Getir

Getir was a Turkish ultrafast grocery delivery company that promised to deliver everyday essentials in 10-15 minutes through a network of 'dark stores' (micro-fulfillment centers placed in urban neighborhoods). Founded by Nazim Salur, the company pioneered the 'quick commerce' model in Turkey before expanding aggressively into Europe and the US during 2021-2022, fueled by $1.8 billion in venture funding from Sequoia Capital, Tiger Global, and Mubadala at a peak valuation of $12 billion. At its height, Getir operated in 9 countries across three continents, employed approximately 30,000 people, and was the poster child of the pandemic-era delivery boom. The company also acquired Gorillas, its German rival, in a deal that expanded its European footprint but also doubled its burn rate. But the unit economics of ultrafast delivery were brutal. Each order required a dark store (with rent, refrigeration, and inventory costs), a courier (with wages and delivery equipment), and a technology platform — all for orders averaging $15-$20. The delivery fee and product margins couldn't cover these costs, meaning Getir lost money on virtually every order. When venture capital dried up in 2023, Getir was forced to retreat. The company exited the US, UK, Netherlands, Germany, Spain, Portugal, France, and Italy — essentially every market outside Turkey. It laid off approximately 80% of its global workforce (over 20,000 people). By 2024, Getir was operating only in Turkey, having abandoned its $12 billion global ambitions. The $1.8 billion in funding was largely destroyed, and the company serves as the definitive case study in why ultrafast delivery economics don't work at venture-backed scale.