By Umunna Nnaemeka
Lagos-based food delivery startup Chowdeck has raised $9 million in Series A funding to expand into new cities in Nigeria and Ghana and roll out a quick commerce strategy. it disclosed this through a press release made by the company.
Founded in October 2021 by Aluko, Olumide Ojo, and Lanre Yusuf, Chowdeck has remained profitable in a difficult market. It currently operates in 11 cities, serving 1.5 million customers with over 20,000 riders. The platform averages 30 minutes per delivery.
The funding was led by Novastar Ventures, with support from Y Combinator, AAIC Investment, Rebel Fund, GFR Fund, Kaleo, HoaQ, and others. Chief Executive Officer and co-founder Femi Aluko said the investment would be used to “reduce delivery times, build more stores , and employ the best talent to drive innovation and customer satisfaction.” The new capital will fund the opening of 40 dark stores by the end of 2025 and 500 by 2026, with two to three stores set to launch weekly. These facilities, supported by hyperlocal logistics hubs, will help its quick commerce ambitions, enabling ultra-fast delivery of food, groceries, and essentials, In June 2025, Chowdeck acquired Mira, a point-of-sale software provider for African food and hospitality businesses. This move positions the startup as a combined logistics and SaaS provider, with real-time inventory and order management tools to optimise restaurant operation. Unlike some global competitors that have scaled it operations in Africa, Chowdeck has focused on delivering local meals , helping it build strong customer loyalty. In 2024, the value of meals delivered grew more than six times year-on-year, and by mid-2025 the company had already surpassed its 2024 total .
Chowdeck’s Ghana launch in May 2025 quickly reached 1,000 daily orders without advertising, and the company plans to grow that to 5,000 orders per day by September 2025 . Novastar Ventures partner Brian Waswani Odhiambo described Chowdeck as “building the future of logistics for African cities” with “deep local insight, a sustainability-first approach, and impressive execution.”
With fresh funding, strategic acquisitions, and a clear expansion plan, Chowdeck is positioning itself as Africa’s leading super app for food, groceries, and essentials.
