Chowdeck wants to cut food delivery from 1 hour down to 30 minutes in Nigeria

Nigerians love their food. In fact, they spend more of their income on it than people anywhere else in the world – almost 60% according to Picodi.

• This has created opportunities in Nigeria's food delivery market – a market that Statista estimates could be worth $5.7 billion by 2029.

Enter Chowdeck, a Lagos-based startup backed by Y Combinator and armed with a $2.5 million seed investment, Chowdeck is making waves with its focus on super-fast deliveries.

Founded by Femi Aluko, Olumide Ojo, and Lanre Yusuf, Chowdeck offers customers the convenience of ordering ready made meals and groceries in an average of just 30 minutes.

• That's a far cry from the usual wait times of 1 or 2 hours that Nigerians were accustomed to, as Aluko himself discovered during a trip to Dubai.

According to TechCrunch, Chowdeck is setting itself apart in their approach to discounts. Unlike some competitors who rely on heavy discounts to attract customers, Chowdeck prioritizes a sustainable business model.

• They minimize discounts and only offer them on behalf of partner restaurants when necessary.

• This gives Chowdeck and the restaurants they work with a healthier business model.

They use geotagging, offer bicycles and motorbikes for delivery vehicles to navigate Nigeria’s infamous traffic and also have rules for both restaurants and riders to keep things running smoothly.

Launched in October 2021, Chowdeck has already attracted over 500,000 users and have a network of more than 3000 riders serving eight Nigerian cities.

With their recent funding, they plan to double down on their success in these cities and expand into even more areas in the country.