Anthony Edwards Jr. had been searching for a coding project to work on to develop his skills, while on the hunt for a Black-owned restaurant to support after he moved to Brooklyn. His girlfriend at the time — now wife — Janique suggested that he combine those two pursuits. So, right on the floor of Janique's apartment, the concept for the digital restaurant directory was born.
"There's a lot of folks, a lot of people making apps that make finding restaurants easy," Anthony explained. "We really wanted that niche of finding Black-owned restaurants and food trucks and caterers, chefs."
The two co-founders started the company in 2016 as a side project, but it quickly grew. It was recognized as one of the 15 Apple App Store Award winners for 2021. In the last 18 months, over 300,000 people have downloaded the app, and it's helped more than 400,000 people dine at 12,000 Black-owned establishments and counting.
More than 134,500 companies in America are owned by African-Americans, which is only a little greater than 2 percent of all U.S.-based companies according to the Census Bureau. But the Kauffman Indicators of Entrepreneurship report revealed it's seeing the highest growth rate of Black entrepreneurship in 25 years. About 380 out of every 100,000 Black Americans started a business during the pandemic.
But Black-owned businesses face many additional challenges, including a lack of relationships with banks as noted by McKinsey. Recovery from COVID-19 setbacks can also be difficult. These businesses are more likely to be in COVID-19 hotspots, not to mention fewer than 20 percent of eligible businesses in states with the highest number of Black-owned firms received PPP Loan program money, per the Federal Reserve Bank of New York.
"The pandemic has really wreaked havoc on the entire food industry, specifically Black-owned restaurants because of the systemic barriers that they face," Janique said. "We wanted to create a brand that was really kind of rallying behind them, supporting them."
As a couple, Anthony and Janique enjoy patronizing other companies also owned by other couples because they know the unique struggles of being both life and business partners. When Janique found Caribbean restaurant Kokomo on Instagram, she knew they had to try it out.
"Anytime we come across that dynamic of husband and wife or partners in business, we're always interested because we know what that's like and navigating that," she said.
Kokomo is located in the predominantly white neighborhood of Williamsburg, Brooklyn, and features a mix of island food ranging from Afro-Caribbean to Latin Caribbean. Owners Kevol and Ria Graham knew they wanted the outpost to reflect their love for each other, and it's evident from the stylish decor to the carefully curated art. Kevol said although he was apprehensive about starting a restaurant in the middle of the pandemic and building it during the heart of the Black Lives Matter movement, he was touched by the outpouring of neighborhood support.
"We filled the void: A different type of food, a different type of culture, a different type of vibe," Kevol said.
He feels a responsibility to succeed.
"You represent a lot of people, and a lot of people are looking up to you from the Black community," Kevol said. "You have to strive to be better than the best and better what you uphold yourself to be. You have to go higher than that."
And by supporting each other, it looks like both companies are on the path to success. Kokomo has plans for further expansion in other cities. And, EatOkra is gearing up for its first round of funding. In the future, the app hopes to add delivery and ordering services, as well as mentorship and access to grants for Black-owned restaurants.
"For the next generation, I think it's important that they see us, that we're out and about, and that they're learning from us," Anthony said. "You don't have to come from a specific background to get into tech or just to become a CEO or have your own business."
