Nigerian food delivery startup Chowdeck has raised $9 million in Series A funding to accelerate its expansion across Nigeria and Ghana while launching a quick commerce strategy aimed at ultra-fast delivery of food, groceries, and essentials.
The equity round was led by Novastar Ventures, with participation from Y Combinator, AAIC Investment, Rebel Fund, GFR Fund, Kaleo, HoaQ, and other investors.
Funding to Fuel Rapid Expansion and Quick Commerce
Founded in 2021 by Femi Aluko, Olumide Ojo, and Lanre Yusuf, Chowdeck currently operates in 11 cities across Nigeria and Ghana, serving 1.5 million customers with a fleet of over 20,000 riders. The company has maintained profitability since its inception, with an average delivery time of 30 minutes and more than 50% of orders in dense areas delivered by bicycle.
CEO and co-founder Femi Aluko said the funding would help Chowdeck expand into more cities, reduce delivery times, scale grocery services, and attract top talent.
“We’re thrilled about this round as it brings us closer to our vision of becoming Africa’s number one super app. This funding will supercharge our growth plans,” Aluko stated.
Quick Commerce and Dark Store Rollout
The fresh capital will support the rollout of Chowdeck’s quick commerce model, built on dark stores and hyperlocal logistics hubs.
- 40 dark stores planned by the end of 2025
- 500 dark stores targeted by the end of 2026
- Adding 2–3 new stores weekly
This model mirrors the company’s rapid breakeven success in Ghana, where it launched in May 2025 and hit 1,000 daily orders within three months—all without paid advertising.
Lead investor Novastar Ventures praised Chowdeck for “building the future of logistics for African cities” with a sustainability-first approach and disciplined execution.
Growth Trajectory and Market Positioning
Chowdeck’s growth has been impressive:
- 2024 meal value was over 6× higher than in 2023
- The 2024 total was surpassed before mid-2025
- Previously raised $2.5 million in seed funding in 2024
Beyond delivery, Chowdeck is also diversifying into software. In June 2025, it acquired Mira, a point-of-sale platform for African food and hospitality businesses, strengthening its position as both a logistics leader and a vertical SaaS provider for restaurants.
Following the exit of Jumia Food, Chowdeck has stepped into a space dominated by foreign players such as Glovo, Bolt Food, and Yango—many of which have since scaled back. It now competes with African “super app” contenders such as Gozem, Yassir, and MNT-Halan.
Chowdeck’s Vision for Africa’s Super App Future
With a mission to become Africa’s number one super app for food and essentials, Chowdeck is banking on the rising trend of first-time online orders among African consumers. The company’s combination of deep local market knowledge, strong operational discipline, and sustainable logistics gives it a competitive edge in the rapidly evolving African quick commerce market.
