In this episode, Pete Flint and James Currier discuss the Lyft IPO, comparing the ridesharing market to the airline industry and exploring Lyft's expansion into scooters. They delve into the future of autonomous vehicles, supply side innovation, and the influence of Wall Street on company strategies. They also touch on the importance of founders' control and Lyft's potential dominance in smaller markets.
Pete Flint & James Currier of NFX discuss Lyft's upcoming IPO, the defensibility of the ridesharing business model, and what Lyft should do next.
Check out our past Inside the Marketplace episode on Lyft here - https://soundcloud.com/nfxpodcast/inside-the-marketplace-uber-nfx-podcast
(0:00) Introduction and discussion on Lyft IPO and Network effect IPOs in 2019
(6:09) Comparing the ridesharing market to the airline industry and the importance of branding
(9:34) Lyft's expansion into the scooter business and the race to own the consumer transportation app
(12:01) The future of autonomous vehicles in ridesharing and Lyft's strategy for sustainability
(15:30) The importance of supply side innovation for long term profitability and diverse supply options
(19:22) The experience of Trulia and Zillow going public and Wall Street's influence on company strategies
(24:33) The benefits of founders maintaining control and focusing on long term goals
(26:38) James Currier's take on Lyft's approach and autonomous units
(29:20) The advantages of Lyft becoming a dominant platform in smaller markets
(30:17) The impending public debut of Lyft and its impact on the market and the contrasting cultures of Lyft and Uber
