Kune, a Kenyan food delivery startup, has raised $1 million in pre-seed funding ahead of its August launch
Kune raised $1 million in pre-seed funding ahead of its August launch
Kune, a Nairobi-based startup that prepares and delivers freshly prepared, ready-to-eat meals at affordable prices, has raised $1 million in a pre-seed funding round. The funding will be used to scale the startup's on-demand food service in advance of its August launch.
The pre-seed round was led by Pan-African venture capital firm Launch Africa Ventures and included Century Oak Capital GmbH, Consonance, and ecosystem management firm Pariti.
Kune, founded in late 2020 by French entrepreneur Robin Reecht, completed a successful pilot earlier this year, delivering 500 meals. The company caters to busy Nairobi residents who require access to freshly prepared meals at a fraction of the price charged by restaurants.
Kune employs a hybrid business model. It incorporates both cloud and dark kitchen concepts, and all meals are prepared and packaged on-site at the factory's 'hub'. Following preparation, meals are delivered on-demand to Kune's online, retail, and corporate customers.
“After three months of intense work structuring the business, securing land for our factory, and hiring key team members, I began fundraising. I'm thrilled that Kune has generated this level of interest from investors who immediately recognized the opportunity to scale the business not just in Kenya, but throughout Sub-Saharan Africa," Reecht said.
Kune Intention to Expand
Kune will launch its freshly prepared meals and on-demand delivery service in August, following the completion of its new factory. The company claims to be capable of producing up to 5,000 servings per day for Nairobi's working class and middle-income customers.
Kune also guarantees that deliveries will be completed within a 30-minute window on average. Kune currently controls the entire supply chain, from preparation to packaging to delivery, using its own drivers and motorcycles. The company intends to build its own fleet of 100 electric motorcycles by early 2022.
Kune intends to expand its offerings in the coming months to include microwaveable meals, weight-loss meals, and retail meals aimed at European and American consumers.
“Launch Africa is thrilled to lead the first round of financing for this innovative new food startup in Kenya,” said Baljinder Sharma, director of Launch Africa Ventures. “By leveraging the cloud kitchen model and owning the entire supply chain, Kune Africa has a massive opportunity for growth and scaling, and we are excited to watch the business take off and grow.”
Kune is one of a handful of foodtech startups in Africa. Other notable names in the nascent foodtech ecosystem include Eden Life in Nigeria, OrderIn in South Africa, and Bringo Fresh in Uganda.
