Weezy, a supermarket service providing on-demand grocery delivery in as little as 15 minutes, has secured $20 million in Series A funding. The investment round was spearheaded by Left Lane Capital, a venture capital firm located in New York. Additional participants included DN Capital, a fund based in the U.K., as well as existing investors Heartcore Capital and a group of angel investors, most notably Chris Muhr, who founded Groupon.

While the company has not yet announced plans for expansion into the United States, the involvement of American investors hints at a potential future launch in the U.S. market. Weezy shares similarities with Kozmo, a rapid grocery delivery service that emerged during the late 1990s dot-com era. However, it operates differently than Postmates, as Weezy focuses solely on direct deliveries and does not offer pickup options.

The newly acquired funds will be allocated to broaden the company’s grocery delivery reach throughout London and the rest of the United Kingdom, and to establish two new fulfillment centers within London. The company anticipates opening 40 additional locations across the U.K. by the close of 2021 and intends to hire 50 new employees over the next four months.

Established in July 2020, Weezy utilizes its own team of delivery personnel, employing bicycles and electric mopeds, to ensure average delivery times of under 15 minutes. In addition to collaborating with wholesale suppliers, Weezy also obtains groceries directly from local independent businesses such as bakers, butchers, and markets.

The company has benefited from increased consumer demand during the pandemic. Research indicates that the grocery delivery sector experienced an influx of half a million new customers in Q2 2020, and is currently valued at £14.3 billion in the U.K.

According to Kristof Van Beveren, co-founder and CEO of Weezy, “Consumers now expect quicker delivery options and there is a significant need for a more streamlined and effective service.”

The co-founders of Weezy are Kristof Van Beveren and Alec Dent. Mr. Van Beveren brings experience from the consumer goods industry, having previously worked at Procter & Gamble and McKinsey & Company, while Mr. Dent previously led operations at U.K. startup Drover and business development at BlaBlaCar.

Harley Miller, managing partner at Left Lane Capital, stated: “Weezy’s leadership team possesses the ideal combination of ambition, expertise, and approach to excel in e-commerce innovation and convenience within the U.K. grocery sector and beyond.”

Nenad Marovac, founder and managing partner at DN Capital, commented: “Even prior to the pandemic, there was a growing trend towards online grocery shopping. My first experience with Weezy involved a delivery arriving in just seven minutes, and I immediately became a customer.”