Grocery startup Gorillas is in line for a billion-dollar funding round despite spectacularly falling out with an investor last month.
The company, which is based in Berlin but delivers to six UK cities, pencilled in a $400 million investment with US giant DoorDash this summer.
However, the deal fell apart after Gorillas tried to secure a different backer, looking for a higher valuation than the agreed $2.5 billion.
Financial Times sources claim chief executive Kağan Sümer chafed against DoorDash’s plans to stop Gorillas rapidly expanding across the US.
READ MORE: Gorillas boss accused of ‘swearing and screaming’ at workers
The startup now looks set to reach a $3 billion valuation – well below the $6 billion price tag it sought earlier this year – through a $950 million funding round led by Delivery Hero.
The takeaway titan, also headquartered in Berlin, is expected to contribute $235 million.
A representative for Delivery Hero told Bloomberg it was “always looking for new opportunities to drive the industry forward”.
A Gorillas spokesperson declined to comment on “funding speculations.”
DoorDash recently agreed to invest $400 million in Flink, a German rival of Gorillas which claims to deliver groceries in ten minutes.
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