Business Incubator?

A business incubator is a program designed to support aspiring entrepreneurs by providing resources, mentorship, and guidance to help them turn their ideas into real, sustainable businesses. Our incubator focuses on helping students explore entrepreneurship from the ground up, starting with the basics and building toward a launch-ready product or service.

Explore More

My business idea is about empowering children of color ages 13 to 18 to define their future, create change, and contribute to their communities.

Student Learning & Program Structure

Throughout the program, students will gain real-world knowledge similar to what is taught in college business programs, including:

The laws and legal structures behind starting and running a business
How to manage finances, marketing, operations, and strategy
Business planning, branding, and customer development
Pitching to investors and communicating their vision effectively

The incubator is a multi-year (3-4 years) program. During the first two years, students will focus on learning foundational business skills and refining their business ideas. In the final two years, they’ll actively build and develop their product or service with the goal of launching it at the end-of-program showcase.

Even if a student doesn’t fully complete their business by the end, they will continue to receive support and guidance from mentors and staff beyond the program to help them carry their vision forward.

Learn more about the curriculum below!