Today we’d like to introduce you to Darcell Edwards.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Darcell. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
I am 24 years old. I was born in Oakland, California as a young child, I moved from Northern California to Southern California where I was raised. I moved around a lot growing up and living all over from the Inland Empire, South-Central and the San Fernando Valley. I graduated from Crespi Carmelite high school in 2013. Then I went on to attend Howard University in Washington, DC. I graduated from Howard in 2017 with a degree in business management. In 2016, I was initiated into Omega Psi Phi Fraternity Incorporated Alpha chapter. After I graduated from Howard, I moved back to Los Angeles where I started working in Corporate America, after working in Corporate for about Eight months and I absolutely hated it. So I decided to start my own company, I wanted to create a company that will provide opportunities for Black millennials, so I came up with “Blink Opportunities” Blink stands for Black people linking.
After some months, we decided to change the name to Blink Social seeing that we would have a lot of social events and growing through social media. I serve as the founder and CEO of Blink Social. In the beginning, we started by creating video series highlight Black millennial experiences in Los Angeles. We were able to come up with four video series. The BS Ride, Are You Invited, Sands vs. Food, and On the Go. Along with our video series, we were able to develop a variety of in person and virtual events. Are You Invited to the Cookout, The Perfect Mix, BLINKEDin, and Through Our Lens. In addition to our video series and virtual events, we are furthering our efforts to provide opportunities for these individuals by creating an online marketplace for black creatives and businesses to buy and sell freelance services. We have received developmental assistance from Bixel Exchange LA, Plug In South LA, LACI founders business Accelerator, and Pacific Coast Regional Small Business developmental center.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
Starting Blink Social has definitely not been a smooth road. I have heard team members quit. It has been very expensive buying equipment, marketing, and other business expenses. It’s also a challenge because family/friend necessarily didn’t support me 100%. But I take a lot of inspiration from Nipsey Hussle, Drake, Daymond John, Master P and many other Black entrepreneurs. They give me the motivation to believe in myself because on this road of entrepreneurship you have to really dig deep and believe in yourself when nobody else really will believe in you. The money doesn’t necessarily come in way you want to so its important to trust your vision and trust the process. It is not coming in consistently; it takes a lot of hard work dedication and patience.
Please tell us about Blink Social.
Blink Social is a social networking company highlighting minorities perspectives through video series & an online marketplace that allows freelancers sell their services to businesses and individuals. We focus on building a community for minorities to create, collaborate, and gain exposure through all mediums.
At Blink Social, we believe that, with the right insight, knowledge and resources, everyone can do anything they set their mind too. Through our various forms of content, events, and our online marketplace, we plan to provide people with what they need to spark change in the world.
If you had to go back in time and start over, would you have done anything differently?
I would trust my gut more, it’s important to take risks and not wait or worry. I’m a firm believer that everything happens for a reason. I feel that with the mistakes that I’ve made helped play a part in the success that I’ve had. I wouldn’t be where I am today without those mistakes.
Contact Info:
- Website: theblinksocial.com
- Email: contact@theblinksocial.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/blinksocial/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/THEBLINKSOCIAL
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/theblinksocial
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