[Test] Then and Now with EatOkra

8 year review of the eatokra founders ads

By Anthony Edwards Jr

Professional Summary

Anthony Edwards Jr

[email protected]

Fresh out of high school, I joined the Army as a an Avionics systems repairer. My early knack for leadership and management saw me overseeing the maintenance shop and directing a team of up to 25 soldiers. This pivotal experience ingrained in me discipline, perseverance, and. I also had the honor to serve in Operation Iraqi Freedom 06/07, further shaping my resilience to service.

Upon receiving an honorable discharge, I embarked on a new journey at Fordham University, where I pursued and obtained a BS in Computer Science. My dedication to service didn't stop at the army; I joined the Air Force reserves, serving for another three years while also stepping into the tech industry. here we goad ad ada

Photo by Anthony Edwards Jr. taking a scroll down the park

Vegan Jalapeño Hotcakes

An original from Mrs. Murry’s Naturals

Prep: 20 min | Cook: 31 min | Total: 51 min

Servings: 5

Difficulty: Medium

Dietary: Vegan, Gluten Free

Ingredients

• 1 Cup 1 cup yellow cornmeal
• 1/2 Cup unbleached flour (or gluten-free all-purpose blend)

Instructions

1. Prep Flax Egg: In a small bowl, combine flaxseed meal and water. Set aside for 5–10 minutes until thickened.

2. Mix Wet Ingredients: In another bowl, mix plant milk and apple cider vinegar. Let sit for a couple minutes to curdle (makes vegan buttermilk).

It was during a summer intensive at Dev Bootcamp that I refined my coding skills and gained an appetite for the dynamic tech world. This newfound passion and knowledge paved the way for my role as a full-stack developer at BuildingBlok. For seven transformative years, I gained substantial experience and expertise in the tech space.

Simultaneously, I met my wife at BuildingBlok, marking a beautiful personal milestone. Moving in together sparked a transformative conversation. She suggested we build an app to locate black-owned restaurants, an idea that profoundly resonated with me.

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Entrepreneurship was deeply embedded in my family history. My father had a BBQ restaurant, my wife's sister owned a saloon, and my mother had an event and catering space. Regrettably, all these ventures struggled and eventually folded due to a lack of support, capital, and mentorship.

Inspired to create a change, I embarked on a mission to not only support my family but also uplift countless other Black entrepreneurs facing similar struggles. Thus, EatOkra was born. Under my leadership, EatOkra has achieved significant milestones, including the 2024 BTA Awards "App of the Year", 2023 Google for Startups Black Founders Fund, 2022 Hennessy Never Stop Never Settle Society, 2022 Doritos Solid Black Recognition, and the 2021 Apple App Store Developer Award for Connection. Additionally, EatOkra has facilitated partnerships with industry giants such as ezCater, Pepsi Dig In, Apple Maps, and Uber Eats, which alone enabled the provision of $100,000 in grants to Black-owned restaurants. This journey, from soldier to tech whiz, to an entrepreneur championing Black-owned businesses, is a testament to resilience, innovation, and the transformative power of a supportive community. Today, through EatOkra, I am privileged to make a tangible difference in the food-tech industry, supporting and amplifying Black-owned food experiences, one restaurant at a time.

Anthony Edwards Jr

• photographer Rhea Kay

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