South Asian Food Delivery Service Quicklly Raises $1.27 Million in Pre-Seed Funding

By James White | Friday, 12 March 2021 | Startup, Ecommerce

As the ecommerce grocery delivery industry continues to expand with the addition of more and more businesses and startup companies, entrepreneurs have to find ways to stand out amongst the growing number of competitors. Chicago-based startup company Quicklly has gained the attention of investors and offers a unique twist in the ecommerce grocery business.

The startup business raised $1.27 million in pre-seed funding from investors eager to back the ecommerce and grocery delivery business. Leading the funding round was Pat Vihtelic, founder and CEO of Home Chef, a weekly meal kit provider. Other investors who supported the startup company in the round included: John A. Furton, founder of Peapod; Eddie Lou, founder of Shiftgig; Adam Goldenberg and Don Ressler, co-founders of TechStyle Group; and others.

"After being in business for only three years, Quicklly has been able to digitally revolutionize mom and pop businesses who can now benefit from the company's scale and proprietary technology,” Goldenberg said. “We're honored to partner with them as they take their operations to the next level.”

Delivering South Asian Cuisine and Supporting Small Businesses

Quicklly, co-founded by entrepreneur Keval Raj in 2017, aims to separate itself from the rest of the competition in the grocery delivery market by specializing in South Asian food. The grocery delivery startup works with local small businesses around Chicago as well as the San Francisco Bay Area, where the ecommerce business began offering its services late last year.

Utilizing proprietary artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning technology, the business startup identifies groceries and dishes desired by consumers and provides these insights to its vendors, allowing them to maximize their own revenue and provide in-demand items. The ecommerce startup also offers delivery options for things like spices and meal kits from a number of local South Asian markets and restaurants.

Users can simply order their groceries and food online from several different businesses and receive one consolidated grocery delivery through the Quicklly platform. The ecommerce company offers a wide 20-mile delivery radius in addition to scheduled deliveries. By the end of Q1 2021, the ecommerce company claims that it will work with over 100 small businesses.

Battling for Market Share

The online grocery industry is booming, especially in the wake of the impact of COVID-19 on consumer shopping habits. The market is getting a little crowded, with numerous competitors like Instacart, DoorDash, Walmart, Uber Eats, and Amazon vying for control. However, Quicklly chooses an approach that sets its company apart from its rivals and specifically attempts to bolster the local economy and small businesses at the same time. According to market research, the online grocery market is expected to value over $663 billion by 2024.

About the Author

James White

James White is a Michigan State University graduate with a BS in Environmental Biology. He is interested in reporting emerging trends in technology, especially with regard to alternative energy and environmental conservation.