The Rise and Fall of WhyQ

When WhyQ burst onto Singapore's food delivery scene, it was all the rage. Delivering beloved local hawker meals right to your door for just S$1.50? Who wouldn't love that? But a turn of events has left the once-celebrated platform in dire straits.

User Complaints and Employee Woes

Disgruntled customers have filed numerous complaints with CASE (Consumers Association of Singapore), citing everything from delayed deliveries to cancelled orders. Adding to the chaos, former employees have alleged they were met with late salary payments. With multiple strategic shifts and conflicting statements from its founders, questions loom over WhyQ's sustainability in the fiercely competitive food delivery market.

How It All Began

Founded in 2016, WhyQ aimed to provide hawker meal deliveries during lunch hours in Singapore’s Central Business District. Born from co-founders Varun Saraf and Rishabh Singhvi's frustrations with lengthy queues and limited delivery options in their banking jobs, the duo invested S$100,000 of their savings to kickstart the venture, soon securing an additional S$150,000 from angel investors.

Initial Success and Expansion

By 2018, WhyQ expanded its reach, offering islandwide delivery even before the pandemic struck. Though Varun later claimed this was a pandemic pivot, the groundwork for residential deliveries was already laid.

Economic Strategy Under Pressure

While WhyQ initially appeared to have a winning strategy—lower delivery costs and a focus on hawker meals—doubts about its profitability began to emerge. The company’s pre-order model aimed at optimizing routes and minimizing manpower, which seemed to yield results, with revenues reportedly hitting S$9 million by the end of 2019.

Pandemic Boom Becomes a Bust

But as the COVID-19 pandemic led to a surge in demand, it also revealed cracks under pressure. Users experienced delivery delays and soaring costs, undermining the original promise of affordable hawker food. Foul-ups escalated to the point where CASE received official complaints regarding unfulfilled orders.

Internal Turmoil and Lost Promises

Inside the company, discontent reigned. Employees complained of wallet-emptying delays in salaries and unfulfilled bonus promises. Varun attributed these issues to reliance on third-party delivery services, which often faltered.

What’s Next for WhyQ?

Despite its challenges, WhyQ attempted to innovate, developing partnerships to help hawkers digitize their operations. Yet, questions remain about the effectiveness of its various initiatives and product launches.

A New Direction?

As of late, WhyQ has reportedly pivoted towards B2B corporate deliveries, serving customizable meal programs for companies. Varun claims this change has boosted delivery efficiency and revenue, yet doubts linger over its viability in the competitive consumer space.

Conclusion: The Future of WhyQ in Question

Despite raising significant funds, WhyQ’s trajectory suggests a struggle to find a coherent strategy. Will it adapt to survive or fade into obscurity? For now, customers and stakeholders can only watch and wait to see if the platform can reclaim its initial charm or if it’s destined for further decline.