goPuff announces plans for new Philly HQ backed by a $400K state grant

Backed by a $400,000 state grant, delivery startup goPuff will set out to build a new 30,000-square-foot headquarters at 3rd and Spring Garden, as well as a blitz of 10 new warehouse operations across Pennsylvania.

The $4 million project will result, the company says, in 150 new full-time jobs at its main offices, plus another 400 warehouse jobs by 2022. Spokesperson Liz Romaine said it plans to relocate its HQ from its current location, a 7,000 square feet hub in Callowhill. There’s no definitive timeline for the move, Romaine said.

“We are proud to invest in Philadelphia as we grow our footprint and are grateful for the support of the city as well as Governor Wolf’s economic development team to help us realize our expansion,” said cofounder Yakir Gola. “We strive to ingrain Philadelphia’s culture as part of goPuff.”

Gola cofounded goPuff alongside Rafael Ilishayev in 2013 when the pair were Drexel University students. In 2016, the company secured an $8.25-million Series A round to fuel their expansion to new markets. It currently serves 48 markets in the U.S. and looks to bring that number up to 60 by year’s end.

“We consider Philadelphia our first investor,” Ilishayev said. “We would not have been able to scale our business as quickly and deliver the moments that matter most to our customers had it not been for the support of the city and the state.”

The Department of Community and Economic Development backed goPuff’s plans for growth with a $400,000 Pennsylvania First grant; goPuff is paying for the rest of the project’s cost.

“goPuff is a great example of how Pennsylvania’s strengths in aspects like education, workforce development, and economic stability have led to a climate where startups thrive,” said Governor Tom Wolf. “My administration is committed to providing the support needed by companies like goPuff as they grow.”

Win some, lose some, we guess?