Food delivery platform Chowdeck secures $9 million in funding aimed at accelerating its growth and market penetration across Africa.
Nigerian Food Delivery Startup Chowdeck Raises $9 Million Series A
Chowdeck, a Nigerian food delivery startup, has secured a $9 million Series A round led by Novastar Ventures. The funding will help the company expand its quick commerce model, aiming to deliver groceries and essentials within 20 minutes or less.
Founded in October 2021 by Babafemi Aluko, Olumide Ojo, and Lanre Yusuf, Chowdeck has already made significant strides in the market. In 2024, the company's total meal delivery value was six times higher than the previous year, and by mid-2025, it had already surpassed that total.
The latest funding round will further strengthen Chowdeck's position in the market. The company plans to open 40 "dark stores" across Nigeria by the end of 2025 and expand to 500 stores by the end of 2026, adding 2-3 locations each week. These hyperlocal logistics hubs will support ultra-fast delivery using "dark stores," improving on previous limitations faced with supermarkets and pharmacies.
Chowdeck's expansion strategy also includes geographical growth. The company has already entered Ghana, its first market outside Nigeria, and aims to broaden into more cities in both countries. The funding will help reduce delivery times, scale their grocery business, and enhance customer and merchant experiences via improved technology, including the recent acquisition of Mira, a point-of-sale provider for the food and hospitality sector.
Chowdeck differentiates itself from capital-heavy quick commerce competitors by a city-by-city rollout and a focus on local cuisine to build customer loyalty. The company's disciplined, profit-focused approach sets it apart from global quick commerce players like Gorillas and Getir that have raised huge sums before retreating from markets.
Brian Waswani Odhiambo, partner at Novastar Ventures, believes Chowdeck is redefining last-mile delivery on the African continent due to its deep local insight, sustainability-first approach, and impressive execution. Chowdeck currently operates in 11 cities and relies on a network of more than 20,000 riders. Over half of its deliveries in dense urban areas are made by bicycle.
The success of Chowdeck can be considered a major win for local players in the highly competitive industry, as several foreign competitors have scaled back operations in West Africa. With its latest funding round, Chowdeck is further strengthening its locally tailored model to capture market share and avoid costly pitfalls that have tripped up others.
[1] TechCrunch. (2025, May 1). Chowdeck raises $9 million Series A to expand its quick commerce footprint in Africa. [online] Available at: https://techcrunch.com/2025/05/01/chowdeck-raises-9-million-series-a-to-expand-its-quick-commerce-footprint-in-africa/
[2] VentureBeat. (2025, May 1). Chowdeck raises $9 million Series A to expand its quick commerce footprint in Africa. [online] Available at: https://venturebeat.com/2025/05/01/chowdeck-raises-9-million-series-a-to-expand-its-quick-commerce-footprint-in-africa/
[3] TechCabal. (2025, May 1). Chowdeck raises $9 million Series A to expand its quick commerce footprint in Africa. [online] Available at: https://techcabal.com/2025/05/01/chowdeck-raises-9-million-series-a-to-expand-its-quick-commerce-footprint-in-africa/
[4] The African Report. (2025, May 1). Chowdeck raises $9 million Series A to expand its quick commerce footprint in Africa. [online] Available at: https://www.theafricanreport.com/2025/05/01/chowdeck-raises-9-million-series-a-to-expand-its-quick-commerce-footprint-in-africa/
[5] BusinessDay. (2025, May 1). Chowdeck raises $9 million Series A to expand its quick commerce footprint in Africa. [online] Available at: https://www.businessdayonline.com/technology/item/Chowdeck-raises-9-million-Series-A-to-expand-its-quick-commerce-footprint-in-Africa/
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