• Home
  • Latest
  • Fortune 500
  • Finance
  • Tech
  • Leadership
  • Lifestyle
  • Rankings
  • Multimedia
Retailecommerce

Instacart, the grocery delivery startup, raises $220 million

By
Reuters
Reuters
Down Arrow Button Icon
By
Reuters
Reuters
Down Arrow Button Icon
January 13, 2015, 11:48 AM ET
Kaitlin Myers a shopper for Instacart studies her smart phone as she  shops for a customer at Whole Foods in Denver.
DENVER, CO. OCTOBER 28: Kaitlin Myers a shopper for Instacart studies her smart phone as she shops for a customer at Whole Foods in Denver. Myers receives a grocery list for a shopper and then completes the shopping on Tuesday, October 28, 2014. (Denver Post Photo by Cyrus McCrimmon)Photograph by Cyrus McCrimmon — Denver Post via Getty Images

Online-grocery delivery service Instacart said venture firm Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers led its latest funding round totaling $220 million.

The company will use the cash to grow into new markets, both internationally and in the United States, Chief Executive Officer Apoorva Mehta said in an interview.

Kleiner also backs transportation service Uber, which aspires to expand beyond offering rides and so could be viewed as an Instacart competitor. Last year, Uber launched Uber Essentials, a service that delivers nonperishable grocery and drugstore items in Washington, D.C.

But Mehta said he did not see Uber as a rival.

“There are potential ways we can work with them rather than compete with them,” he said, adding that he has talked to Uber executives about possible collaboration but has nothing to disclose currently.

Uber did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Instacart also plans to start experimenting with other categories beyond groceries, Mehta said. While he declined to identify specifics, he said the service would likely stick to items consumers buy regularly rather than one-off items such as televisions and laptops.

Unlike grocery-delivery services from Amazon (AMZN) and Wal-Mart (WMT), Instacart relies on individuals who visit stores to buy goods for customers, rather than storing the products in a warehouse. That cuts down on overhead, Mehta said.

He also dismissed concerns over competition from errand services such as TaskRabbit, because Instacart is specialized, allowing shoppers to check boxes rather than type out long lists on their smartphones.

The latest funding round, which values Instacart at $2 billion, comes months after a $44 million round in June. Then, the company was valued at around $400 million.

Watch more about Instacart from Fortune’s video team:

Instacart deserves a high valuation, said Kleiner partner Mood Rowghani, because its convenience factor will drive the popularity of on-demand retail far beyond today’s levels.

“We see far-reaching potential beyond merely grocery,” he said, comparing Instacart to Amazon in its early days, when the online retailer focused only on books. “This business offers mainstream appeal.”

Other new investors in the latest round include Comcast Ventures, Dragoneer Investment Group, Thrive Capital, Valiant Capital, along with existing investors Andreessen Horowitz, Khosla Ventures and Sequoia. Instacart has now raised $275 million, it said.

All the funding is primary, Mehta said, meaning it is going to the company rather than for use to buy out existing shareholders such as early employees.

About the Author
By Reuters
See full bioRight Arrow Button Icon

Latest in Retail

Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025

Most Popular

Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Rankings
  • 100 Best Companies
  • Fortune 500
  • Global 500
  • Fortune 500 Europe
  • Most Powerful Women
  • Future 50
  • World’s Most Admired Companies
  • See All Rankings
Sections
  • Finance
  • Leadership
  • Success
  • Tech
  • Asia
  • Europe
  • Environment
  • Fortune Crypto
  • Health
  • Retail
  • Lifestyle
  • Politics
  • Newsletters
  • Magazine
  • Features
  • Commentary
  • Mpw
  • CEO Initiative
  • Conferences
  • Personal Finance
  • Education
Customer Support
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Customer Service Portal
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms Of Use
  • Single Issues For Purchase
  • International Print
Commercial Services
  • Advertising
  • Fortune Brand Studio
  • Fortune Analytics
  • Fortune Conferences
  • Business Development
About Us
  • About Us
  • Editorial Calendar
  • Press Center
  • Work At Fortune
  • Diversity And Inclusion
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map
  • Facebook icon
  • Twitter icon
  • LinkedIn icon
  • Instagram icon
  • Pinterest icon

Latest in Retail

Kroger CEO Greg Foran
SuccessCareers
Meet the serial CEO taking over Kroger: He started his career stacking supermarket shelves and went all in on retail at 17 thanks to his persistent mom
By Emma BurleighFebruary 11, 2026
12 hours ago
Melissa Bridgeford with her arms crossed
AIE-commerce
Exclusive: Marc Lore and Melissa Bridgeford’s Wizard emerges from stealth
By Lily Mae LazarusFebruary 11, 2026
15 hours ago
shopper
BankingFood and drink
Meat snacks have emerged as the clear winner in America’s seismic GLP-1 consumption shift, while popcorn is down
By Nick LichtenbergFebruary 10, 2026
1 day ago
spending
RetailU.S. retail sales
Economists surprised by consumer spending’s screeching halt in December
By Anne D'Innocenzio and The Associated PressFebruary 10, 2026
1 day ago
A Chipotle server looks up as she stands behind the counter holding a burrito bowl.
RetailFood and drink
Chipotle’s CEO isn’t worried about raising prices—most of his customers make more than $100k anyway
By Sasha RogelbergFebruary 10, 2026
1 day ago
Photo of woman in a sweater operating a thermostat
EnergyInflation
Americans are shocked by utility bills as high as $1,000: They’re paying the price for aging grids, fuel-price whiplash, and extreme weather
By Ashley LutzFebruary 10, 2026
1 day ago

Most Popular

placeholder alt text
Economy
America borrowed $43.5 billion a week in the first four months of the fiscal year, with debt interest on track to be over $1 trillion for 2026
By Eleanor PringleFebruary 10, 2026
2 days ago
placeholder alt text
Economy
It turns out that Joe Biden really did crush Americans' dreams for the future. Just look at how the vibe changed 5 years ago
By Jake AngeloFebruary 10, 2026
1 day ago
placeholder alt text
Commentary
Something big is happening in AI — and most people will be blindsided
By Matt ShumerFebruary 11, 2026
14 hours ago
placeholder alt text
Law
Law enforcement thought Nancy Guthrie's smart camera was disconnected, but Google Nest still had the tape
By Safiyah Riddle, Michael Liedtke and The Associated PressFebruary 11, 2026
17 hours ago
placeholder alt text
Law
Google's breakthrough in the Nancy Guthrie case is raising uncomfortable questions about how much it's watching you
By Ashley LutzFebruary 11, 2026
12 hours ago
placeholder alt text
C-Suite
Meet Jody Allen, the billionaire owner of the Seattle Seahawks, who plans to sell the team and donate the proceeds to charity
By Jake AngeloFebruary 9, 2026
2 days ago

© 2026 Fortune Media IP Limited. All Rights Reserved. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy | CA Notice at Collection and Privacy Notice | Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information
FORTUNE is a trademark of Fortune Media IP Limited, registered in the U.S. and other countries. FORTUNE may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Offers may be subject to change without notice.