We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Anthony Edwards Jr a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Anthony , thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. What’s the backstory behind how you came up with the idea for your business?

In 2016, Janique and I created EatOkra as two Brooklyn transplants who didn’t have the means to cook or store food. Without a stove or refrigerator in our new apartment, we sought out spaces that were inviting, familiar, and brimming with the food they loved or would grow to love.

Immersing ourselves in their new community, we explored ways to support local Black-owned businesses and champion the vibrant, cultural voices of their neighborhood, eventually planting the seed for EatOkra.

Back in June 2020, sites/apps like Yelp saw a 1,700% increase in search requests for Black-owned restaurants. This means there is a large segment of conscious consumers looking to support Black-owned restaurants & eateries and there are tens of thousands of business owners looking for more support and opportunities to share their talent to the neighborhood, region, and the world. EatOkra solves this problem. We bring communities together through one specific avenue, black food.

This solution will give restaurants a greater opportunity to survive beyond the 1st, 3rd, or even 5th year in business. EatOkra will bring the entire community together through black food. Through strategic partnerships, we can provide additional revenue opportunities and savings` to the business owners.

Anthony , love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

Founded in 2016, EatOkra supports a vibrant community of consumers and business owners that honor and preserve the culinary heritage and history of the African diaspora. Available on iPhone and Android, the elegant and easy-to-use mobile app allows consumers to find the best Black-owned food outlets nearby and feed their souls by claiming their power as conscious buyers. EatOkra’s app currently lists 19,000 Black-owned restaurants, bakeries, cafes, food trucks, bars, and wineries across the U.S. Using EatOkra’s trusted nationwide directory, marketing and growth business expertise, and partnerships with major brands, Black owners can expand brand awareness and grow their businesses.

Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?

I started building EatOkra back in the fall of 2016. As a recent college graduate, I was itching to build something to level up my skills. My then-girlfriend suggested I build an app for us to find Black-owned eateries in our new neighborhood Brooklyn, NY. EatOkra would be my first attempt at building a mobile app. In between working a regular 9-5 day job, I spent an additional 20-30 hours a week building EatOkra from the ground up. My daily schedule was typically waking up at 5:30 am to work on the app for 2 hours then go to work, come home, relax, exercise then start coding again around 9 pm until about 1 am. For 4 years, I sacrificed sleep, summer nights, spending time with friends among other things. There were many times when I got stuck on a problem for days if not weeks at a time. Many people would give up but I kept with it. I thought about the problem a lot, I read books, articles, watch videos, consulted with friends, and patients eventually, I solved my issue. The military taught me to never settle. I take that same mentality with me in my professional life. Good enough is not enough for me. Im striving to always be better in my marriage, as a CEO, and as a father to my beautiful baby girl Bradley. I want to teach her that she can do anything she puts her mind to as long as she never stops and never settles.

Can you talk to us about your experience with buying businesses?

While I have never bought a business, I come from a family that believes in the American spirit, the entrepreneurial spirit. I, too, have that drive to be a successful entrepreneur. My mother, father, and sister-in-law all started and lost their businesses due to many factors. Like many Black-owned businesses, they lacked the time, education, mentorship, and finances to have a strong, profitable lasting business. Having witnessed their dreams come and go, I wanted to build something that was very specific to how we can support Black-owned companies in my community and across the country.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.eatokra.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/eatokratheapp/?hl=en
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/eatokra
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/eatOkraTheApp

Image Credits
Rhea Kay