Quick commerce firm JOKR reaches EBITDA break even after five-year rebuild around AI and automation
JOKR, an AI powered commerce platform operating in Brazil under the Daki brand, reports that it has reached EBITDA break even while approaching R$1 billion in annualised revenue and growing more than 50% year-on-year.
According to the company, this performance demonstrates that quick commerce can be profitable when built around operational discipline, automation and end-to-end control of the value chain rather than growth at all costs.
Founded in 2021, JOKR has raised more than $500 million from investors including Balderton Capital, Tiger Global, HV Capital and GGV Capital before restructuring around its Brazilian operation, Daki. The company recently secured a minority investment from iFood, Latin America's largest delivery platform.
Built by a founding team that has worked together across foodpanda, Delivery Hero and Paysafe, JOKR spent the past five years rebuilding the economics of rapid grocery delivery around automation, vertical integration and operational discipline. Today, the venture operates a model spanning procurement, inventory, fulfilment and delivery, allowing it to control the customer experience and economics end-to-end. More than 50 AI agents automate 95% of procurement decisions, helping the company achieve approximately 45% gross margins before delivery costs and 99% on-time delivery performance.
Ralf Wenzel, Founder and Chairman at JOKR, says: "For several years, the narrative was that quick commerce had failed. We believed the category wasn't broken - the operating model was. Consumer demand never disappeared. The challenge was building a business capable of serving that demand profitably. What we're seeing now is a shift away from growth at all costs towards automation, operational control and sustainable economics. That's what will define the next phase of the sector."
2026 RTIH Innovation Awards
Quick commerce will be a key focus area at the 2026 RTIH Innovation Awards.
The awards are now open for entries and celebrate global retail technology innovation in a fast moving omnichannel world.
Our winners will be revealed at the 2026 RTIH Innovation Awards Ceremony, taking place at The HAC in Central London on Wednesday, 4th November.
Check out our 2025 winners here.
Our 2025 hall of fame entrants were revealed during a sold out event which took place at The HAC on 16th October and consisted of a drinks reception, three course meal, and awards ceremony presided over by award winning comedian, actress and writer Tiff Stevenson.
In his welcome speech, Scott Thompson, Founder and Editor, RTIH, said: “This is the awards’ fifth year as a physical event. We started off with just 30 people at the South Place Hotel not far from here, then moved to London Bridge Hotel, then The Barbican, and last year RIBA’s HQ in the West End.”
“But I’m conscious of the fact that, to quote the legend that is Taylor Swift, You’re only as hot as your last hit, baby. So, this year we’ve moved to our biggest venue yet, and also pulled in our largest number of entries to date and broken attendance records.”
He added: “This year’s submissions have without doubt been our best yet. To quote one of the judges: The examples of innovative developments across both traditional and digital retail spaces were truly remarkable.”
Congratulations to our winners, and a big thank you to our sponsors, judging panel, the legend that is Tiff Stevenson, and all those who attended our 2025 gathering.
