Jen interviews Ioanna Angelidaki, founder of InstaShop, the leading online grocery delivery service in the UAE. Ioanna shares how she co-founded InstaShop in 2015 and grew it to serve customers across the country. She discusses the challenges of international expansion and how the pandemic accelerated growth. Ioanna also reflects on InstaShop's $360 million acquisition by Delivery Hero in 2020.
Episode Highlights:
- How Ioanna pivoted from her first failed startup to founding InstaShop after identifying a need for online grocery delivery
- The early challenges of onboarding partners and customers unfamiliar with the concept of online grocery shopping
- Strategies for localising operations when expanding internationally to new markets
- Leading InstaShop through the pandemic-fueled surge in demand and navigating supply chain issues
- Advice for entrepreneurs on persevering through challenges, seeking mentorship, and knowing when it's time to consider an acquisition offer
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