goPuff

goPuff is a digital delivery service[1][2] operating in over 500 US cities through 200 fulfillment centers as of September 2020.[3][4] Users can order items online or via the goPuff app and get the items delivered.[5]

goPuff
Type of site
Private
Founded2013
HeadquartersPhiladelphia, Pennsylvania, United States
Area servedSelected US cities
Founder(s)Yakir Gola, Rafael Ilishayev
IndustryRetail
ServicesOnline platform for convenience delivery
URLwww.gopuff.com
Native client(s) oniOS, Android

As of October 2020, the company was valued at $3.9 billion.[6]

History

goPuff is headquartered in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and was founded in 2013 by two Drexel University students: Yakir Gola and Rafael Ilishayev. goPuff was originally an on-demand hookah delivery service but expanded to delivering food and goods typically sold in convenience stores.[7] The company began offering delivery services in Philadelphia before moving into other cities, including Seattle, Boston, Phoenix, and Atlanta.[8][9]

In 2016, goPuff raised $8.25 million in A round funding.[10] In 2019, the company reportedly raised $750 million in funding from SoftBank, with a commitment for up to $250 million more.[11][12] Also in 2019, goPuff opened a new headquarters in the Finnigan's Wake building in Northern Liberties.[13][14]

Gola and Ilishayev were included in a 2017 Forbes 30 Under 30 list for retail and ecommerce[15] and later in the year, were together named Target Magazine's target marketer of the year.[16] While founding goPuff, Gola and Ilishayev bonded over their similar ancestries and family backgrounds,[17] and later became supporters of Drexel's Jewish community, providing funding for Drexel Chabad to purchase a new building in 2020.[18][19]

In October 2020, the company announced that it had raised $380 million in a recent funding round led by Accel and D1 Capital Partners, bringing the company's total value to $3.9 billion.[6] In November, GoPuff agreed to purchase BevMo! for $350 million.[20] The alcoholic beverage chain has 161 stores in California, Washington and Arizona.[21]

Services

goPuff primarily delivers goods typically found in convenience stores such as snacks, drinks, household items, toiletries as well as pet and baby products like diapers.[22] Beer, wine, and spirits are available for delivery in some markets.[23]

In December 2015, goPuff launched a beer delivery service called goBeer.[24] In May 2016, they launched an alcohol delivery service called goBooze.[25][26][27]

In 2018, researchers from Northeastern University found that the goPuff mobile app recorded user interactions that involved personal information, and transmitted the resulting video to a website affiliated with analytics company Appsee.[28] Appsee criticized goPuff for violating its terms of service.[28] goPuff stated that it would remove Appsee code from future versions of its iOS and Android apps, and amend its privacy policy to disclose possible data transfer to the app.[28]

The company owns warehouses that stock many of the products it delivers, including electronics, food, medications, and pet supplies.[29]

References
  1. NBC.
  2. Entrepreneur.
  3. "Digital retailer goPuff brings convenience store to doorstep". The Daily Memphian. Retrieved 2020-06-16.
  4. Debter, Lauren. "Beer, Band-Aids And Ben & Jerry's: Why Venture Capitalists Gave Two 27-Year-Olds $1 Billion To Build The Ultimate Online Convenience Store". Forbes. Retrieved 2020-09-25.
  5. WSJ.
  6. Ha, Anthony (8 October 2020). "Delivery startup goPuff raises $380M at a $3.9B valuation". TechCrunch. Retrieved 2020-10-08.
  7. Boston Magazine.
  8. DiStefano, Joseph N. "With global cash, GoPuff grows past pot-friendly past; neighbors complain". The Philadelphia Inquirer. Retrieved 2020-07-01.
  9. Barr, Diana (4 April 2019). "Need snacks, diapers? On-demand retailer expands delivery to St. Louis". St. Louis Business Journal. Retrieved 2020-07-01.
  10. Young, Vicki M.; Young, Vicki M. (2016-06-03). "Delivery Service GoPuff Closes $8.25M Series A Round". WWD. Retrieved 2020-07-01.
  11. "SoftBank Quietly Invested $750 Million in Delivery Startup GoPuff Last Summer". Philadelphia Magazine. 2020-01-21. Retrieved 2020-07-01.
  12. "SoftBank Leads $1B Funding Round For Warehouse-To-Consumer Delivery App GoPuff". Bisnow. Retrieved 2020-07-01.
  13. "Fast-growing Philadelphia startup inks delivery deal with Graduate Hotels". bizjournals.com. Retrieved 2020-05-01.
  14. PhillyVoice.
  15. "30 Under 30 2017: Retail & Ecommerce". Forbes. Retrieved 2018-03-19.
  16. Fletcher, Heather. "GoPuff's Brand Magic - Target Marketing". Target Marketing. Retrieved 2018-03-19.
  17. James, Susan Donaldson (2017-07-11). "How late-night college cravings inspired a business that's raised over $8M". NBC News. Retrieved 2020-06-16.
  18. Zighelboim, Selah Maya (2018-03-14). "Drexel Alumni Commission Torah for Campus Chabad". Jewish Exponent. Retrieved 2020-06-16.
  19. Silver, Matt (2020-03-09). "GoPuff founders fund Drexel Chabad building". Jewish Exponent. Retrieved 2020-06-16.
  20. Ha, Anthony (5 November 2020). "Delivery startup goPuff acquires BevMo for $350M". TechCrunch. Retrieved 2020-11-06.
  21. Chang, Andrea (2020-11-05). "BevMo acquired in $350-million deal as booze deliveries surge". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2020-11-09.
  22. CNBC.
  23. Japhe, Brad. "These Are The Top-Selling Alcoholic Beverages During The Coronavirus Lockdown". Forbes. Retrieved 2020-07-01.
  24. Philly Business Journal.
  25. "Alcohol Delivery App goBooze Launches in Chicago". americaninno.com. Retrieved 2020-05-01.
  26. "On-demand delivery company launches new 'booze' service in D.C." bizjournals.com. Retrieved 2020-05-01.
  27. xConomy.
  28. Hill, Kashmir (2017-07-03). "No, Your Phone Isn't Secretly Recording You". Gizmodo. Retrieved 2018-07-05.
  29. "Convenience store delivery service goPuff expands with third Twin Cities warehouse". Star Tribune. Retrieved 2020-07-01.

Bibliography
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