DRC – Noki Noki, a Congolese-based logistics company specializing in food delivery and grocery shopping, has secured US$3 million in seed funding.

The funding will allow the company to expand its services in six Central African markets and establish a strong presence in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

The funding round was led by Uma Ventures, a VC firm that backs Early-Stage, Late-Stage, and Seed Ventures in Africa. 

Launched in 2021 by Jonathan Yanghat, Noki Noki provides logistic solutions, including Noki Food for meal delivery, Noki Drive for supermarket shopping, and Noki Pay, an integrated payment interface for its delivery products. 

The company, which serves over 10,000 users, claims it recorded over 1 billion CFA francs (US$167 million) in transactions in 2023.

“We started the journey with a few motorcycles and a clear ambition: to revolutionize delivery and e-commerce on the continent. This funding brings us closer to our goal of becoming a reference in last-mile delivery in Africa,” Jonathan Yanghat, co-founder and CEO of Noki Noki, said.

This investment highlights the continued confidence in Congolese startups, which have significantly contributed to venture capital growth in the region.

In 2023 alone, Congolese startups attracted US$62 million in venture capital funding, making the country a leader in Central Africa’s startup ecosystem.

Vinay Vaswani, founder of Uma Ventures, expressed confidence in Noki Noki’s potential: “Jonathan Yanghat and his team have demonstrated a keen understanding of the sector’s needs and an ability to thrive as market leaders. 

“Their vision coincides with our strategy of building tech-enabled infrastructure, which is why we are proud to accompany them in their growth.”

Noki Noki operates in a competitive market alongside other logistics startups like Wikko, Vanoma, and Sualoo. 

According to Straits Research, the Central African last-mile delivery market is growing at an annual rate of 8.45% and is projected to generate US$2.35 billion by 2030.

The new funding will enable Noki Noki to scale its operations across its six markets and solidify its presence in new areas, particularly in the DRC. This expansion is crucial for the startup to capitalize on the burgeoning e-commerce and delivery sectors in Central Africa.

Delivery startup Mano launches in Nigeria

NIGERIA – Angolan-origin grocery delivery startup Mano has made a strategic foray into the bustling food delivery sector of Lagos and Abuja, Nigeria. 

The company has rolled out a novel service model that allows customers to actively monitor their delivery process. It promises efficient delivery services within a 10-kilometer radius of its affiliated restaurant partners.

Initially launched in Nigeria in 2022, Mano’s primary focus was on delivering groceries and household appliances from its strategically located dark stores within the states where it operates. 

Now, the startup is positioning itself to vie for market share with well-established food delivery players like Chowdeck and Glovo.

Mano is carving out a commendable reputation for itself among the delivery industry’s heavyweights. The startup is tackling the formidable challenge of achieving a 15-minute delivery window, yet it maintains high customer satisfaction levels.

Mano has adopted an innovative aggregation model to differentiate itself and enhance service quality, a strategy employed by several other successful delivery brands. 

This approach involves Mano’s personnel conducting thorough inspections of the quality and freshness of products and items before purchase, a step beyond simply relying on the assurances of their restaurant partners. 

This meticulous attention to detail in service delivery is part of Mano’s commitment to providing an exceptional customer experience.

Amid the intense rivalry within Nigeria’s online food delivery landscape, the grocery company Mano is carving out a niche for itself by placing a strong emphasis on customer service as its key differentiator. 

However, it’s not alone in its quest for market dominance, as other players in the sector are also stepping up their game.

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