HD in HD How Deliveroo Got Acquired by Doordash for $3.9B | Will Shu
Oct 31, 2025
Will Shu, founder and former CEO of Deliveroo, shares the journey of transforming a local food delivery gap into a global powerhouse. He discusses the challenges of managing operations, regulatory scrutiny, and how Deliveroo distinguished itself from rivals like Uber. Shu reflects on the strategic reasons for DoorDash's $3.9 billion acquisition and explores potential lessons from both companies. He also touches on the impact of AI and automation in the delivery landscape and the personal sacrifices of being a founder.
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Market Was Much Bigger Than Expected
- The food delivery market turned out far larger than early skeptics believed.
- Consumers prioritized convenience, selection, and a polished product over price concerns.
Network Effects Are Local
- Deliveroo's network effects were hyper-local, strongest neighborhood-by-neighborhood.
- Scale helps with shared tech and ops but doesn't create national-level marketplace moats.
Scale In Big Markets Buys Competitive Power
- Will describes how having dominant market share in a large country generates cash to fight globally.
- He cites the U.S. and China as places where scale funds aggressive expansion.