Nigeria’s on-demand food delivery startup, Chowdeck, has announced securing the sum of $2.5 million in seed funding that will enable it optimise operations and support its expansion plans into more cities across the country.

Femi Aluko, the CEO and co-founder of Chowdeck who made the announcement on Thursday, said the funds which came from investors including Y Combinator, Goodwater Capital, FounderX Ventures, Hoaq Fund, Levare Ventures, True Culture Funds and Haleakala Ventures, will will enable the startup to double down on its market leadership in the cities they are already operating in as well as lay the groundwork for further expansion into other Nigerian cities.

“We know that Nigerians love good food, and we just want to make it as easy as possible for them to access the food they desire,” Aluko said.

“Chowdeck was birthed to fulfil this purpose and we are committed to delivering truly excellent experiences for our customers, vendors and riders.

“We are pleased with the success we have achieved to date and excited to have raised these funds that will enable us to replicate that success in more parts of Nigeria, and add value to our customers, vendors, and riders in as many ways as we can,” Aluko added.

Chowdeck which was launched in Lagos in October 2021, allows customers to order meals from a variety of restaurants and have them delivered to their doorstep within 30 minutes.

A participant in the Y Combinator accelerator in 2022, Chowdeck has acquired more than 500,000 users and more than 3,000 riders, serving eight Nigerian cities including Lagos, Abuja, Ibadan, Port-Harcourt, Ilorin, Benin City, Abeokuta and Asaba.

The Tanzanian horticultural industry has recieved a grant of $2.1 million from TradeMark Africa to enable it boost its market expansion.

According to TradeMark Africa’s Regional Director for East and Central Africa, Ms. Monica Hangi, the Tanzania Horticultural Association (TAHA) and TradeMark signed a grant agreement to initiate the Phase II of their collaborative project

“The Phase I of the project which ran from January 2019 to June 2023, yielded tangible results, with 27,854 farmers (35% women, 65% men, and 40% youth) linked to markets, and approximately 50,000 tons of horticultural products worth roughly TZS 42.7 billion (US$18.3 million) sold.

“This second phase, backed by a $2.1 million (Tzs 5.4billion) grant from TMA funded by the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO), Norway, and Ireland, spans three years and focuses on advancing market access, promoting sustainable trade practices, and empowering local farmers in the horticultural industry,” she said in a statement on Wednesday.

Hangi noted that despite notable successes recorded with the first phase, the sector continues to face substantial challenges, including limited financing access, climate change impacts, and inadequate market information, which could hinder growth.

“These challenges necessitate a united approach from both the government and private sector, incorporating policy support, research and development investment, and development sector initiatives aimed at improving market and credit access for farmers,” she said.

She added that the grant highlighted the significance of supporting the horticultural sector, particularly in mitigating unemployment among youth and women.

“Our commitment through this substantial grant is to upscale production, increase export volumes, and, consequently, job opportunities, thereby reinforcing Tanzania’s standing in the global horticultural market,” said Hangi