“We want the local economy to thrive,” Uttam Mukherjee said Thursday, describing a new Seattle food delivery service launched two weeks ago in Ballard.
Mukherjee, co-owner of restaurant Spice Waala, teamed up with local entrepreneur Tim O’Connell to create Yaku, a food delivery website designed to rival DoorDash and Uber Eats. The service is not yet available as a mobile app, operating exclusively through its web platform while eyeing expansion to Capitol Hill and other Seattle neighborhoods in the coming weeks.
Yaku Sets Flat Delivery Fees and Lower Restaurant Costs
Yaku sets a flat delivery fee of $9.99 with zero added service charges for customers within a radius of several miles from participating restaurants. Mukherjee said that this delivery price tag could be discounted in the future as the business scales.
The platform charges restaurants a 10% fee, which includes credit card processing costs. By comparison, competitors like DoorDash and Uber Eats typically charge restaurant partners a fee ranging from 15% to 25%. DoorDash also tamps down order totals with a mix of bag fees, delivery fees, service fees, estimated taxes, driver tips, and a regulatory response fee implemented to cover increased operating expenses resulting from Seattle’s App-Based Worker Minimum Pay Ordinance.
W-2 Employee Model for Drivers
Unlike major delivery platforms that classify couriers as independent contractors, Yaku hires its drivers as W-2 employees. These workers receive guaranteed income for their scheduled shifts.
“Even if they get zero orders within those shifts, they’re still going to get paid,” Mukherjee said.
The startup currently lists local spots including Spice Waala, Pie Bird Bakeshop, Lil Woody’s, Ballard Pizza Company, and Rachel’s Bagels and Burritos, with three additional eateries slated to join shortly.
Expansion Plans Beyond Ballard
Yaku initially launched in Ballard to allow founders to remain hands-on during rollout, while banking on the neighborhood’s suburban feel to attract larger family orders. The pair has discussed the venture since 2020.
The website currently tracks ZIP codes of prospective customers and restaurants to map out future coverage zones. Mukherjee and O’Connell plan to bring the service to Capitol Hill next due to high local demand, while also noting increased interest from residents in Magnolia, Phinney Ridge, and Fremont.
“The key thing for us is going to be when we’re able to match enough density of restaurants with enough density of customers,” Mukherjee said.
