At Operation HOPE, our small business coaches wear many hats to help entrepreneurs grow their businesses. They advise entrepreneurs on the technical aspects of their ventures, such as creating business plans or raising capital. They mentor founders by acting as sounding boards for new ideas and keeping them accountable for meeting agreed-upon goals. And often, coaches become entrepreneurs’ biggest champions, helping them stay motivated when obstacles arise.
Aneshai Smith, founder of GO See The City in Tampa, FL, found all these qualities in her HOPE Small Business Coach, David Daly, when she began working with him in 2020. What Aneshai appreciated most about David was his ability to “think bigger” about the potential of her business, even when she felt ambivalent about it in the beginning.
“When I first met David, I struggled with the skills and experience required to grow from a solo founder into a full-time entrepreneur with a team.” Aneshai shared, “He pushed me to grasp how to make it happen and reminded me that the opportunities available now won’t last forever,” referencing a time when women- and Black- and Brown-owned businesses were at the forefront of national consciousness.
Aneshai initially connected with Operation HOPE while working on another business, Grand Openings, which focused on connecting nearby residents with grand opening events. During the pandemic, she pivoted her business model to support local Orlando restaurants struggling with low foot traffic. With encouragement from David, she launched themed food tours to help these restaurants attract more customers.
Tours such as the “12 Days of Christmas,” “Black-Owned Restaurant” food tour, and “Woman-Owned Restaurant” food tour offered discounted coupons to Grand Openings subscribers. These campaigns successfully increased foot traffic for participating restaurants.
As David anticipated, her efforts went viral, earning Aneshai multiple news interviews. The email campaign promoting the food tours was titled “GO See The City,” a phrase that resonated deeply with her. During the pandemic, she was dedicated to spotlighting local restaurants that
remained open, adhered to social distancing measures, and urgently needed community support to stay afloat. “David encouraged me every step of the way,” she said.
What Aneshai didn’t realize at the time was that this phrase ‘GO See The City’, would later become the name of her tech company. Aneshai had created a private company solution to a major problem of our times: food waste. According to Feeding America, 92 billion pounds of food is wasted annually and 38% of all food goes unsold or uneaten.
After the success of the promotional campaigns, Aneshai was contacted by a government accelerator that had heard about her impactful work with restaurants during the pandemic. They wanted to see if she could assist the city with its food waste issues, paving the way for the next chapter in her entrepreneurial journey.
“David challenged me to think beyond a simple one-time concept and encouraged me to see the bigger picture and opportunity of what GO See The City could be. Frankly, he helped me grow into my role as a full-time entrepreneur,” Aneshai said.
Some of the key milestones David helped Aneshai focus on included developing a strategic plan, creating a go-to-market strategy, and paying herself a salary—transforming her entrepreneurial mindset in the process.
In May 2023, Aneshai launched GO See The City after winning a competition from QBE AcceliCITY. It’s one of the Top 5 GovTech accelerators in the world and this recognition was a significant milestone for her business. GO See The City became a food waste reduction company that partners with eateries—such as restaurants, stadiums, festivals, and food trucks—to address food waste in two impactful ways: redirecting surplus food to nonprofits or selling it at a discount to customers before closing time.
The company has expanded operations to three states, employs seven staff members, and has secured a prestigious spot in Techstars Tulsa. Techstars is a leading pre-seed venture capital firm that invests in a global pool of entrepreneurs and high-growth companies. It’s considered the world’s most active pre-seed investor. The accelerator provided a $120,000 investment to support GO See The City’s growth.
For Aneshai, the experience is particularly meaningful as an African-American entrepreneur. Tulsa is historically significant as the site of “Black Wall Street,” a thriving Black business community in the 1920s that was tragically destroyed during the Tulsa Race Massacre. Her work and presence in Tulsa carry an added layer of pride and purpose.
True to form, Aneshai continues to channel David’s advice and shoot for the stars by seizing and maximizing every opportunity. And when she needs inspiration or motivation, she knows just where to turn. “Anytime I call, David is always there to offer a pep talk,” she laughed.