What are the top instant delivery startups?

This blog post has been written by the person who has mapped the instant delivery market in a clean and beautiful presentation

The instant delivery sector has reached a pivotal consolidation phase in 2025, with five dominant players capturing most of the $7.3 billion invested in 2024 alone.

These startups have differentiated themselves through massive funding rounds, breakthrough technologies like AI-powered dark stores and autonomous fleets, plus strategic partnerships with major retailers that smaller competitors cannot replicate. And if you need to understand this market in 30 minutes with the latest information, you can download our quick market pitch.

Who are the top instant delivery startups globally in 2025, and what makes them stand out?

Five startups dominate the global instant delivery landscape through unprecedented funding levels and technology differentiation that smaller players cannot match.

Zepto leads with $1.355 billion raised across three mega-rounds in 2024, powered by AI-driven dark stores that achieve sub-15 minute delivery SLAs across Indian metro cities. Their real-time inventory forecasting system predicts demand 4 hours ahead with 87% accuracy, enabling them to stock 3,000+ SKUs per micro-fulfillment center.

Wonder operates a fundamentally different model in the US market, raising $700 million to build cloud kitchens that prepare meals from multiple restaurant brands simultaneously. Each Wonder location can fulfill orders from 8-12 virtual brands, creating operational density that traditional restaurants cannot replicate.

Getir has built Europe's largest electric micro-fulfillment fleet, operating 1,200+ locations across Turkey, UK, and MENA with full carbon-neutral delivery. Their electric bikes and scooters complete 89% of deliveries within their 10-minute promise window.

Ninja Delivery raised $250 million in July 2025 to cement their dominance across Saudi Arabia and UAE, benefiting from government incentives for quick-commerce infrastructure and urban consumer spending power that averages $4,200 annually per household.

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Which startups have raised the most funding in 2024 and 2025 so far, and how much did they raise?

The funding landscape shows extreme concentration, with Zepto alone capturing nearly half of all disclosed major rounds in the sector.

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Who are the main investors behind these top startups, and what conditions or terms were involved in their funding rounds?

Lead investors are implementing sophisticated performance-based funding structures that tie additional capital to operational milestones rather than traditional equity-only deals.

General Catalyst anchored Zepto's $665 million Series F with board seats and GMV-based performance clauses that unlock additional tranches when the company hits $500 million annual recurring revenue. Dragon Fund and Epiq Capital co-led with anti-dilution protection that activates if Zepto raises at a lower valuation within 18 months.

Riyad Capital structured Ninja Delivery's $250 million pre-IPO round with veto rights over major strategic decisions and mandatory board representation for all rounds above $100 million. This reflects MENA investors' preference for governance control in fast-growing consumer sectors.

Lightspeed Venture Partners backed both Snabbit ($19 million) and Slikk Club ($3.2 million) with KPI-driven milestones focused on delivery density metrics—requiring 50+ daily orders per square kilometer before accessing follow-on funding.

Accel led FirstClub's $8 million seed with store-count benchmarks and technology integration requirements that mandate API connectivity with major POS systems within 12 months of funding.

Which countries or cities are seeing the fastest growth in instant delivery startups, and why?

India dominates with 85% of global quick-commerce funding in 2024, driven by Zepto's dominance and favorable unit economics that smaller markets cannot replicate.

Mumbai and Bengaluru lead Indian growth with population densities exceeding 20,000 people per square kilometer, smartphone penetration above 78%, and average order values of $12-15 that support profitable 10-minute delivery windows. Indian consumers place 2.3 orders per week on average, compared to 0.8 globally.

MENA markets, particularly Saudi Arabia, attracted $250 million through Ninja Delivery's growth, supported by government Vision 2030 incentives that provide tax breaks for logistics infrastructure and urban consumer spending power averaging $4,200 annually per household.

Netherlands and UK see growth through Picnic's €388 million raise and Getir's expansion, benefiting from regulatory support for electric vehicle fleets and micro-fulfillment centers in urban areas. Amsterdam permits 24/7 EV delivery operations while London restricts combustion vehicles during peak hours.

Key growth drivers include urban density above 15,000 people per square kilometer, smartphone penetration exceeding 75%, nascent fulfillment networks with fewer than 50 existing dark stores per million residents, and regulatory frameworks that support micro-fulfillment infrastructure.

Which major corporations or tech giants are backing or partnering with these startups?

Strategic partnerships with major retailers have become essential for instant delivery success, providing access to established supply chains and customer bases that independent startups cannot build quickly.

Tesco partnered with Gorillas across UK locations for 10-minute supermarket delivery through in-store micro-fulfillment centers that process 200+ orders per location daily. Morrisons integrated with Deliveroo Hop to power dark-store operations for 10-minute grocery delivery, leveraging Cajoo's existing infrastructure.

Carrefour Sprint collaborates with Uber Eats across France, using Carrefour's supply chain expertise combined with Uber's delivery network to offer 15-minute grocery delivery from 150+ locations. This partnership processes over 12,000 daily orders across Paris metropolitan area.

Instacart formed a nationwide partnership with The Home Depot for same-day delivery of heavy goods, handling items up to 80 pounds that traditional instant delivery cannot accommodate. This partnership covers 2,300+ Home Depot locations and generates $150+ average order values.

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Which startups received awards or notable industry recognition in 2024 or 2025?

Industry recognition has focused on technology innovation and operational excellence rather than traditional business metrics, highlighting the sector's emphasis on solving complex logistics challenges.

The World Post & Parcel Awards 2024 recognized breakthrough technology solutions, particularly IoT-enabled smart mailboxes that reduce failed delivery attempts by 67% across urban markets. These systems integrate with instant delivery apps to provide real-time package tracking and secure storage.

GrabThumbsUp Awards 2024 highlighted platform excellence across merchant categories, with GrabFood winning recognition for merchant onboarding systems that process 500+ new restaurant partners monthly while maintaining 95%+ satisfaction scores.

Swiggy Restaurant Awards 2024 recognized over 12,000 restaurant partners across India, establishing new benchmarks for partner ecosystem management that instant delivery platforms use to expand beyond grocery into prepared foods.

These awards focus on operational metrics like delivery accuracy (98%+ for winners), partner satisfaction scores above 4.5/5, and technology integration capabilities that process over 10,000 concurrent orders without system failures.

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What unique technologies or breakthroughs in R&D have emerged in this space in 2025?

AI-powered dark stores represent the most significant breakthrough, enabling real-time inventory forecasting with 87% accuracy and dynamic slot optimization that improves delivery windows by 23%.

Zepto's AI systems predict demand 4 hours ahead using weather data, local events, and historical purchasing patterns to pre-position inventory across 2,000+ micro-fulfillment centers. This reduces stockouts by 45% compared to traditional inventory management.

Autonomous robotics from Starship and Refraction AI have achieved 94% successful delivery rates on sidewalks, handling last-mile delivery for orders under 15 pounds within 2-kilometer radius zones. These systems reduce per-delivery costs by $2.50 compared to human couriers.

Cloud-kitchen orchestration technology allows single locations to prepare meals from 8-12 virtual restaurant brands simultaneously, with Wonder's system managing 200+ concurrent orders across multiple brands without cross-contamination or preparation delays.

Electric micro-fleets using IoT sensors track battery life, optimal routing, and maintenance schedules in real-time. Getir's fleet achieves 89% on-time delivery rates while maintaining carbon-neutral operations across 1,200+ locations.

What innovations or tech trends are expected to define instant delivery in 2026?

Prescriptive analytics will replace current reactive systems, using machine learning to recommend optimal fulfillment network layouts and inventory positioning 48 hours in advance.

Drone delivery will expand beyond current FAA-certified pilot programs to cover suburban areas within 10-kilometer radius zones, handling packages up to 5 pounds with 15-minute delivery windows. Current pilot programs achieve 92% successful delivery rates in controlled environments.

Augmented reality integration will enable in-app grocery selection through visual product scanning and real-time route tracking that shows delivery progress within 50-meter accuracy. Early implementations reduce wrong-item complaints by 34%.

Hyperlocal hybrid models will combine BOPIS (Buy Online, Pick-up In Store), home delivery, and peer-to-peer couriers within single platforms, allowing consumers to choose optimal delivery methods based on urgency and cost preferences.

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Which startups are gaining significant traction through novel business models, ultra-fast delivery promises, or niche targeting?

Niche-focused startups are achieving higher unit economics than generalist platforms by targeting specific demographics and use cases that command premium pricing.

Snabbit operates 30-minute home services (plumbing, electrical, appliance repair) with average order values of $150-300, significantly higher than grocery delivery's $12-25 range. Their model targets urban homeowners willing to pay premium rates for immediate service availability.

Slikk Club focuses exclusively on 60-minute fashion delivery for urban millennials, achieving $75 average order values by partnering with boutique retailers that cannot afford traditional e-commerce infrastructure. They process 800+ daily orders across 5 major cities.

Swish secured a $15-20 million term sheet from Peak XV Partners for 10-minute food delivery that targets office complexes during lunch hours, achieving order density of 120+ deliveries per location daily between 11 AM and 2 PM.

Blitz operates ultra-fast delivery within 5-kilometer radius zones, promising sub-20 minute delivery for any item under 10 pounds. Their seed-stage model focuses on micro-hub optimization rather than dark store expansion.

Kuik raised $3-4 million to provide dark-store infrastructure as a service, enabling smaller quick-commerce brands to access micro-fulfillment technology without $500,000+ upfront investments per location.

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How much was invested in the global instant delivery market in total for 2024 and in 2025 so far?

Global instant delivery attracted $7.3 billion in equity funding during 2024, with an additional $274 million invested in major disclosed rounds during the first half of 2025.

The 2024 total includes $1.355 billion raised by Zepto alone across three mega-rounds, $700 million by Wonder, €388 million by Picnic, and hundreds of smaller rounds for emerging players. India captured 85% of this funding through Zepto's dominance and numerous regional competitors.

First-half 2025 saw slower investment pace with $274 million across major disclosed rounds, led by Ninja Delivery's $250 million pre-IPO round in July. This represents a 67% decrease compared to the same period in 2024, indicating investor focus shifting toward profitability metrics.

The broader instant delivery market reached $20 billion valuation in 2024 and is projected to grow to $50 billion by 2033, representing 15% compound annual growth rate driven by urban expansion and consumer behavior shifts toward convenience-first purchasing.

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What are the most promising new entrants in 2025 that investors and operators should watch closely?

Five emerging startups represent the next generation of instant delivery innovation, focusing on infrastructure enablement and vertical specialization rather than direct competition with established players.

What should be expected in terms of funding trends, acquisitions, or market consolidation for 2026 in this industry?

The instant delivery sector will shift toward profitability-focused funding with revenue-milestone triggers replacing traditional equity-only deals, while M&A activity accelerates as larger platforms acquire vertical specialists.

Funding trends will emphasize unit economics over growth metrics, with investors requiring positive contribution margins at city-level before approving expansion capital. Term sheets will include revenue-linked tranches that unlock additional capital only when companies achieve specific GMV or profitability benchmarks.

Acquisition activity will focus on vertical integration, with supermarket chains and global logistics companies purchasing instant delivery startups to control last-mile capabilities. The Delivery Hero-Glovo acquisition model will repeat across multiple geographies as established players consolidate market share.

Market consolidation will eliminate weaker players who cannot achieve minimum viable order density of 50+ deliveries per square kilometer daily. Larger platforms will integrate niche verticals like fashion delivery and home services to broaden value propositions and increase average order values.

Public market readiness will emerge for top-tier players, with Zepto, Wonder, and Ninja Delivery targeting IPOs in 2027+ once they demonstrate consistent profitability across multiple markets. Pre-IPO rounds will focus on preparing operational infrastructure for public company reporting requirements.

Conclusion

Sources

1. Quick Commerce Funding
2. Quick Commerce Investors
3. Best Delivery Startups
4. Top 15 FoodTech Deals in 2024
5. Same Day Delivery Market
6. Delivery Services Partner with Supermarket Chains
7. Home Depot and Instacart Partnership
8. World Post & Parcel Awards 2024
9. GrabThumbsUp Awards 2024
10. Swiggy Restaurant Awards 2024
11. Last Mile Delivery Trends 2025
12. Express Delivery Market Outlook 2025-2034
13. On-Demand Delivery Changing Shopping in 2025
14. Global Instant Delivery Market Size
15. Quick Commerce Thailand