Flink, a Berlin-based quick commerce startup, secured $100 million in fresh funding, boosting its valuation to $900 million. The round, led by Prosus Ventures and Btomorrow Ventures (Tobacco America’s venture arm), signals renewed investor appetite for speed-focused grocery delivery after pandemic-driven peaks. Flink plans to scale operations in Germany and the Netherlands, where it already serves customers.**

The funding arrives as the sector faces turbulence. Competitor Gorillas, another Berlin firm, was acquired by Getir in 2023, only for Getir to later exit European markets entirely. Flink’s CEO Julian Dames emphasized balancing operational discipline with customer expectations, a lesson learned from industry collapses. Despite €515 million losses in 2022 and €213 million in 2023, Flink claims it’s now EBITDA-positive, a critical step toward sustainability.**

The startup’s journey mirrors broader market shifts. During the 2021 tech boom, VCs poured $5.5 billion into European quick commerce firms. But as consumer habits stabilized, many scaled back. Flink’s survival hinges on replicating Gorillas’ early success while avoiding Getir’s overextension. Its focus on niche markets like Germany—where delivery windows are tighter—may offer a blueprint.**

Sifted recently highlighted Flink among Germany’s “soonicorns”—firms poised for $1 billion valuations—joining fintech Vivid and nuclear energy leader Proxima Fusion. For investors, Flink’s story underscores the risks and rewards of betting on speed in a maturing delivery economy.