Lezzoo
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| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Online food ordering |
| Founded | January 2018 Erbil, Iraq |
| Founders | Yadgar Merani Rekar Botany |
| Headquarters | Primam St Erbil |
Area served |
|
Key people | Yadgar Merani (CEO) Rekar Botany (CTO) |
| Services | |
| Website | lezzoo |
Lezzoo is an Iraqi online grocer and on-demand food delivery company, that launched in Erbil in 2018. Initially specialising in food deliveries, it has since extended its services to the delivery of groceries, pharmaceutical products, water and gas; additionally providing health and cleaning services in cities across Kurdistan Region. The super-app is the first and only Y Combinator-backed startup in Iraq.[1][2]
History
[edit]Lezzoo was founded in February 2018 by Fastwares, Yadgar Merani and Rekar Botany, initially under the name Lezzoo Eats.[3] "Eats" was later on removed from the name and kept only as "Lezzoo", derived from the Badini word Lez and Sorani word Zoo, both translating into "Quick", thus translating the brand name as Quickquick.
Inspired by various foreign delivery companies, Lezzoo initially specialized in food ordering and delivery service.[4] To solve the logistical challenges existing in the region, it set off to gradually remake itself into a digital Hypermarket, allowing local restaurants and retailers to make sales through the super-app, while also supporting smaller local businesses.[5]
In December 2018, Lezzoo became the first and only Iraqi startup to graduate (and receive a pre-seed investment) from the Y Combinator accelerator program.[3][6][7]
In November 2019, CEO and co-founder Yadgar Merani, shared having at least $700,000 worth of gross merchandise volume (GMV) circulating in cash around the companies delivery and accounting network.[8]
In May 2020 (during the COVID-19 pandemic), the company reported having partnered with the French supermarket chain Carrefour.[3] That same month, Lezzoo reported seeing a 25% order increase in comparison to its January figures when adding healthcare features to the app and delivering essential goods, such as water and gas.[9]
As of June 2020, the company reported it was now processing close to 50,000 orders every month and had launched Lezzoo Pay, a digital wallet to replace cash payments and allow users to buy different types of prepaid cards.[3][10]
Funding
[edit]In December 2018, Lezzoo was accepted into Silicon Valley's Y combinator accelerator program and received a pre-seed investment of $150,000; becoming the first Iraqi startup to ever take part in the world-renowned accelerator's program.[7]
In July 2020, the start-up company closed the largest seed round in Iraq, raising a seven-figure investment led by New York and Iraq-based investment firm Northern Gulf Partners and California-based venture capital firm Pay It Forward.[7][10]
Operation
[edit]Lezzoo delivers orders and services to its users with over 100,000 products and over 700 stores to choose from.[11]
The app provides complete online menus from restaurants and a large selection of products from grocery stores and pharmacies. Users can also order services such as the delivery of water and gas, at-home medical checks, laundry care, sanitization and cleaning, garden maintenance and express delivery by using the application on the iOS or Android (operating system) platforms.
Meals and products are delivered by couriers using cars and scooters. Water and gas are delivered by heavy-duty vehicles.
Geography
[edit]Lezzoo is currently operating in the Kurdistan region of Iraq in Erbil, Sulaymaniyah, Duhok, Kirkuk and Zakho.[5]
COVID-19 initiative
[edit]The company faced challenges from March-May 2020 due to the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) imposed curfews and reduction of office hours in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, but shortly after became the key solution to the delivery of groceries, water and gas.[9] During this time, Lezzoo actively reassured its consumers it was following COVID-19 guidelines and had equipped drivers with sufficient amounts of masks and sanitizers.[7][12]
In April 2020, the company introduced at-home COVID-19 follow-up checks to its medical services and began providing disinfection and sterilization services to help minimize the spread of the virus.[12]
References
[edit]- ^ "Startup directory". www.ycombinator.com.
- ^ "Iraq's Lezzoo raises seven-figure seed to build a super-app for the country". MENAbytes. 2020-07-25. Retrieved 2021-11-18.
- ^ a b c d "Iraq's Lezzoo raises seven-figure seed to build a super-app for the country". www.menabytes.com. 25 July 2020. Retrieved 2021-01-24.
- ^ "Lezzoo CEO Yadgar Merani talks tech start-ups, job creation and Iraq's economic potential at the Ninewa Investment Forum". www.rudaw.net/. Retrieved 2021-01-25.
As I was in London, I saw all these great new services such as Deliveroo, you have Uber Eats, you have Hungry House. I thought, "this is great – I wish we had this back home as well." That's when the idea got into my head
- ^ a b "Lezzoo CEO Yadgar Merani talks tech start-ups, job creation and Iraq's economic potential at the Ninewa Investment Forum". www.rudaw.net/. Retrieved 2021-01-25.
- ^ "Lezzoo". www.ycombinator.com. Retrieved 2021-01-24.
- ^ a b c d "Lezzoo Closes Largest Seed Round In Iraq". www.iraqtech.io. 26 July 2020. Retrieved 2021-01-25.
- ^ "Security is just the beginning for Iraqi entrepreneurs in ISIS' wake". www.devex.com/. 9 December 2019. Retrieved 2021-01-24.
We're talking about at least $700,000 worth of [gross merchandise value] a month. That just circulates through a network of delivery employees, as well as accountants. We're constantly moving this cash around the city
- ^ a b "Companies in frontier markets are showing their resilience". www.medium.com//. 8 May 2020. Retrieved 2021-01-29.
- ^ a b "Iraqi delivery and e-payment startup Lezzoo raises seven-figure investment". www.thestartupscene.me/. Retrieved 2021-01-29.
- ^ "Lezzoo". lezzoo.com.
- ^ a b "Interview with Yadgar Merani". www.buzzsprout.com/. 28 September 2020. Retrieved 2021-01-27.
In terms of security, we are in contact and in communication with the local authorities. We make sure we comply with all the regulations that are in there, to make sure the integrity of the security of the region is maintained.