Lagos-based Chowdeck has raised $9 million in Series A funding to expand its food delivery operations in Nigeria and Ghana and launch an ambitious quick commerce service, betting that a hyperlocal logistics model can succeed in a market where global rivals have struggled.
The round was led by Novastar Ventures with participation from Y Combinator, AAIC Investment, Rebel Fund, GFR Fund, Kaleo, HoaQ and others. Investors are backing the company’s bid to evolve into a “super app” for food, groceries and essentials while maintaining profitability, a rare feat in Africa’s delivery sector.
“We’re thrilled about this round as it brings us closer to our vision of becoming Africa’s number one super app,” CEO and co-founder Femi Aluko said. “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 2021, Chowdeck operates in 11 cities, serves 1.5 million customers and works with over 20,000 riders. It has built its brand on delivering local meals, an operationally harder segment than fast food, and now averages 30-minute deliveries, with more than half in dense areas completed by bicycle.
While Jumia and other delivery players have scaled back in Africa, Chowdeck has grown rapidly, with the value of meals delivered in 2024 rising more than sixfold from the prior year. The company surpassed its 2024 total before July this year.
The fresh capital will fund a network of dark stores and micro-fulfilment hubs to support deliveries in under 20 minutes. Chowdeck plans to open 40 such sites by year-end and 500 by 2026, adding two to three stores weekly. It previously raised $2.5 million in seed funding last year.
