Chowder, the on-demand delivery powerhouse transforming how Africans access meals, groceries, and everyday essentials, has closed a $9 million Series A funding round to accelerate its rapid expansion across Nigeria and Ghana. The fresh capital will also power the launch of an ambitious quick commerce strategy designed to deliver food, groceries, and medicine at lightning speed.
The Series A equity round was led by Novastar Ventures, with strong backing from Y Combinator, AAIC Investment, Rebel Fund, GFR Fund, Kaleo, HoaQ, and other high-profile investors. Together, they bring global expertise, deep sector insight, and operational muscle that will help Chowdeck navigate the complex logistics terrain of African cities while scaling sustainably.
At the heart of Chowdeck’s next growth phase is quick commerce, a model powered by dark stores and hyperlocal logistics that will slash delivery times, expand service reach, and unlock faster, more reliable access to essentials. This approach is set to cement Chowdeck’s dominance in markets where speed, reliability, and convenience are fast becoming non-negotiables for consumers.
Since launching in October 2021, Chowdeck has grown into the go-to technology partner for Africa’s food and hospitality businesses, providing end-to-end solutions spanning logistics, inventory management, payments, and performance tracking. The platform now serves over 1.5 million customers and works with more than 20,000 riders across 11 cities, consistently delivering orders in an average of 30 minutes.
The company’s growth trajectory has been nothing short of explosive. In 2024, the total value of meals delivered on the platform surged more than sixfold year-on-year. By mid-2025, it had already surpassed the previous year’s total, putting it on track for another record-breaking performance.
Chowdeck’s edge lies in its hyperlocal execution, tailoring operations to each city’s unique dynamics, paired with its strong vendor partnerships, which position the company not just as a delivery service, but as a true growth partner for merchants. This commitment was further strengthened by the acquisition of Mira, a cutting-edge POS solutions provider for the food and hospitality sector. The move gives Chowdeck access to Mira’s advanced product development capabilities, enabling the creation of innovative tools that will improve customer experience and drive vendor growth.
Speaking on the milestone, Femi Aluko, CEO and co-founder of Chowdeck, said:
“We’re thrilled about this round as it brings us closer to our vision of becoming Africa’s number one super app, transforming how millions of Africans access food, groceries, and essentials every day. 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.”
For lead investor Novastar Ventures, the decision to back Chowdeck was an easy one. Brian Waswani Odhiambo, Partner at the firm, noted:
“Chowdeck is building the future of logistics for African cities by creating a platform that benefits consumers, vendors, and riders alike. With deep local insight, a sustainability-first approach, and impressive execution, Chowdeck is redefining last-mile delivery on the continent. We’re very excited to partner with Chowdeck in this next phase of growth as it scales its offering and helps create a more inclusive, sustainable, and efficient urban economy.”
With $9 million in fresh capital, a clear vision, and an expanding footprint, Chowdeck is not just chasing market share, it is reshaping the urban delivery economy in West Africa, one hyper-fast order at a time.
