🍲 Glovo's social features
Glovo has added social media elements to its food delivery app. Users can now create lists of their favorite restaurants with a new feature called 'Picks.' They can follow friends and view their recommendations, helping others decide what to order. CEO Oscar Pierre highlighted that 35% of users face difficulty choosing meals. With this feature, users can also watch video clips shared by restaurateurs showing behind-the-scenes glimpses of the dishes they make. While the app is designed to help connect friends, privacy remains important—grocery orders remain confidential.
🌍 Glovo’s global expansion
Glovo, which became Spain's second unicorn in 2019 after raising €150M, has grown beyond Europe. The company now operates in 23 countries and over 1,500 cities across Europe, Africa, and Central Asia. Glovo's expansion into Africa started in Morocco in 2018, and today the company serves 6 African countries, with the region representing 26% of its operations. According to Chief Product Officer Daniel Alonso, Africa's unique logistical challenges required innovative solutions, such as adapting delivery for areas where maps are unreliable.
🛠️ Innovation fueled by hackathons
Glovo’s focus on innovation is evident in its hackathon culture. Chief Technology Officer Shiro Theuri shared that their tech team, consisting of over 500 people, frequently participates in hackathons to create new features. Several pilots, including today’s social media integrations, originated from these sessions. Theuri emphasized their innovation motto: "Build it well. Build it fast." He believes that "time constraints inspire creativity." Hackathons have driven many app developments, keeping Glovo at the forefront of tech advancements.
💼 Impact and entrepreneurship
Beyond technology, Glovo supports social causes and entrepreneurship. CEO Oscar Pierre co-founded Yellow, a €30M fund supporting early-stage startups. Glovo also launched an Impact Fund last year, committing €20M to NGOs. Through this initiative, they’ve helped deliver 7.5M meals to those in need. The company’s social impact extends to reducing food waste while supporting local communities. These efforts, combined with the new app features, show Glovo’s commitment to innovation, both within and beyond the delivery space.
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