Overview

Local Lantern connects neighborhood discovery on the web and Android with business profiles, moderation, and operator tools — built for communities, not generic marketplaces.

Problem

Local business discovery is noisy, chain-heavy, and hard for small operators to manage. Communities need a calmer directory with trust and support built in.

Solution

A shared API powering a web directory and Android app, with business claim flows, advertiser drafts, and admin review queues in one contract.

Technology Stack

• Kotlin Android client
• Node.js API with MongoDB
• Firebase authentication for operators
• Shared listings contract across web and mobile

Features

• Category and neighborhood search
• Business detail views with featured highlights
• Owner profiles and support requests
• Advertiser campaign drafts
• Admin moderation and trust review

Challenges Solved

• Keeping chain filtering fair without excluding legitimate local multi-location brands
• One API contract for web directory and mobile surfaces
• Designing moderation that scales before external AI review

Future Roadmap

• Production domain and regional rollout
• Richer owner dashboard on mobile
• Partner and sponsor placements