Chowdeck, a Lagos-based on-demand delivery startup, has secured $9 million in a Series A equity round led by Novastar Ventures, with participation from Y Combinator, AAIC Investment, Rebel Fund, GFR Fund, Kaleo, HoaQ, and others. The funding is earmarked to support its new quick commerce strategy, involving rapid delivery of food, groceries, and essentials across Nigeria and Ghana.
Founded in October 2021 by Femi Aluko, Olumide Ojo, and Lanre Yusuf, Chowdeck has achieved profitability in a tough market. It currently serves 1.5 million customers through a network of over 20,000 riders in 11 cities across both countries. In 2024, Chowdeck's delivery volumes surged more than sixfold compared to the previous year—and its 2025 deliveries have already exceeded all of 2024’s totals by July.
A key driver for its expansion plan is the deployment of dark stores—mini fulfillment hubs designed for ultra-fast delivery. Chowdeck aims to open 40 new dark stores by the end of 2025, ramping up to 500 by 2026. The startup also recently acquired Mira, a point-of-sale software provider, to strengthen its backend logistics and inventory management capabilities.
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