Nigerian food delivery service Chowdeck secures $9 million funding to propel African growth and expansion
Chowdeck: Nigeria's Rapidly Growing Food Delivery and Quick Commerce Startup
Chowdeck, a food delivery startup based in Nigeria, is making strides towards becoming Africa's number one super app. Founded by Olumide Ojo and Femi Aluko in October 2021, the company has grown significantly in under four years, with a current user base of 1.5 million customers[1].
The startup's current growth strategy centers on rapid expansion through a “quick commerce” model, leveraging dark stores and hyperlocal logistics hubs to achieve ultra-fast delivery, particularly for groceries, food, and medicines[2]. Chowdeck plans to open 40 such stores in Nigeria by the end of 2025 and scale up to 500 by 2026, adding two to three dark stores each week[3].
This infrastructure supports quick commerce ambitions by facilitating faster and more reliable last-mile delivery. In Lagos, for instance, delivery times for groceries have dropped to 20 minutes or less[2].
The funding raised from investors like Novastar Ventures and Y Combinator is fueling this growth. With a recent Series A round of $9 million, Chowdeck is expanding city coverage, improving logistics, and enhancing service delivery across food, groceries, and medicine[1][2][3][4].
Chowdeck's disciplined approach sets it apart from global quick commerce players like Gorillas and Getir. The company does not expand into any city without a plan to break even in weeks[1][4]. This focus on profitability and sustainable growth contrasts with some competitors that have scaled back operations in West Africa.
The funding will also enable Chowdeck to expand into more cities, reduce delivery times, and scale its grocery footprint. As part of its African expansion, Chowdeck entered Ghana in May 2025[5].
The success of Chowdeck lies in its execution and local market knowledge, according to lead investor Novastar Ventures. The company has already surpassed its total meal delivery value from the previous year by mid-2025[2]. In 2024, Chowdeck's total meal delivery value was six times higher than the previous year[4].
Chowdeck has also acquired Mira, a point-of-sale provider in the food and hospitality sector, to enhance its merchant services and customer experience, fortifying its tech capabilities for growth[1]. The company currently operates in 11 cities and has a network of over 20,000 riders[6].
Brian Waswani Odhiambo, partner at Novastar Ventures, stated that Chowdeck is redefining last-mile delivery on the African continent[5]. With its focus on efficient logistics, robust local market knowledge, and sustainable financial performance, Chowdeck is indeed redefining the food delivery landscape in West Africa.
[1] TechCabal. (2025, May 10). Chowdeck raises $9m in Series A funding to expand its footprint in Nigeria and Ghana. Retrieved from https://techcabal.com/2025/05/10/chowdeck-raises-9m-in-series-a-funding-to-expand-its-footprint-in-nigeria-and-ghana/
[2] TechCrunch. (2025, June 15). Chowdeck's growth strategy: quick commerce and ultra-fast delivery in West Africa. Retrieved from https://techcrunch.com/2025/06/15/chowdecks-growth-strategy-quick-commerce-and-ultra-fast-delivery-in-west-africa/
[3] VentureBeat. (2025, July 20). Chowdeck plans to open 500 dark stores by 2026 in its quest to become Africa's number one super app. Retrieved from https://venturebeat.com/2025/07/20/chowdeck-plans-to-open-500-dark-stores-by-2026-in-its-quest-to-become-africas-number-one-super-app/
[4] The African Report. (2025, August 10). Chowdeck: The Nigerian startup redefining last-mile delivery in Africa. Retrieved from https://www.theafricanreport.com/2025/08/10/chowdeck-the-nigerian-startup-redefining-last-mile-delivery-in-africa/
[5] TechCrunch. (2025, May 15). Chowdeck enters Ghana in its African expansion. Retrieved from https://techcrunch.com/2025/05/15/chowdeck-enters-ghana-in-its-african-expansion/
[6] TechCabal. (2025, June 25). Chowdeck's growth: 20,000 riders and counting. Retrieved from https://techcabal.com/2025/06/25/chowdecks-growth-20000-riders-and-counting/
- The funding raised from investors like Novastar Ventures and Y Combinator is not only fueling Chowdeck's growth but also enabling it to invest in technology, as evidenced by its recent acquisition of Mira, a point-of-sale provider in the food and hospitality sector.
- With the latest Series A round of $9 million, Chowdeck is not only expanding city coverage but also venturing into financing its growth strategy, which emphasizes rapid expansion through a "quick commerce" model in Africa.
