Chowdeck, a Lagos-based food delivery platform that has achieved profitability in one of the world’s toughest, lowest-margin markets, has raised $9 million in Series A funding to expand operations in Nigeria and Ghana and launch a quick commerce service.
The round was led by Novastar Ventures, with participation from Y Combinator, AAIC Investment, Rebel Fund, GFR Fund, Kaleo, HoaQ, and other backers. The company previously raised $2.5 million in seed funding in 2024.
From food delivery to African super app
Founded in October 2021 by Femi Aluko, Olumide Ojo, and Lanre Yusuf, Chowdeck now operates in 11 cities across Nigeria and Ghana, serving 1.5 million customers via a network of 20,000+ riders. Its logistics network averages 30-minute deliveries, with over half of orders in dense areas arriving by bicycle.
Unlike global rivals that have struggled or exited African markets, Chowdeck has focused on local meals — an operationally challenging category — to win customer loyalty. In 2024, the value of meals delivered grew 6x year-over-year, with 2025 surpassing last year’s total before July.people, opening 18 hubs, and launching four Aira Academies to train heat pump installers across Europe.
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Quick commerce expansion
Chowdeck will use the funding to:
- Launch ultra-fast delivery via a network of dark stores and hyperlocal logistics hubs
- Open 40 dark stores by end-2025, scaling to 500 by 2026 (2–3 per week)
- Grow its grocery delivery footprint and reduce delivery times
- Recruit top talent to strengthen its tech and operations teams
The company’s Ghana launch in May 2025 hit 1,000 daily orders within three months — without paid advertising — and aims for 5,000 daily orders by September.
Vertical integration with software
In June 2025, Chowdeck acquired Mira, a point-of-sale provider for African food and hospitality businesses, to integrate inventory and order management tools into its platform. This positions Chowdeck as a vertical SaaS + logistics provider for restaurants.
“We’re building Africa’s number one super app for food, groceries, and essentials,” said Aluko. “Our approach is to enter each market with a plan to break even in weeks, not years.”
Betting on execution and local insight
For Novastar Ventures, Chowdeck’s model offers a blueprint for profitable, scalable last-mile delivery in African cities.
“With deep local insight, a sustainability-first approach, and impressive execution, Chowdeck is redefining last-mile delivery on the continent,” said Brian Waswani Odhiambo, Partner at Novastar Ventures.
