Anthony Edwards Jr

Anthony Edwards Jr., fresh out of high school, joined the U.S. Army as an Avionics Systems Repairer, where he quickly showcased his leadership skills, eventually overseeing a maintenance shop and leading a team of up to 25 soldiers. His commitment was further demonstrated during his deployment in Operation Iraqi Freedom 06/07. After receiving an honorable discharge, Anthony pursued a BS in Computer Science at Fordham University, while also serving in the Air Force Reserves. He transitioned into the tech industry, honing his coding skills through Dev Bootcamp, which led to a seven-year tenure as a full-stack developer at BuildingBlok.

Alongside his professional endeavors, Anthony founded EatOkra, a platform dedicated to supporting Black-owned restaurants. Inspired by his family’s entrepreneurial background and the challenges they faced, he established EatOkra to uplift countless other Black entrepreneurs. Under his leadership, EatOkra has achieved significant milestones, including winning the 2024 BTA Awards “App of the Year,” and receiving the 2023 Google for Startups Black Founders Fund. Additionally, EatOkra was recognized as a 2022 Doritos Solid Black Recipient and a member of the 2022 Hennessy Never Stop Never Settle Society. It was also highlighted among Digital Vanguards in the 2022 #CCNYCCreativeClass and received the 2021 Apple App Store Developer Award for Connection, contributing to its impressive reach of 600,000 app downloads and serving over 15,000 Black-owned businesses. Anthony’s journey from soldier to tech expert to entrepreneur exemplifies his resilience, innovative spirit, and dedication to empowering the community, making a tangible impact in the food-tech industry through EatOkra.