Chowdeck Raises $9M to Expand Delivery, Launch Dark Stores in Nigeria, Ghana

Chowdeck, a Lagos-based food delivery startup founded in 2021, has raised $9 million in a Series A round led by Novastar Ventures to expand its operations across Nigeria and Ghana and launch a quick commerce strategy focused on ultra-fast delivery of food, groceries, and essentials. Serving 1.5 million customers across 11 cities with a fleet of over 20,000 riders, Chowdeck maintains profitability and averages 30-minute delivery times, with over half of deliveries in dense areas completed by bicycle. The startup plans to open 40 dark stores by the end of 2025 and 500 by 2026, supporting its hyperlocal logistics model and rapid market breakeven strategy, exemplified by its Ghana launch achieving 1,000 daily orders within three months without advertising. Chowdeck recently acquired Mira, a point-of-sale provider, to enhance merchant tools and operational efficiency. Investors, including Y Combinator and AAIC Investment, back Chowdeck's deep local market knowledge and disciplined execution, aiming to build Africa's leading super app for food and groceries. The company's meal delivery value in 2024 grew over sixfold compared to 2023, exceeding the entire previous year's volume before mid-2025.