{"data":{"type":"company_profile","id":114746,"entity_id":"wefunder:company:114746","attributes":{"canonical_url":"https://wefunder.com/eatokra","generated_at":"2026-06-14T13:41:31Z","updated_at":"2026-06-14T05:03:09Z","entity_ids":{"company":"wefunder:company:114746","slug":"wefunder:company_slug:eatokra"},"profile_visibility":{"owner_published":true,"public_search_results":true,"site_search_listed":true,"privacy_mode":"promote","invite_only":false},"provenance":{"source":"wefunder_public_company_profile","as_of":"2026-06-14T13:41:31Z","claims":{"total_amount_raised":{"source":"FrontCompanySummary#amount_raised","last_verified_at":"2026-06-14T05:03:09Z","as_of":"2026-06-14T13:41:31Z","confidence":"high"},"total_investors":{"source":"FrontCompanySummary#number_of_investors","last_verified_at":"2026-06-14T05:03:09Z","as_of":"2026-06-14T13:41:31Z","confidence":"high"},"active_raise_states":{"source":"Fundraise.visible(nil, nil)","last_verified_at":"2025-03-24T15:21:51Z","as_of":"2026-06-14T13:41:31Z","confidence":"high"},"latest_fundraise_state":{"source":"Fundraise.visible(nil, nil).order(funding_started_at)","last_verified_at":"2025-03-24T15:21:51Z","as_of":"2026-06-14T13:41:31Z","confidence":"medium"}}},"company":{"id":114746,"entity_id":"wefunder:company:114746","slug":"eatokra","name":"EatOkra","tagline":"The platform for Black-owned food experiences, backed by Google for Startups","elevator_pitch":"EatOkra is the largest platform of Black-owned food experiences. Where food, culture, and community meet, EatOkra connects 500,000+ diners to culinary creators and restaurants, reimagining the dining experience in local neighborhoods nationwide.","story":"EatOkra is on a mission to help millions of people find community through food. With EatOkra, foodies across the country can discover rich food experiences, and Black-owned restaurants acquire and retain new digital customers. Our vision is to create a Black-owned food ecosystem, built for and powered by community—revolutionizing how people find and support Black food entrepreneurs.Black communities have long been underserved and underinvested in, with far fewer goods and services at their disposal. Black entrepreneurs are more likely to receive less financing, less often, and at more unfavorable terms (Fundera). We’re seeing that start to change as consumers increasingly align their values with their spending.As consumers are becoming more conscious, the food delivery market is growing astronomically. 60% of digital consumers order takeout or delivery at least once per week (Fundera). However, food delivery apps fail to adequately showcase and validate Black-owned food businesses. Yet online searches specifically for Black-owned restaurants have surged by more than 2,500% (Yelp), and 60% of consumers say they prioritize buying from Black-owned businesses (Venture Beat).The Black-owned food market is massive and brimming with unrealized potential. Beyond the universal challenges of starting a business, Black entrepreneurs face additional difficulties, including lacking the technology necessary to scale their thriving businesses. Furthermore, independent operators often miss out on substantial savings by not leveraging collective buying, which could secure them better deals and enhance their competitiveness in the market.Introducing EatOkra. We’re creating a Black-owned food ecosystem, built for and powered by community.We unlock access to a network of untapped restaurants and users, making it easy for consumers to discover and share Black-owned food experiences, and for Black restaurateurs to thrive and scale.EatOkra helps Black restaurateurs get discovered by hundreds of thousands of new customers, while equipping restaurants with the marketing and business resources they need to grow. In partnership with Pepsi Dig In, UberEats, ezCater and Apple Maps, EatOkra increases visibility and sales for small businesses around the nation, funneling millions of dollars back into the community. More than half of Black small business owners report they are self-taught entrepreneurs–and most of them are eager for more educational resources (Fortune.com). In collaborating with Pepsi Dig In, ezCater, and Uber Eats, EatOkra helps provide digital support for Black-owned storefronts including access to resources, mentorship, and training to scale their businesses. EatOkra isn’t just about soul food. Many coffee shops, wine bars, restaurants, and a variety of concepts and cuisines are Black-owned. We offer users access to food experiences from around the world alongside many options for vegan, vegetarian, and health-conscious consumers. Our platform features\u0026nbsp;Black-owned food businesses across the United States, helping Black-owned restaurants get discovered and tap into new revenue streams thanks to seamless integration with established delivery partners and the potential to provide nationwide coverage.To date, EatOkra has provided over 1.5 billion impressions for EatOkra-listed businesses.Users power our platform. Our directory was started by us, and scaled with the help of our community. In June of 2020, for example, over 8,000 businesses were added to our platform by our community. Users can easily recommend a new listing and our team of experts will verify Black ownership. EatOkra now hosts over 18,000 restaurants on the platform.Industry leaders are seeking companies that have strong brands with unique audiences - to reach new demographics through trusted sources. Last year Google invested in EatOkra via their Black Founders Fund. We also previously co-hosted the invite-only Taste 404 Summit with UberEats in Atlanta where we brought together Black restaurateurs, culinary creators, and industry experts and provided resources and programs to increase access, efficiencies, business performance, relation currencies, optimizations and sustainability.EatOkra is a trusted and respected member of the Foodie, and Black Foodie community. Have you seen our business spotlights?...We’ve been showcased and highlighted by the most trusted sources in the nation.EatOkra was featured during the 2022 BET Awards, viewed by over 3.2 million people across the country. In March 2023, EatOkra was selected to be featured in New York City’s colossal rebrand campaign “We ❤ NYC”, in partnership with the New York City Mayor’s Office. The campaign will run throughout the city over the next year via a dedicated rotating billboard in Times Square.EatOkra’s team consists of award-winning foodies, marketing veterans, renowned founders and developers with experience from leading companies. Between them, EatOkra’s co-founders spent nearly 20 years in the United States military and Border Patrol and Customs agency. With the discipline they learned and the sense of community that was created while serving our country, they poured all of it into EatOkra.There are approximately 3.12 million Black-owned businesses, generating $206 billion in annual revenues, and employing a combined 3.56 million people. (Forbes)EatOkra earns revenue through: (1) premium service fees from our Group Purchasing Program, (2) digital advertising fees, and (3) brand sponsorships with companies that have an average annual contract value of $300,000. *Forward-looking projections can't be guaranteed. Consumers want us to build this; we know because they’ve asked us themselves! EatOkra users continue to take action to help scale our platform.Now our sights are set on expanding our team, accelerating user acquisition, and scaling food and beverage merchant memberships — on our path to achieving national adoption by millions of new users.EatOkra - where food, culture and community meet.*Forward-looking projections can't be guaranteed.\u0026nbsp;Community is at the heart of EatOkra and that’s why we’ve carved out a portion of the round for our supporters. You’ll be joining Google for Startups Black Founders Fund which has already come on board as an institutional investor.Let’s keep the community thriving and pour back into the culture that made us. Invest in EatOkra today.","location":"New York, NY","website":"https://www.eatokra.com","total_amount_raised":188987,"total_investors":364,"is_funded":true,"is_active":true,"quality_score":4,"related_urls":["https://wefunder.com/eatokra","https://www.eatokra.com"]},"media":{"share_image_url":"https://uploads.wefunder.com/uploads/company/header_media_photo/114746/xxl_blob.jpg","logo_url":"https://uploads.wefunder.com/uploads/company/logo/114746/large_blob","header_media_url":"https://uploads.wefunder.com/uploads/company/header_media_photo/114746/standard_blob.jpg","cover_photo_url":"https://uploads.wefunder.com/uploads/company/header_media_photo/114746/standard_blob.jpg","profile_video_url":"https://wefunder.wistia.com/medias/64j3z2tmnx"},"links":{"company_url":"https://www.eatokra.com","linkedin_url":"https://linkedin.com/company/eatokra","instagram_url":"https://instagram.com/eatokratheapp/?hl=en"},"highlights":[],"quick_facts":[{"index":1,"claim_id":"claim-fact-1","value":"$3.2M cumulative revenue"},{"index":2,"claim_id":"claim-fact-2","value":"Partnerships with Uber Eats, ezCater, Apple Maps, and Pepsi Dig In"},{"index":3,"claim_id":"claim-fact-3","value":"600,000+ app downloads \u0026amp; Apple Store Developer Award Winner"},{"index":4,"claim_id":"claim-fact-4","value":"1.5B media impressions generated for EatOkra-listed businesses"},{"index":5,"claim_id":"claim-fact-5","value":"World-class team from Uber, Google, Mastercard, Culinary Institute of America, \u0026amp; U.S. Army"},{"index":6,"claim_id":"claim-fact-6","value":"Featured in Forbes, Fast Company, Good Morning America, CNN, TechCrunch, TIME \u0026amp; more"},{"index":7,"claim_id":"claim-fact-7","value":"2024 \"App of the Year\" Black Tech Achievement Awards Presented by J.P. Morgan"},{"index":8,"claim_id":"claim-fact-8","value":"2021 Apple App Store Developer Award Recipient for Connection (1 of 15)"}],"team":[{"id":2696152,"entity_id":"wefunder:company_role:2696152","user_entity_id":"wefunder:user:2599309","role":"founder","name":"Anthony Edwards Jr","title":"CEO \u0026 CTO","bio":"Programming wizard with a passion for foodie culture. 2021 Apple app store developer winner. Former CTO at BuildingBlok. Served in the U.S. Armed Services 2003-2012. Computer Science B.S. from Fordham University.","avatar_url":"https://uploads.wefunder.com/uploads/company_role/custom_photo/2696152/square_cropped_Anthony_2_-2.jpg?1685471640","profile_url":"https://wefunder.com/anthony.edwards.jr.2","linkedin_url":"https://linkedin.com/in/anthony-edwards-jr-b9084612","related_urls":["https://wefunder.com/anthony.edwards.jr.2"]},{"id":2863739,"entity_id":"wefunder:company_role:2863739","role":"founder","name":"Janique Edwards ","title":"Chief Brand Officer","bio":"Culinary visionary. Dine Diaspora 2022 Black Women in Food Honoree. 10+ years experience developing, managing, and evaluating administrative and operational programs for U.S. Customs and Border Protection. English BA from Lehman College-CUNY.","avatar_url":"https://uploads.wefunder.com/uploads/company_role/custom_photo/2863739/square_cropped_61845974-0-square-cropped-16389.jpg?1685471640","linkedin_url":"https://www.linkedin.com/in/janique-edwards-9551401b5/","related_urls":[]},{"id":2696195,"entity_id":"wefunder:company_role:2696195","role":"employee","name":"Jason Wallace","title":"Director of Business Solutions ","bio":"Restaurant scientist. Former executive chef and restaurateur. Distinguished alum of The Culinary Institute of America. 1st Black Chairman of the New York State Restaurant Association. Navy veteran. College professor. NRA ServSafe instructor.","avatar_url":"https://uploads.wefunder.com/uploads/company_role/custom_photo/2696195/square_cropped_1653925986060.jpg?1713704022","linkedin_url":"https://www.linkedin.com/in/restaurantscientist/","related_urls":[]},{"id":2696190,"entity_id":"wefunder:company_role:2696190","role":"employee","name":"Jeff Beliziare","title":"Strategic Advisor","bio":"Global Brand Marketing Lead @ Google. 2x Emmy-winner. 20+ years leading campaigns for Pepsi, Samsung, Sprint, Spotify \u0026amp; more. Multi-million dollar exit of growthgeeks.com -grew from 1 to 60 employees \u0026amp; $0 to $9M in annual sales.","avatar_url":"https://uploads.wefunder.com/uploads/company_role/custom_photo/2696190/square_cropped_1642511816432.jpg?1713704022","linkedin_url":"https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeffbelizaire/","related_urls":[]}],"featured_investors":[{"id":4548,"entity_id":"wefunder:company_investor_profile:4548","investor_profile_id":865512,"investor_profile_entity_id":"wefunder:investor_profile:865512","subject_entity_id":"wefunder:user:1331133","name":"Marvin Johnson","bio":"Serial entrepreneur, startup mentor and pioneer in the fintech space.","avatar_url":"http://uploads.wefunder.com/uploads/user/avatar/1331133/medium_cropped_20220805_Marvin_Johnson-5889-cropped.jpg","profile_url":"https://wefunder.com/marvinjohnson4","endorsement_quote":"As a serial entrepreneur, I know first hand what it takes to make it in the big city of dreams. EatOkra was recently endorsed officially by the City of New York in their new “We Love New York” campaign. But not only does NYC love EatOkra, folks across the country have long validated EatOkra’s business.. In the past three years I’ve witnessed EatOkra’s phenomenal growth. Since the explosion of installs and the number of restaurants added weekly, EatOkra has put itself on a trajectory to be the go-to-app for food enthusiasts inside and outside of the African-American community. EatOkra is a foodie's dream, offering a variety of restaurant experiences from food trucks, wine bars, fine-dining, vegan and more. And I think that is what really sets them apart from other directory and delivery apps. EatOkra encourages users to get offline and go discover the best kept secret right around the corner, and then order from it later. And the best part about EatOkra is that it supports the folks that are truly driving the American economy - small businesses - while also keeping the American dream alive. Being a fellow military veteran, I recognize EatOkra’s CEO Anthony Edwards’ diligence and dedication as a core driver for himself, and his team. I have two exits under my belt and I am confident that EatOkra has the potential to be a third, in addition to truly changing the way America dines in, and out.","investment_total":20000,"investment_info":"Invested $20,000 this round","is_lead_investor":true,"related_urls":["https://wefunder.com/marvinjohnson4"]}],"investor_memos":[],"tab_counts":{"posts":23,"ask_questions":21,"featured_investors":1,"faq_entries":5},"active_fundraises":[{"id":62606,"entity_id":"wefunder:fundraise:62606","state":"successful","offering_type":"4(a)(6)","funding_type":"note","structure":"safe","security_type":"equity","currency":"USD","testing_the_waters":false,"min_purchase":100,"max_purchase":9,"funding_target":1235000.0,"minimum_target":"50000.0","maximum_target":"1235000.0","funding_started_at":"2023-04-26T20:41:13Z","funding_closed_at":"2024-04-30T04:02:11Z","auto_close_at":"2024-04-30T03:59:59Z"},{"id":62607,"entity_id":"wefunder:fundraise:62607","state":"successful","offering_type":"4(a)(6)","funding_type":"note","structure":"ttw","security_type":"equity","currency":"USD","testing_the_waters":true,"min_purchase":100,"max_purchase":9,"funding_target":1235000.0,"minimum_target":"50000.0","maximum_target":"1235000.0","funding_started_at":"2022-04-20T02:54:51Z"}],"latest_fundraise":{"id":62606,"entity_id":"wefunder:fundraise:62606","state":"successful","offering_type":"4(a)(6)","structure":"safe","testing_the_waters":false,"can_invest_now":false,"funding_started_at":"2023-04-26T20:41:13Z","funding_closed_at":"2024-04-30T04:02:11Z","terms":{"eb":"$10.2M","nb":"$12M","txt":"valuation cap"}},"recent_posts":[{"id":176366,"entity_id":"wefunder:feed_item:176366","type":"FeedItem::Update","visibility":"public","title":"Named USBC Power 50 Under 40!","preview":"Hey everyone, I am thrilled to share some personal and exciting news with you. This year, as I approach my 40th birthday, I've been honored with a recognition that truly humbles me. I have been named one of the USBC Power 50 Under 40, a distinction presented by Walmart and Molson Coors. This accolade celebrates young Black professionals who are not just excelling in their fields but are also setting new benchmarks and inspiring a wave of future leaders.This recognition is not just mine but is...","published_at":"2024-09-29T21:11:11Z","author_name":"Anthony Edwards Jr","url":"/feed/176366","canonical_url":"https://wefunder.com/feed/176366"},{"id":173054,"entity_id":"wefunder:feed_item:173054","type":"FeedItem::Update","visibility":"public","title":"Our Fundraiser Last Days! Discover What’s Next for EatOkra","preview":"As the dynamic force behind EatOkra, I, Anthony Edwards Jr, am reaching out during these pivotal final days of our\u0026nbsp;campaign\u0026nbsp;​to share how far we've come and how you can help us achieve even more.Over the past few years, EatOkra has not just grown; we've soared, thanks to the collective effort of our community and strategic vision. Here are some milestones that we're particularly proud of:2024 BTA Awards Winner – App of the Year:\u0026nbsp;This accolade from the Black Tech Achievement Awa...","published_at":"2024-04-29T01:48:18Z","author_name":"Anthony Edwards Jr","url":"/feed/173054","canonical_url":"https://wefunder.com/feed/173054"},{"id":166813,"entity_id":"wefunder:feed_item:166813","type":"FeedItem::Update","visibility":"public","title":"PepsiCo Dig-in Day Block Party Recap 🎉","preview":"We had a blast celebrating the end of summer in Washington, D.C. alongside our partner PepsiCo!This celebration of Black-owned restaurants was filled with sunshine, eclectic food, a bustling marketplace, and incredible music from Alex Vauhgn, DJ Money and our headliner, Pusha T. 🙌🏾The block party epitomized both our mission and the essence of our app. The day was all about celebrating Black culture through food discovery, and the overwhelming turnout from our community was amazing. Over 3,300...","published_at":"2023-09-11T09:10:25Z","author_name":"Anthony Edwards Jr","url":"/feed/166813","canonical_url":"https://wefunder.com/feed/166813"},{"id":166661,"entity_id":"wefunder:feed_item:166661","type":"FeedItem::Update","visibility":"public","title":"EatOkra FAQs","preview":"We’re so thankful for all of your support. We’ve been receiving a lot of questions around the business so we put together this FAQ for you.\u0026nbsp; If your question isn’t answered below, feel free to leave a comment or ask a question on our page.Why is EatOkra unique? EatOkra is not just about the app: we’re building a Black-owned food ecosystem, powered by our users! There are challenges that every new business must face, but Black entrepreneurs face extra difficulty, including lacking the tec...","published_at":"2023-08-24T21:46:54Z","author_name":"Anthony Edwards Jr","url":"/feed/166661","canonical_url":"https://wefunder.com/feed/166661"},{"id":166610,"entity_id":"wefunder:feed_item:166610","type":"FeedItem::Update","visibility":"public","title":"Top 5 Reasons To Invest In EatOkra","preview":"Now that our community round is public, early bird terms are selling out fast. In case you haven’t made your move yet, here are 5 reasons why NOW is the time to invest in EatOkra:EatOkra is changing the narrative. We’re flipping the script for Black communities who’ve been long overlooked and underinvested in, to get the attention and business they deserve. EatOkra is serving up a system that positions Black restaurateurs so that they can grow and thrive.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;We’re tuned in: People are...","published_at":"2023-08-22T22:05:36Z","author_name":"Anthony Edwards Jr","url":"/feed/166610","canonical_url":"https://wefunder.com/feed/166610"},{"id":166448,"entity_id":"wefunder:feed_item:166448","type":"FeedItem::Update","visibility":"public","title":"It’s Black Business Month! Here’s how you can get involved.","preview":"August is Black Business Month!Did you know that Black business owners account for only 10% of U.S. businesses and make up 30% of all minority-owned businesses? Despite their significant contributions to the economy, these businesses still face systemic challenges that hinder their growth.Today, I wanted to share four easy ways to help support Black-owned businesses in your community this month!Use the EatOkra app to find and patronize Black-owned restaurantsWrite a positive review for your f...","published_at":"2023-08-14T22:55:48Z","author_name":"Anthony Edwards Jr","url":"/feed/166448","canonical_url":"https://wefunder.com/feed/166448"},{"id":166225,"entity_id":"wefunder:feed_item:166225","type":"FeedItem::Update","visibility":"public","title":"Introducing Online Ordering!","preview":"July was a HUGE month for EatOkra— we officially launched online ordering 🚀EatOkra app users can now order delivery straight to their door. We’ve already signed on 40 new restaurants in Brooklyn, including Slutty Vegan, Greedi Vegan, Brooklyn Tea and more, to offer online ordering and delivery directly through our platform. Every new food partner gets us closer to achieving our mission: to help millions of people find community through food.\u0026nbsp;We’re bringing delicious Black-owned food expe...","published_at":"2023-08-08T14:21:09Z","author_name":"Anthony Edwards Jr","url":"/feed/166225","canonical_url":"https://wefunder.com/feed/166225"},{"id":166150,"entity_id":"wefunder:feed_item:166150","type":"FeedItem::Update","visibility":"public","title":"We’re open to the public! 🚀","preview":"EatOkra’s investment round is officially open to the public! 🥳That means that the entire Wefunder network can access our discounted and preferred terms (while they last!).\u0026nbsp;Through community support and partnerships with the biggest brands in the world, EatOkra has organically climbed to 500K+ app downloads. We now have over 19,000 Black-owned food businesses listed on our app, features in top tier media, an Apple Store Developer Award, and so much more.Now, we’re ready to scale nationall...","published_at":"2023-08-03T21:49:41Z","author_name":"Anthony Edwards Jr","url":"/feed/166150","canonical_url":"https://wefunder.com/feed/166150"},{"id":166095,"entity_id":"wefunder:feed_item:166095","type":"FeedItem::Update","visibility":"public","title":"🚨 LAST CHANCE to invest before we open to the public on Thursday🚨","preview":"Hi EatOkra fam! Exciting news — we’re about to open our community investment round to the public! This means that if you’re still waiting to invest, NOW is the time to take advantage of early bird terms.We can't guarantee there will ever be another community round, so it's an opportunity you don't want to miss.\u0026nbsp;Community is at the heart of EatOkra and we’d love for you to share your investment with your community. If you’ve already invested, share on social media with the copy below:I in...","published_at":"2023-08-02T14:21:22Z","author_name":"Anthony Edwards Jr","url":"/feed/166095","canonical_url":"https://wefunder.com/feed/166095"},{"id":165944,"entity_id":"wefunder:feed_item:165944","type":"FeedItem::Update","visibility":"public","title":"EatOkra webinar replay ▶️","preview":"We had a great turnout at our first ever private investor webinar!During the webinar we touched on EatOkra’s origin story, our tenfold impact, building generational wealth through investing, and EatOkra’s organic traction to date. Our special guest investor, Brandon Hurst of Chick-Fil-A shared his entrepreneurial journey, more about his investment fund, and why he invested in EatOkra.\u0026nbsp;I want to send a big thank you to everyone who joined our webinar! Jason, Brandon and I were so happy to...","published_at":"2023-07-26T19:31:40Z","author_name":"Anthony Edwards Jr","url":"/feed/165944","canonical_url":"https://wefunder.com/feed/165944"},{"id":165617,"entity_id":"wefunder:feed_item:165617","type":"FeedItem::Update","visibility":"public","title":"Don’t miss EatOkra’s private investor webinar tomorrow!","preview":"Our first investor webinar is TOMORROW! Please join us for an exclusive investor event, where I’ll be joined by our Director of Business Solutions Jason Wallace and EatOkra investor Brandon Hurst.\u0026nbsp;When: Tuesday, July 18th at 12 pm PST / 3 pm EST.Who: Anthony Edwards Jr., EatOkra Co-founder \u0026 CEO; Jason Wallace, EatOkra Director of Business Solutions; \u0026 Brandon Hurst (EatOkra investor)What: We’ll talk all about the state of Black food service, Black ownership and entrepreneurship, and sup...","published_at":"2023-07-17T18:07:39Z","author_name":"Anthony Edwards Jr","url":"/feed/165617","canonical_url":"https://wefunder.com/feed/165617"},{"id":165510,"entity_id":"wefunder:feed_item:165510","type":"FeedItem::Update","visibility":"public","title":"You’re Invited! EatOkra Private Investor Webinar","preview":"Today, I’m excited to personally invite you to EatOkra’s FIRST investor webinar!\u0026nbsp;Early bird terms for our investment round are selling out, but we know some of you may still have questions about investing! We’re inviting our community and day-one supporters to come learn more about the opportunity and get all your investing questions answered, LIVE.The private investor event will be held on Tuesday, July 18th at 12 pm PST / 3 pm EST. Join me and special investor guest Brandon Hurst, owne...","published_at":"2023-07-11T10:32:51Z","author_name":"Anthony Edwards Jr","url":"/feed/165510","canonical_url":"https://wefunder.com/feed/165510"},{"id":165176,"entity_id":"wefunder:feed_item:165176","type":"FeedItem::Update","visibility":"public","title":"Partnership Update! Slutty Vegan (Brooklyn) is coming to EatOkra 🍔","preview":"HUGE NEWS!Vegan food powerhouse Slutty Vegan (Brooklyn only) has signed on to partner with us for launch of online ordering‼️Our users can soon discover and shop another Black-owned vegan option from one of the hottest up and coming brands\u0026nbsp; in the industry. And their many fans and followers can easily indulge in the delicious, plant-based fast food at home using the EatOkra app! Slutty Vegan (Brooklyn)\u0026nbsp; joins more than 40 other Black-owned food businesses who have already signed on ...","published_at":"2023-06-29T15:48:24Z","author_name":"Anthony Edwards Jr","url":"/feed/165176","canonical_url":"https://wefunder.com/feed/165176"},{"id":164979,"entity_id":"wefunder:feed_item:164979","type":"FeedItem::Update","visibility":"public","title":"Share with Three Challenge","preview":"We’re all familiar with the concept of six degrees of separation. It’s the idea that everyone is connected to each other by six or fewer social connections. We want to turn that idea on its head. In the US, there are 331.9 million people, with 78% of them being over 18 years old. Our goal is to make every single one of them an EatOkra user.Here’s where you all come in! We challenge you to share our campaign with three people you know. This can be via text, email, or social media. Simply share...","published_at":"2023-06-23T13:46:55Z","author_name":"Anthony Edwards Jr","url":"/feed/164979","canonical_url":"https://wefunder.com/feed/164979"},{"id":164865,"entity_id":"wefunder:feed_item:164865","type":"FeedItem::Update","visibility":"public","title":"Celebrate Juneteenth","preview":"Juneteenth is, in fact, a day on, not a day off. Currently, only 8% of restaurants in the United States are Black-owned, and that number has plateaued in the last decade. You can find a Black-owned restaurant to visit today using our app.Our mission at EatOkra is to empower restaurateurs, both big and small, across the country by providing world-class marketing services, top-of-the-line delivery infrastructure, and premium education. Currently, only 8% of restaurants in the United States are ...","published_at":"2023-06-19T16:32:52Z","author_name":"Anthony Edwards Jr","url":"/feed/164865","canonical_url":"https://wefunder.com/feed/164865"},{"id":164810,"entity_id":"wefunder:feed_item:164810","type":"FeedItem::Update","visibility":"public","title":"Creating a new Juneteenth tradition– investing in the Black community","preview":"Juneteenth signifies the official end of slavery in the United States on June 19, 1865. It took two years for the news of freedom to reach the last enslaved people in Galveston, Texas, after Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation, which declared more than three million slaves in the Confederate states to be free. Since 1980, Juneteenth has been recognized as a state holiday in Texas, and in 2021, it became a federal holiday.Juneteenth has been celebrated by fractions of the Blac...","published_at":"2023-06-15T15:35:42Z","author_name":"Anthony Edwards Jr","url":"/feed/164810","canonical_url":"https://wefunder.com/feed/164810"},{"id":164694,"entity_id":"wefunder:feed_item:164694","type":"FeedItem::Update","visibility":"public","title":"Juneteenth — an opportunity to make an impact with EatOkra","preview":"According to McKinsey, only 4% of Black businesses survive the start-up stage, and just 1% of Black business owners obtain business loans in their first year. Furthermore, TechCrunch reported Black-founded startups accounted for only 1% of venture investments in the US last year.This serves as a reminder of the disproportionate resources available to Black Americans and underscores the ongoing journey towards true equality. We invite you to join us in celebrating Juneteenth and making a diffe...","published_at":"2023-06-13T16:36:14Z","author_name":"Anthony Edwards Jr","url":"/feed/164694","canonical_url":"https://wefunder.com/feed/164694"},{"id":164459,"entity_id":"wefunder:feed_item:164459","type":"FeedItem::Update","visibility":"public","title":"Next week we’re celebrating Juneteenth all week 🙌","preview":"Juneteenth is just around the corner. As we gear up to reflect on America’s history and celebrate how far we’ve come, we must remember we still have a long way to go. According to McKinsey, only 4% of Black-owned businesses survive the start-up stage, and just 1% of Black business owners obtain business loans in their first year. Furthermore, Black-founded startups accounted for only 1% of venture investments in the US last year.EatOkra is determined to change those statistics.\u0026nbsp;Juneteent...","published_at":"2023-06-08T18:03:49Z","author_name":"Anthony Edwards Jr","url":"/feed/164459","canonical_url":"https://wefunder.com/feed/164459"},{"id":164237,"entity_id":"wefunder:feed_item:164237","type":"FeedItem::Update","visibility":"public","title":"Gratitude for our investors ⭐️","preview":"When we were deciding what kind of investment round to do we thought about all of our day 1 supporters. That’s why we decided to open a community round on Wefunder. Our community was the first to believe in EatOkra, and we wanted them to have the opportunity to be a part of our journey- in a new way. We’re nothing short of blown away by the response. 175+ investors have already come on board since opening the round!Many of our friends, family, fans, and users have left encouraging comments as...","published_at":"2023-05-31T14:08:34Z","author_name":"Anthony Edwards Jr","url":"/feed/164237","canonical_url":"https://wefunder.com/feed/164237"},{"id":164158,"entity_id":"wefunder:feed_item:164158","type":"FeedItem::Update","visibility":"public","title":"Empowering Black Women in Food with Dine Diaspora \u0026amp; Uber Eats🍴💪🏾","preview":"Today I’d like to highlight a recent initiative near and dear to our hearts. Black Women in Food is an initiative by Dine Diaspora, an agency that connects people and brands to African Food Culture. The initiative honors, amplifies, and supports Black women in the food ecosystem.During this year’s SXSW in Austin, Texas, EatOkra partnered with Uber Eats to sponsor an invite-only event and workshop. My Co-Founder, Janique, gave remarks among a room full of Black women investors, professionals a...","published_at":"2023-05-26T12:23:54Z","author_name":"Anthony Edwards Jr","url":"/feed/164158","canonical_url":"https://wefunder.com/feed/164158"},{"id":163800,"entity_id":"wefunder:feed_item:163800","type":"FeedItem::Update","visibility":"public","title":"Spotlighting EatOkra’s impact in the nation’s capital 🏛️🚀","preview":"Lately, I often find myself running the business from the road! Between update calls, planning, and other daily business duties, I have the opportunity to connect with incredible partners and influential institutions. While on the road, I get to meet extraordinary restaurateurs and also champion EatOkra's mission across the country. Here's a look at some of my latest engagements in the nation's capital.CAPITOL HILL VISIT VIA CONNECTED COMMERCE COUNCILThis month, I had the opportunity to visit...","published_at":"2023-05-18T17:38:54Z","author_name":"Anthony Edwards Jr","url":"/feed/163800","canonical_url":"https://wefunder.com/feed/163800"},{"id":163763,"entity_id":"wefunder:feed_item:163763","type":"FeedItem::Update","visibility":"public","title":"A Milestone Worth Celebrating: 1 Million Restaurant Views! 🍽️ 🎉","preview":"It’s a very exciting week for EatOkra! The restaurants on our app have now been viewed over 1 million times! We can’t thank our users enough for helping us reach this significant milestone. With over 18,000 restaurants listed on our app, we’re thrilled to see such a growing visibility for our community.In-app ordering is super close to being launched in Brooklyn NY! We have 34 contracts signed and can’t wait to deliver their tasty goodness to Brooklynites. With this funding round, we’ll be ab...","published_at":"2023-05-11T16:40:07Z","author_name":"Anthony Edwards Jr","url":"/feed/163763","canonical_url":"https://wefunder.com/feed/163763"},{"id":163598,"entity_id":"wefunder:feed_item:163598","type":"FeedItem::Update","visibility":"public","title":"Built for, and powered by you 🌱🌐🌆","preview":"When Janique and I moved to Brooklyn, we didn’t know much about the borough or the local businesses in our community. Black-owned restaurants personify Black culture in ways that are comforting and validating, so it was always our desire to be intentional about seeking out these businesses, especially as a way to connect with our new home. After doing our own research, we were ecstatic by the number of businesses we discovered, but also a bit frustrated by how difficult it was to identify the...","published_at":"2023-05-04T18:57:30Z","author_name":"Anthony Edwards Jr","url":"/feed/163598","canonical_url":"https://wefunder.com/feed/163598"}],"q_and_a":[{"id":225809,"entity_id":"wefunder:comment:225809","question":"We are putting together an \"NYC Crowdfunding Summit\", specifically for NYC based WeFunder campaigns. Your founder Anthony should have just received an email from justin@arkhaus.miami. Can you please check and confirm if you would like to participate? We are finalizing the partners in the next week.","author_name":"Sam Payrovi","votes":5,"created_at":"2022-11-17T15:58:42Z","canonical_url":"https://wefunder.com/eatokra#question-225809","answers":[{"id":248728,"entity_id":"wefunder:comment:248728","answer":"Hi Sam! Our campaign was inactive when this question came through. I’d love to hear your plans for this year’s summit. I’ll keep an eye on my inbox for any updates!","author_name":"Anthony Edwards Jr","votes":2,"created_at":"2023-05-31T13:48:45Z"}]},{"id":247098,"entity_id":"wefunder:comment:247098","question":"Do you have Black-owned restaurants that do fusion Asian-Soul food?","author_name":"Hiram Wong","votes":4,"created_at":"2023-05-16T05:12:48Z","canonical_url":"https://wefunder.com/eatokra#question-247098","answers":[{"id":248731,"entity_id":"wefunder:comment:248731","answer":"Hi Hiram, Yes we do have quite a few restaurants on EatOkra that are Asian cuisine inspired! If you come across more please submit them to us via the app!","author_name":"Anthony Edwards Jr","votes":2,"created_at":"2023-05-31T13:54:20Z"}]},{"id":257095,"entity_id":"wefunder:comment:257095","question":"Would you be so kind as to answer Kevin Hardman's questions #'s 1 \u0026amp; 4 publicly please? Thank you.","author_name":"Stephen O","votes":3,"created_at":"2023-08-03T23:23:48Z","canonical_url":"https://wefunder.com/eatokra#question-257095","answers":[{"id":257529,"entity_id":"wefunder:comment:257529","answer":"Hi Stephen, thank you for reaching out. I’ve included answers to the questions below. 1) $550K YTD revenue via a multi-year brand partnership with a projected $1.2M in revenue this year. You can also send me an email to anthony@eatokra.com to access my data room detailing further revenue projections. 4) EatOkra’s unique and proprietary data and authentic impact-powered mission to uplift Black-owned restaurants and their communities is an attractive asset for food delivery and martech companies acquire assets of underrepresented markets to expand into new verticals and territories.","author_name":"Anthony Edwards Jr","votes":2,"created_at":"2023-08-08T14:04:58Z"}]},{"id":318413,"entity_id":"wefunder:comment:318413","question":"Can I get some kind of report on this investment I've made almost 2 years ago","author_name":"Jerry Harper","votes":2,"created_at":"2025-10-29T23:03:50Z","canonical_url":"https://wefunder.com/eatokra#question-318413","answers":[]},{"id":257085,"entity_id":"wefunder:comment:257085","question":"The app looks great, and I discovered a new restaurant that I intend to try this weekend. The data presented indicates that you've had 500k+ downloads of the app and 1.5b+ media impressions for listed businesses. So each user (lifetime to date) has looked at 3,000 restaurants on average? Is that what you're saying? That certainly seems like some serious engagement! But you also indicate that you burn through $35k cash per month in excess of your revenue - how soon can you monetize these engaged, rabid fans of yours and become cash flow positive? And how will you do it?","author_name":"Mike Rodriguez","votes":2,"created_at":"2023-08-03T22:12:33Z","canonical_url":"https://wefunder.com/eatokra#question-257085","answers":[{"id":257530,"entity_id":"wefunder:comment:257530","answer":"Hi Mike. Thanks for your encouragement. The 1.5B media impressions were not for the EatOkra app, but rather for the 19,000 restaurants listed on our app through various marketing channels and partnerships we’ve established to bring awareness to the Black-owned food business industry. We’re on track to becoming profitable and cash flow positive. In addition to our brand partnerships that have generated $2M+ in revenue, we’re expanding our in-app ordering functionality, which just went live in Brooklyn, New York. Capital we’re raising now will enable us to scale our marketing and sales teams to build in-app ordering demand and restaurant supply (45 restaurant commissions contracts signed to date).","author_name":"Anthony Edwards Jr","votes":2,"created_at":"2023-08-08T14:05:27Z"}]},{"id":256823,"entity_id":"wefunder:comment:256823","question":"1) What is your YTD revenue, and what are your revenue projections for 2023 and beyond?? 2) Do you foresee ads on the app as a future revenue stream? 3) Do you anticipate expanding to other industries beyond food service? 4) What's the exit strategy?","author_name":"Kevin Hardman","votes":2,"created_at":"2023-08-02T16:04:43Z","canonical_url":"https://wefunder.com/eatokra#question-256823","answers":[{"id":256834,"entity_id":"wefunder:comment:256834","answer":"Hi Kevin, thank you for writing in. Yes 100% we foresee ads on the app for future revenue streams. We will remain in the food service space but will be expanding our revenue stream feature set into products like e-commerce (coffee, tea, spice, sauces, ect), events, and content. For the restaurants we will add premium subscription services and SaaS productions aimed at servicing our restaurant partners. Please send me an email to anthony@eatokra.com for access to my data room. Cheers!","author_name":"Anthony Edwards Jr","votes":1,"created_at":"2023-08-02T16:41:24Z"}]},{"id":267161,"entity_id":"wefunder:comment:267161","question":"How would you describe your goals for EatOkra for the next 6-9 months? The big picture vision/long term goals? I've also noticed that some of the restaurants listed on the EatOkra app don't have many reviews or have somewhat low reviews - what are you doing to mitigate this issue and what is your process for selecting restaurants to add to the EatOkra platform? Thanks!","author_name":"Casey Willard","votes":1,"created_at":"2023-10-28T12:08:13Z","canonical_url":"https://wefunder.com/eatokra#question-267161","answers":[]},{"id":263399,"entity_id":"wefunder:comment:263399","question":"Is this the next delivery app like door dash?","author_name":"Dashawn Ramel Bledsoe","votes":1,"created_at":"2023-09-26T16:03:45Z","canonical_url":"https://wefunder.com/eatokra#question-263399","answers":[]},{"id":251122,"entity_id":"wefunder:comment:251122","question":"what is the $ value per stock/share for early investors willing to take the risk?","author_name":"Patresha P. Pearson RN, MSN, P h D c","votes":1,"created_at":"2023-06-19T19:28:24Z","canonical_url":"https://wefunder.com/eatokra#question-251122","answers":[{"id":251945,"entity_id":"wefunder:comment:251945","answer":"Hi Patresha, Since we're raising a SAFE round, the number of shares you receive is determined at the next priced financing when professional investors set the price. Then, based on the valuation, the SAFE on which you invest will often convert into shares at a lower price than the round price, rewarding you with upside for investing earlier. While we don't have a specific dollar value per stock/share at this moment, our belief in the long-term growth potential of our company remains steadfast, and we are dedicated to creating value for our early investors.","author_name":"Anthony Edwards Jr","votes":1,"created_at":"2023-06-28T13:34:04Z"}]},{"id":245811,"entity_id":"wefunder:comment:245811","question":"Love the company! Quick questions on competitive threats: How are you thinking about larger delivery platform direct competitors (UberEats, DoorDash, etc.) who likely have many existing relationships with restaurants EatOkra is trying to onboard? What keeps them from doubling down on their promotion of Black-owned restaurants to preserve their business? Could there be a pricing/bidding war they engage (i.e., charging lower commissions to restaurants for them to stay on UberEats and not switch to EatOkra) with among restaurants on the platform that could threaten EatOkra's ability to compete and stay financially viable? Thank you!","author_name":"Jeff Cott","votes":1,"created_at":"2023-05-05T07:53:14Z","canonical_url":"https://wefunder.com/eatokra#question-245811","answers":[{"id":248727,"entity_id":"wefunder:comment:248727","answer":"Hi Jeff, great question. We like to think of EatOkra as collaboration over competition. Consumers have lots of choices between Caviar, DoorDash, Grubhub, UberEats, ChowNow, Postmates, Seamless and more. EatOkra is on a mission to build community through food and we thus have built the #1 biggest directory of Black-owned restaurants in the United States. While our customers can get their food delivered through a myriad of apps, and restaurants can list their offerings on them too, the community-powered ethos of EatOkra is sticky, and drives customer acquisition and retention. Our customer base is unique and powerful, not represented by the other apps. This is one of the many reasons that UberEats has chosen to partner with us. I hope this answers your question.","author_name":"Anthony Edwards Jr","votes":1,"created_at":"2023-05-31T13:48:13Z"}]},{"id":245560,"entity_id":"wefunder:comment:245560","question":"What is the 76K a month being spent on is my only questions? Is paying your current employees and marketing?","author_name":"Derrick Alexander","votes":1,"created_at":"2023-05-03T19:03:14Z","canonical_url":"https://wefunder.com/eatokra#question-245560","answers":[{"id":245630,"entity_id":"wefunder:comment:245630","answer":"Hi Derrick, our monthly burn goes to employees 50%, app development 25%, sales \u0026amp; marketing 20%, software fees 5%.","author_name":"Anthony Edwards Jr","votes":1,"created_at":"2023-05-04T00:06:58Z"}]},{"id":245441,"entity_id":"wefunder:comment:245441","question":"What are the securities being offered (class, voting rights, etc), how much of the equity is being offered and what is the pre-money valuation?","author_name":"Seth M Hemming","votes":1,"created_at":"2023-05-02T21:54:55Z","canonical_url":"https://wefunder.com/eatokra#question-245441","answers":[{"id":248729,"entity_id":"wefunder:comment:248729","answer":"Hi Seth, we’re raising on a SAFE (Simple Agreement for Future Equity) with a $12M valuation cap. The first $500K invested in this round will receive preferred early bird terms - a SAFE with a 15% discount and a $10.2M pre-money valuation cap. I hope this answers your questions!","author_name":"Anthony Edwards Jr","votes":1,"created_at":"2023-05-31T13:49:13Z"}]},{"id":245008,"entity_id":"wefunder:comment:245008","question":"What is your business model?","author_name":"Lea C","votes":1,"created_at":"2023-04-28T22:39:07Z","canonical_url":"https://wefunder.com/eatokra#question-245008","answers":[{"id":245018,"entity_id":"wefunder:comment:245018","answer":"Hi Lea, thank you for writing in! We are raising to expand online ordering in Brooklyn, NY plus expand to new cities We will make a commission on each order placed for pickup or delivery.","author_name":"Anthony Edwards Jr","votes":1,"created_at":"2023-04-28T23:55:42Z"}]},{"id":210049,"entity_id":"wefunder:comment:210049","question":"How do I increase my campaign amount for EatOkra?","author_name":"Teresa Greene","votes":1,"created_at":"2022-07-01T03:50:12Z","canonical_url":"https://wefunder.com/eatokra#question-210049","answers":[{"id":248730,"entity_id":"wefunder:comment:248730","answer":"Hi Teresa, this question came in before we officially launched our campaign, but I am answering for others who might have the same question! To increase your investment, follow these steps: Open https://wefunder.com/portfolio and select EatOkra. If the funds of your investment HAVE NOT been disbursed, click \"Edit Your Investment\" and enter the new total amount you’d like to invest. If the funds of your investment HAVE been disbursed, you'll have to open a new investment at https://wefunder.com/eatokra. I hope this helps!","author_name":"Anthony Edwards Jr","votes":1,"created_at":"2023-05-31T13:49:37Z"}]},{"id":329601,"entity_id":"wefunder:comment:329601","question":"Hello, what is the current status of this project?","author_name":"Herb H","votes":0,"created_at":"2026-04-01T02:35:08Z","canonical_url":"https://wefunder.com/eatokra#question-329601","answers":[]},{"id":329544,"entity_id":"wefunder:comment:329544","question":"It is ridiculous that our money was taken and we can't get a reply to our questions??? The reality of everything is...we have probably just donated to a business. I had AI look at my contract and this is what it had to say: 💸 So… can you get your money back? ❌ Normal outcome: No With this type of investment: There is no withdrawal mechanism There is no guaranteed liquidity You typically only get money if: the company is sold goes public pays distributions And, I haven't heard one word about any distribution. This experience on Wefunder has taught me a very valuable lesson on investing. I pretty much have given thousands of dollars away on this platform. And, most companies on here offer nothing but hope on our return.","author_name":"Katina Washington","votes":0,"created_at":"2026-03-31T12:38:18Z","canonical_url":"https://wefunder.com/eatokra#question-329544","answers":[]},{"id":328661,"entity_id":"wefunder:comment:328661","question":"Any updates on return on investment?","author_name":"Katina Washington","votes":0,"created_at":"2026-03-23T16:44:08Z","canonical_url":"https://wefunder.com/eatokra#question-328661","answers":[]},{"id":303363,"entity_id":"wefunder:comment:303363","question":"Hi I wanted to know if you are going to do another raise any time soon?","author_name":"Bernard Wells","votes":0,"created_at":"2025-03-03T15:26:21Z","canonical_url":"https://wefunder.com/eatokra#question-303363","answers":[]},{"id":279312,"entity_id":"wefunder:comment:279312","question":"This may be a simplistic question, but how does EatOkra differentiate itself from, say, a \"Black-Owned\" filter on a more popular/mainstream app? You said EatOkra's ethos is sticky and drives user engagement and retention. How so? Also: Beyond targeting the user who specifically chooses to \"shop black\", how do you plan to capture and retain users such that EatOkra can compete with bigger players in the delivery app market?","author_name":"Taylor Evans","votes":0,"created_at":"2024-03-21T19:06:37Z","canonical_url":"https://wefunder.com/eatokra#question-279312","answers":[]},{"id":277144,"entity_id":"wefunder:comment:277144","question":"What's the app for finding White owned restaurants?","author_name":"Todd M. Starbuck","votes":0,"created_at":"2024-02-23T21:08:18Z","canonical_url":"https://wefunder.com/eatokra#question-277144","answers":[{"id":277186,"entity_id":"wefunder:comment:277186","answer":"Wow on Wefunder too. I've been dealing with these racist comments since 2016. Some folks will never get it and that's okay. Not everything is build for everybody.","author_name":"Anthony Edwards Jr","votes":1,"created_at":"2024-02-24T14:39:18Z"}]},{"id":257576,"entity_id":"wefunder:comment:257576","question":"did you need more investors or campaign?? contact doyinsales0@gmail.com","author_name":"Doyin Sales","votes":0,"created_at":"2023-08-08T19:32:43Z","canonical_url":"https://wefunder.com/eatokra#question-257576","answers":[]}],"faq":[{"question":"How do I increase my campaign amount for EatOkra?","answer":"Hi Teresa, this question came in before we officially launched our campaign, but I am answering for others who might have the same question! To increase your investment, follow these steps: Open https://wefunder.com/portfolio and select EatOkra. If the funds of your investment HAVE NOT been disbursed, click \"Edit Your Investment\" and enter the new total amount you’d like to invest. If the funds of your investment HAVE been disbursed, you'll have to open a new investment at https://wefunder.co..."},{"question":"We are putting together an \"NYC Crowdfunding Summit\", specifically for NYC based WeFunder campaigns. Your founder Anthony should have just received an email from justin@arkhaus.miami. Can you please check and confirm if you would like to participate? We are finalizing the part...","answer":"Hi Sam! Our campaign was inactive when this question came through. I’d love to hear your plans for this year’s summit. I’ll keep an eye on my inbox for any updates!"},{"question":"What is your business model?","answer":"Hi Lea, thank you for writing in! We are raising to expand online ordering in Brooklyn, NY plus expand to new cities We will make a commission on each order placed for pickup or delivery."},{"question":"What are the securities being offered (class, voting rights, etc), how much of the equity is being offered and what is the pre-money valuation?","answer":"Hi Seth, we’re raising on a SAFE (Simple Agreement for Future Equity) with a $12M valuation cap. The first $500K invested in this round will receive preferred early bird terms - a SAFE with a 15% discount and a $10.2M pre-money valuation cap. I hope this answers your questions!"},{"question":"What is the 76K a month being spent on is my only questions? Is paying your current employees and marketing?","answer":"Hi Derrick, our monthly burn goes to employees 50%, app development 25%, sales \u0026amp; marketing 20%, software fees 5%."}]}}}