A special session featuring two leading African quick commerce companies
On April 22 (Wed), 2026, AAIC Investment Pte. Ltd. (hereinafter "AAIC Investment"), together with Novastar Ventures and Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Ltd., will host a special session titled "The Future of Africa's Consumer Market — Quick Commerce is Leapfrogging Africa's Retail!" in conjunction with SusHi Tech Tokyo 2026. The session will feature two leading African quick commerce companies from our and Novastar Ventures' portfolio.
As we approach an era where approximately one in four people worldwide will live in Africa, we will explore the potential of Africa's rapidly growing consumer goods market — and its quick commerce sector in particular — together with speakers at the forefront of business, investment, and operations.
- ●Event Overview
—Date & Time: April 22 (Wed), 2026, 15:00–17:00 (including networking)
—Venue: Azabudai Hills Garden Plaza B, 5F, Tokyo Venture Capital Hub / No online streaming
Access Map
—Organizers: AAIC Investment, Novastar Ventures, Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Ltd.
●Registration
—Please register using the button below.
- ●Program
■ "Africa's Quick Commerce: Rapid Growth within the Massive & Hyper-Accelerating African Consumer Goods Market"
An analysis of the growth drivers and structural strengths of Africa's consumer market, with a focus on the current state and future outlook of the rapidly expanding quick commerce sector, from the perspective of VCs investing in African startups, including comparisons with other emerging markets.
Speakers (tentative):
Riki Yamauchi (Director of Strategic Investments, Novastar Ventures)
Shigeru Handa (Director, AAIC Investment)
Nobuhiko Ichimiya (Principal, AAIC Investment Nigeria)
■ Panel Discussion: "Africa's Quick Commerce Today and Opportunities for Collaboration"
Featuring the founders/CEOs of two leading companies from Egypt and Nigeria — two of Africa's most populous nations with emerging consumer goods markets — the panel will discuss the realities of business operations, growth drivers, and opportunities for collaboration with Japanese companies.
Speakers:
Femi Aluko (Co-founder/CEO, Chowdeck)
Nigeria's largest delivery service
Mustafa Amin (Co-founder/CEO, Breadfast)
Egypt's largest quick commerce service
■ Networking
Speakers and related parties are expected to attend
This session offers an opportunity to explore the latest trends in Africa's consumer market and discover new business opportunities. We welcome participants from a wide range of industries including investment, trading companies, logistics, retail, and consumer goods manufacturers.
- ●About the Invited Companies
■ Breadfast (https://www.breadfast.com/)
An Egyptian quick commerce company that started with fresh bread delivery in 2017. Now operating across 5 cities in Egypt, it has evolved into a platform delivering approximately 7,000 SKUs within 60 minutes. Its vertically integrated model covers over 1,000 private label products, in-house bakery, last-mile delivery, and fintech — all built internally.
In 2026, it raised approximately $50 million in a pre-Series C round, with participation from Mubadala, SBI, Novastar Ventures, AAIC Investment, IFC and other institutional investors. The funds will be used to strengthen logistics and supply chain infrastructure, with expansion into Africa in mind, while a Series C and IPO are also being considered within the year.
■ Chowdeck (https://chowdeck.com/)
Founded in Lagos in 2021, Chowdeck processed over 10 million orders in 2025, with approximately 2.1 million registered users. Beyond quick commerce based on 16 dark stores, it has expanded into daily payment and experiential services such as Bills and Events, evolving from food delivery into a super app supporting urban life.
In 2025, it raised approximately $9 million in a Series A round, with participation from Novastar Ventures, Y Combinator, AAIC Investment, and others.
●Registration (repeat)