Katika
Katika is a mobile-first directory and marketplace connecting consumers to Black-owned businesses through AI-powered search, neighborhood discovery, and integrated SMB services including AI website building and social media management, primarily serving Philadelphia-area Black business owners and conscious consumers.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2018
- HeadquartersPhiladelphia, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingDigital Commerce or Content
What Katika does
Katika is a mobile-first directory and marketplace platform that connects consumers to locally-owned Black businesses through AI-powered search, neighborhood-based discovery, and integrated business services. The platform operates a two-sided ecosystem: Katika for Shoppers (consumer-facing iOS/Android apps and web portal) enables discovery via AI-powered search, category browsing, neighborhood feeds (The Feed/The Block), reviews, and bookmarks, while Katika for Business provides SMB owners with profile management, analytics, messaging, and content creation tools. Verification of business ownership (50%+ ownership by person of African descent) is a stated requirement for listing. The company is headquartered at 1913 W Lehigh Ave in Philadelphia, PA, and was founded by Jason M. Coles, a Howard University graduate, operating as Katika, LLC. Headcount is reported at 1-10 employees.
The platform's technology stack centers on a mobile-first web application with AI-powered search matching user queries against business profiles and categories, and an AI-driven website builder (Katika Website Dreamer) that uses generative AI to produce website copy and design from user-provided business inputs. Revenue is generated primarily through subscription tiers across three product lines: (1) directory listing subscriptions with content creation services ranging from $75-$250/month or $900-$3,000/year, (2) Website Dreamer at $9.99-$19.99/month, and (3) a managed social media add-on at $25/month. A freemium tier anchors the funnel. Go-to-market is self-serve PLG via mobile app stores and the web platform, supplemented by community-led growth through a Discord network, partner events (e.g., Curbside Restaurant Week with the Department of Commerce), and earned media in outlets such as NBC10, Philly Magazine, The Grio, and The Philadelphia Tribune. The current geographic footprint is concentrated in Philadelphia, PA, with the platform technically available to US businesses more broadly.
The customer base consists of two primary personas: Black-owned for-profit SMBs seeking digital presence and access to conscious consumers, and conscious consumers seeking a verified directory of Black-owned businesses. Supporting personas include non-profits, government agencies, and ancillary segments. The product surface extends beyond the directory into adjacent SMB services — AI website building, managed social media, and free business education via Katika Business School — positioning the company as a multi-product SMB services platform rather than a pure listing site. No institutional funding rounds, M&A activity, or revenue figures are disclosed in the source material.
Katika firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Katika
- Legal name
- Katika, LLC
- Website
- https://katika.us
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2018
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Katika is a mobile-first directory and marketplace connecting consumers to Black-owned businesses through AI-powered search, neighborhood discovery, and integrated SMB services including AI website building and social media management, primarily serving Philadelphia-area Black business owners and conscious consumers.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Katika industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Business Directory Marketplace
- NAICS
- Web Search Portals and All Other Information Services (519290), Software Publishers (5132), Graphic Design Services (541430)
- SIC
- Services-Computer Programming, Data Processing, Etc. (7370), Services-Advertising (7310), Services-Advertising Agencies (7311)
- akta.pro primary industry
- POI, Local Listings & Business Directory Platforms (BPAMANAD)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Local SEO (Maps, Citations, Reviews) (BPAFAJAD)
Keywords
Where Katika is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Philadelphia
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Katika business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Digital Commerce or Content
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Operations
Revenue model
- Subscription Plans - Business Directory: Monthly and annual subscription tiers for business profiles on the directory platform. Free tier available with basic features; paid tiers ($75-$250/month) include content creation services, analytics, and business coaching. Annual plans at $900-$3000/year offer discounts and additional benefits.
- Website Dreamer Subscriptions: Monthly subscription website building service at $9.99-$19.99/month for AI-powered website creation, hosting, and e-commerce capabilities
- Social Media Management Add-on: $25/month add-on service where Katika team manages social media accounts for businesses lacking time or expertise
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Freemium | Monthly | Free Account - Personal business |
| Subscription | Monthly | Basic Plan - Content Creator |
| Subscription | Monthly | Standard Plan - Content Creator & Manager |
| Subscription | Monthly | Premium Plan |
| Subscription | Annual | Yearly Basic Plan |
| Subscription | Annual | Yearly Standard Plan |
| Subscription | Annual | Yearly Premium Plan |
| Subscription | Monthly | Website Dreamer Basic |
| Subscription | Monthly | Website Dreamer Premium |
| Subscription | Monthly | Website Dreamer E-Commerce |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels7 records
Katika product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Katika operates a mobile directory and marketplace platform that connects consumers to Black-owned local businesses through AI-powered search, neighborhood-based discovery, and a verified ownership standard. The platform also provides businesses with supplementary paid services including an AI-powered no-code website builder (Website Dreamer) and managed social media marketing. It is delivered via iOS and Android consumer apps and a web portal at katika.us.
Product overview
Katika is a platform ecosystem connecting Black business owners with conscious consumers through multiple integrated products. The core offering combines a Black business discovery platform with a mobile app (Katika for Shoppers) and a business management suite (Katika for Business). Supporting products include Website Dreamer (AI-powered website builder at $9.99-$19.99/month), Content Creator social media management ($75-$250/month), and Katika Business School (free educational videos). The company also operates Katika Labs for experimental projects like Katika Music. Businesses can create profiles, post to neighborhood feeds (The Feed/The Block), build websites, and access social media management tools—all designed to support Black-owned businesses in building digital presence and connecting with local customers.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Katika Labs: Creative web projects showcasing ideas for the culture, including Katika Music project.
- Katika Website Dreamer
- Katika for Business
- Katika for Shoppers
- Katika Business School
Products and services
- Katika for Business
- Katika for Shoppers (Mobile App)
- Website Dreamer
- Katika Content Creator (Social Media Management)
- Website Building Service
Companies that use Katika
Customer profileSegments4 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Katika technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration1 record
AI capability5 records
Feature3 records
Katika partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Four partnerships are on record, tiered core.
- Department of CommercecorePromotes the Katika app during annual events such as Curbside Restaurant Week, providing marketing exposure and event participation opportunities.
- RecPhillycoreCreates a retail pipeline for black businesses on Katika's platform to sell products in their physical stores, bridging online directory with offline retail distribution.
- Black Doctors AssociationcoreSupports their directory of black doctors by connecting their private practices to Katika's marketing tools and resources, expanding healthcare provider visibility.
- Universal Muslim Business AssociationcoreFacilitates educational programming opportunities within their network of black businesses, providing business education resources.
Scale indicators1 record
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Katika competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- GoDaddy: Dominant SMB website builder and domain registrar. Direct competitor to Katika's Website Dreamer product for SMBs evaluating low-cost site creation.
- Nextdoor: Hyperlocal neighborhood social network with local business recommendations. Overlaps with Katika's neighborhood-based discovery feed and local SMB visibility use case.
- Yelp: General-purpose local business directory and discovery platform with massive SEO authority. Competes with Katika for consumer discovery intent, though Yelp is not identity-segmented.
- Google Business Profile: Google's free local business listing and discovery surface, integrated with Maps and Search. The default competitor for SMB visibility and the primary free alternative to a paid directory listing.
- Squarespace: Premium website builder targeting SMBs and creators with templates, e-commerce, and SEO. Competes head-to-head with Website Dreamer's value proposition on design-led self-serve site creation.
- Shopify: Leading e-commerce platform for SMBs with built-in POS and CRM. Overlaps with Website Dreamer's e-commerce tier and competes for the same Black-owned SMB merchant budget.
Emerging players
- Alignable: Small business networking and discovery platform with a referral and community layer. Comparable to Katika in serving SMBs seeking local visibility and peer connection.
Direct peers
- Official Black Wall Street: National directory and marketplace for Black-owned businesses across food, retail, and services. Most directly comparable to Katika in mission, target audience, and directory-led model.
- EatOkra: Mobile-first directory for Black-owned restaurants and food businesses with neighborhood discovery. Closely aligned with Katika on target user (conscious consumers) and mobile discovery UX.
- WeConnect: Directory and networking platform for minority-, women-, and veteran-owned businesses. Comparable in serving under-represented SMB communities with a directory + business resource layer.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Katika social profiles
Digital presenceKatika financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Katika leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Katika funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Katika M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Katika
What does Katika do?
Katika operates a mobile directory and marketplace platform that connects consumers to Black-owned local businesses through AI-powered search, neighborhood-based discovery, and a verified ownership standard. The platform also provides businesses with supplementary paid services including an AI-powered no-code website builder (Website Dreamer) and managed social media marketing. It is delivered via iOS and Android consumer apps and a web portal at katika.us.
Is Katika a public or private company?
Katika is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Katika founded?
Katika was founded in 2018. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Katika based?
Katika is headquartered in Philadelphia, United States, in the North America region.
How does Katika make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Subscription Plans - Business Directory is the primary driver. The others are website Dreamer Subscriptions and social Media Management Add-on.
Who are Katika's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are GoDaddy, Nextdoor, Yelp, Google Business Profile, Squarespace and Shopify. Alignable is listed as an emerging player. Direct peers are Official Black Wall Street, EatOkra and WeConnect.
Does Katika have an API?
No public API is recorded for Katika.
What industry is Katika in?
Katika's product category is Business Directory Marketplace. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAMANAD, POI, Local Listings & Business Directory Platforms, with a secondary code of BPAFAJAD, Local SEO (Maps, Citations, Reviews). Its NAICS code is 519290 and its SIC code is 7370.