Two apps, EatOkra and Black Foodie Finder, are revolutionizing the way people discover Black-owned restaurants. EatOkra, founded by Anthony Edwards Jr. and his wife Janique, boasts 20,000 monthly active users and generated about $700,000 in revenue in 2024. The app lists 20,000 Black-owned businesses across the U.S., offering features like user reviews, online ordering, and a marketplace for Black-owned food products. It provides two membership tiers: a free Lite option and a paid Plus subscription at $9.99 a month, which includes additional features and business courses. EatOkra collaborates with companies like ezCater and Pepsi Dig In to promote Black-owned businesses and has partnerships with Apple Maps for local guides.
Black Foodie Finder, started by Brax Rich, has 1.3 million Instagram followers and an app with 75,000 active users and 15,000 restaurant listings. It focuses on social media to highlight Black food creators and businesses, offering profiles of chefs and recipes. Its primary revenue source is the BFF Cookout, a food festival in Memphis, Tennessee, which attracted 3,000 attendees in its first year. The company plans to expand this event and explore media opportunities like producing short shows to further support Black food businesses.
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