#USA #Los Angeles #Y Combinator #Rev Delivery #Duffl

Rev Delivery Merges with Duffl

In a strategic move to revolutionize the campus delivery ecosystem, Rev Delivery has recently completed the acquisition of Duffl, a company recognized for pioneering ultra-fast delivery services across U.S. campuses. This merger creates a powerful synergy between Duffl’s established presence, marked by over $10 million in annual revenue, and the rapid growth trajectory of Rev Delivery, originally founded by UC Santa Barbara alumni Griffin Chen and Jesse Brodkin in 2023.

Duffl, a Y Combinator graduate, has garnered significant investment, totaling more than $13.5 million, which propelled its rapid scaling. By leveraging its network across various campuses, the company gained a competitive edge in the fast-evolving hyperlocal delivery market. The acquisition aims to combine the innovative delivery processes developed by Duffl with Rev Delivery’s expanding operational expertise, thus creating a unified platform that promises to redefine how goods are delivered on and around college campuses.

Both companies utilize electric scooters for logistics, which significantly enhances delivery efficiency. With a delivery fee calculated at just $1, their services are not only fast—typically in ten minutes or less—but also incredibly affordable for the student demographic they serve. The operational model involves hiring 100% student staff, enabling deep-rooted integration into campus life and better service delivery.

The vision for Rev Delivery was born from Chen and Brodkin’s own experiences as students. Upon their graduation, they surveyed other campuses and identified the University of Washington as their launch site, where they achieved an impressive $1.6 million in revenue in their inaugural year. As the founders reflected on their expansion strategies, Duffl approached them with an opportunity to merge their platforms, which they recognized as a remarkable chance to amalgamate insights and resources from both entities.

Griffin Chen stated, “Duffl demonstrated that hyperlocal delivery could scale effectively in the U.S., while Rev illustrated how a small, dedicated team could accelerate these operational models. Merging our two companies enables us to combine extensive data, brand value, and operational experiences.”

Following the acquisition, the leadership team analyzed various performance metrics across their delivery hubs. This analysis revealed that stores managed by founders consistently outperformed those run by employees in terms of growth, customer retention, and operational effectiveness. Recognizing the significant advantages of founder-led initiatives, the team decided to transition to a licensing model. This innovative approach empowers emerging entrepreneurs—mostly recent graduates or top-performing staff—to establish their own Duffl locations, fostering a sense of ownership and accountability.

The new model allows licensees to manage hiring, marketing, and operational activities while benefiting from Rev's established brand, software frameworks, and strategic partnerships, informed by extensive historical data. Currently, the network boasts eight licensed locations, and in just the past three months, six of those opened their doors. With several additional location launches planned for early 2026, the company has set ambitious expansion goals aimed at opening hundreds of new stores in the years ahead.

“We've built an empowering platform for campus entrepreneurs,” noted Jesse Brodkin, “and we believe the hyperlocal delivery model extends beyond college settings. It serves as a blueprint for optimizing delivery processes across the U.S. Small delivery radii, alongside tightly integrated networks, set a new standard for service excellence in the consumer delivery sector.”

This merger positions Rev Delivery and Duffl at the forefront of transforming the landscape of campus-based delivery services, providing students with swift access to essential goods while creating new opportunities for emerging entrepreneurs. The collaborative advance of these two dynamic companies represents an exciting next step in the evolution of hyperlocal delivery solutions.