Chowdeck, the Lagos-based on-demand delivery platform, has just secured a significant milestone in its ambitious journey to reshape how Africans access food, groceries, and other daily essentials. On August 11, 2025, the company announced it had raised $9 million in Series A funding, a move that signals both confidence in its business model and a bold step forward in its quick commerce strategy. The equity round was led by Novastar Ventures, with Y Combinator, AAIC Investment, Rebel Fund, GFR Fund, Kaleo, HoaQ, and others joining in—a formidable roster of investors with global reach and deep sector expertise, according to How We Made It In Africa and TechCrunch.
The fresh capital will fuel Chowdeck’s expansion into more cities across Nigeria and Ghana, with the company aiming to accelerate the delivery of food, groceries, and medicine. Chowdeck’s vision is clear. CEO and co-founder Femi Aluko stated, “We’re thrilled about this round as it brings us closer to our vision of becoming Africa’s number one super app, transforming how millions of Africans access food, groceries and essentials every day.” He added, “This funding will supercharge our growth plans, enabling us to expand into more cities, reduce delivery times, scale our grocery footprint, and attract the best talent to drive innovation and customer satisfaction.”
Founded in October 2021 by Aluko, Olumide Ojo, and Lanre Yusuf, Chowdeck has rapidly become a household name in Africa’s delivery sector. Its growth has been nothing short of remarkable. The company now serves over 1.5 million customers, relying on a fleet of more than 20,000 riders operating in 11 cities across Nigeria and Ghana. Its logistics system averages 30 minutes per delivery—a feat achieved even in notoriously congested urban environments. In fact, in denser areas, more than half of Chowdeck’s deliveries are completed by bicycle, a nod to both efficiency and sustainability, as highlighted by TechCrunch.
The African delivery market is a notoriously tough nut to crack, with slim margins and fierce competition. Major players like Jumia have exited or scaled back their operations, leaving a gap that foreign brands such as Glovo, Bolt Food, and Yango have tried to fill—often with mixed results. Chowdeck, however, has managed to stay profitable even before this latest funding round. According to Aluko, the company doesn’t enter new cities or business verticals without a plan to break even within just a couple of weeks. That careful, data-driven approach sets it apart in a space where others have burned through vast sums without reaching profitability.
Chowdeck’s recent entry into Ghana in May 2025 is a testament to its disciplined model. Within three months, the company was handling 1,000 daily orders in Ghana—without spending a dime on advertising. Aluko attributes this rapid uptake to pent-up demand for a service that delivers both local favorites and international cuisine. The company now aims to quintuple that volume to 5,000 daily orders by the end of September 2025, as reported by TechCrunch.
The new funding is earmarked for the rollout of Chowdeck’s quick commerce strategy—an ultra-fast delivery model powered by a network of dark stores and hyperlocal logistics hubs. These dark stores—essentially mini-warehouses located close to customers—enable Chowdeck to cut delivery times dramatically and extend its reach into currently underserved neighborhoods. The company plans to open 40 dark stores by the end of this year and a staggering 500 by the end of 2026, launching two to three new stores each week. This approach mirrors strategies seen in other markets, though with a distinctly local twist; Chowdeck’s focus on local favorites and operational efficiency has allowed it to avoid the pitfalls that hobbled European quick commerce startups such as Gorillas and Getir, which burned through hundreds of millions before retreating or consolidating.
The numbers tell a story of surging demand and operational excellence. In 2024, the value of meals delivered through Chowdeck’s platform grew more than sixfold compared to the previous year. By July 2025, the company had already surpassed its total for the entire previous year. This explosive growth has been powered by a combination of tech-driven logistics, local market expertise, and a relentless focus on customer satisfaction.
Chowdeck’s ambitions don’t stop at logistics. In June 2025, the company acquired Mira, a provider of modern point-of-sale (POS) systems for the African food and hospitality sector. Mira’s tools manage inventory and orders in real time, and now, integrated with Chowdeck’s platform, they will help optimize operations for restaurants and vendors. This acquisition positions Chowdeck as a vertical SaaS-plus-logistics provider—a one-stop shop for restaurants looking to streamline their operations, manage inventory, and reach a wider customer base.
The impact of Chowdeck’s model goes beyond just speed and convenience. According to Brian Waswani Odhiambo, partner at Novastar Ventures, “Chowdeck is building the future of logistics for African cities by creating a platform that benefits consumers, vendors and riders alike. With deep local insight, a sustainability-first approach and impressive execution, Chowdeck is redefining last-mile delivery on the continent.” Odhiambo’s remarks underscore the broader significance of Chowdeck’s efforts: it’s not just about delivering food or groceries, but about building a more inclusive, sustainable, and efficient urban economy.
Chowdeck’s success comes at a time when the broader African delivery market is still in its early stages. As Aluko observed, “Customer behavior is shifting online for the first time. A whole generation is growing up ordering food without ever having walked into some of the restaurants or markets on our platform.” This shift represents a profound change in how Africans interact with commerce and technology, and Chowdeck is positioning itself at the forefront of that transformation.
For its investors, the bet is on Chowdeck’s ability to pair local market expertise with world-class execution. The company’s sustainable approach, focus on profitability, and willingness to adapt to local tastes and logistics challenges have earned it the backing of some of the most respected names in venture capital. With the new funding, Chowdeck is poised to accelerate its expansion, refine its quick commerce model, and continue developing new tech-driven solutions to serve a rapidly growing customer base.
As the company scales, it faces the dual challenge of maintaining its operational discipline while innovating to stay ahead of emerging competitors. Yet, if its track record so far is any indication, Chowdeck is well positioned to meet those challenges head-on—and perhaps, in the process, redefine what’s possible for technology-driven commerce across Africa.
