Hey followers! Today, we’re diving into an exciting story about Chowdeck, a clever food delivery service that’s changing the game in Africa.

Based in Lagos, Chowdeck has mastered profitability in a tough, low-margin market. In 2025, they managed to raise $9 million to expand fast, using a strategy called quick commerce. This funding was led by Novastar Ventures, with support from Y Combinator and other investors.

The company was founded in late 2021 by Femi Aluko, Olumide Ojo, and Lanre Yusuf. Now, it reaches eleven cities across Nigeria and Ghana, serving 1.5 million users with a fleet of over 20,000 riders. Orders are delivered in an average of 30 minutes, with many delivered by bicycles in crowded areas.

Unlike many rivals that left African markets, Chowdeck embraced local delivery challenges, focusing on familiar local and international cuisines. Its value of meals delivered grew six times in 2024, even before July, surpassing its total for the whole of last year.

This new investment will help Chowdeck roll out ultra-fast delivery via dark stores and logistics hubs. They aim to open 40 dark stores this year and 500 by 2026, with new stores popping up weekly. Last year, they raised a seed round of $2.5 million.

CEO Femi Aluko expressed excitement about the funding, aiming to become Africa’s top super app. The company is also acquiring Mira, a point-of-sale SaaS tool, to enhance their restaurant and logistics operations. They recently expanded to Ghana, hitting 1,000 orders daily without advertising, with plans to increase that to 5,000 soon.

With local players like Gozem and Yassir also in the mix, Chowdeck sees great opportunity in the early African market. As customer habits shift online, Aluko believes this industry will grow fast—and profitably.