Introduction

Congolese logistics startup Noki Noki has raised $3 million in seed funding to expand its operations across Central Africa. The startup, known for its food delivery and supermarket shopping services, plans to use this investment to strengthen its presence in its existing markets and to establish a foothold in new markets, including the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

Launch and Services

Founded in 2021 by Jonathan Yanghat, Noki Noki offers a range of logistic solutions tailored to the needs of the Central African market. The startup's services include:

  • Noki Food: Meal delivery service.
  • Noki Drive: Supermarket shopping service.
  • Noki Pay: An integrated payment interface for its delivery products.

Since its inception, Noki Noki has rapidly grown to serve over 10,000 users, recording transactions worth over 1 billion CFA francs ($167 million) in 2023.

Mission and Vision

Jonathan Yanghat, CEO and co-founder, emphasized the company’s ambition: “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.”

Funding and Investment

The $3 million seed funding round was led by Uma Ventures, a firm committed to supporting tech-enabled infrastructure in Africa. This investment highlights the continued confidence in Congolese startups, which have become significant contributors to venture capital growth in the region. In 2023 alone, Congolese startups attracted $62 million in venture capital funding, making the country a leader in Central Africa’s startup ecosystem.

Investor Perspective

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.”

Competition and Growth

Noki Noki operates in a competitive market alongside other logistics startups like Wikko, Vanoma, and Sualoo. The Central African last-mile delivery market is growing at an annual rate of 8.45% and is projected to generate $2.35 billion by 2030, according to Straits Research.

Regional Expansion

The new funding will enable Noki Noki to scale its operations across its current 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.