Seeing Opportunities Early and Being an Entrepreneur Before a Creative with Anthony Frasier

PodcastingRelationship BuildingEntrepreneurship

Feb 10

Listen to the episode on Spotify / Apple Podcasts / Google Podcasts

Listen to the episode on Spotify / Apple Podcasts / Google Podcasts

African American buying power in the United States well exceeds $1.2 trillion annually, as reported by Nielson in 2018. A demographic often overlooked by businesses and brands, Anthony’s company, ABF Creative is storytelling for this audience and has seen incredible growth doing so. Not only that, Anthony expresses that the gap his company fills in the marketplace, creating multicultural content, is what fuels him. He also believes there remains an immense opportunity in this space to create meaningful content.

Anthony Frasier (@anthonyfraiser) is the CEO and founder of ABF Creative (www.abfc.co) – a data-driven podcasting production company that leverages machine learning technology to reach very specific audiences. What really drew me in about ABF Creative is that this a team of storytellers that are focused on creating multicultural content, original narrative and live podcasts.

Anthony has produced a wide-range of podcasts, including Through Her Eyes which is an intimate podcast that shares the stories of mothers who have lost their sons to gun violence. And African Folktales, which is a fun children’s podcast. He’s worked with the likes of Ben and Jerry’s, Audible, Essence Magazine, BET and more. Anthony started a couple companies in the tech and gaming space before ABF Creative, which we will hear more about. And last year, in 2021, Anthony’s company won a Webby Award.

Anthony is also the author of Don’t Dumb Down Your Greatness, a young entrepreneurs guide to thinking and being great. Anthony is a global speaker on topics related to technology, media and entrepreneurship.

Recently ABF Creative, launched Charm Words – a new, daily positive affirmations podcast for kids.

This episode is for you if:

You’re interested in starting your own business
You have big dreams and few resources (right now)
You want to build powerful relationships and a strong network
You want to learn how to make the most of where you are

Looking for something specific?

[4:00] Majoring in film and storytelling… early signs of Anthony’s interest of the work he does today
[4:30] Starting a popular gaming website and what it was like to enter the technology space
[6:00] Joining Newark Venture Partners as an Entrepreneur in Residence (EIR)
[8:30] Anthony is a storyteller – sticking to the theme of being a storyteller
[10:55] Advice for young entrepreneurs in 2022 around mental health
[11:30] Meeting with an executive coach and a therapist
[14:39] The obstacle is the way
[15:00] There is a ton of work that goes behind the wins that you see on social media
[17:43] Building relationships is the name of the game
[20:10] The evolution of ABF Creative and where it started (far from where they are today)
[22:00] How Anthony’s flipped producing podcasts for other companies into building a podcast network company (ABF Creative)
[25:00] How important God and Anthony’s faith is on his journey
[27:00] Why “positive transformation” is the focus of the projects that Anthony produces
[31:23] Podcasting is storytelling and we have yet to see Black stories shared in this medium at scale / in abundance
[31:30] Issa Rae recently signed a podcast deal with Audible
[32:36] Integrating predictive analysis into ABF’s podcasting process and partnering with firm, Veritonic
[38:00] Moments where Anthony wanted to quit
[41:25] “Just add water” - what this means and how you can apply this thinking lens to enrich your life