Y Combinator Startup Podcast

How to Build the Future: Tony Xu

123 snips
Mar 26, 2025
Tony Xu, co-founder and CEO of DoorDash, shares his journey from the startup's early days to becoming the largest food delivery platform in the US. He emphasizes the importance of a long-term vision and customer obsession. The discussion includes overcoming near-death experiences, securing funding during tough times, and the critical insights gained from listening to customer needs. Xu reflects on navigating the challenges of the pandemic while expanding DoorDash into new markets and highlights the necessity of balancing digital innovation with real-world logistics.
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ANECDOTE

Humble Beginnings

  • DoorDash began as Palo Alto Delivery, a simple website with PDFs of local restaurant menus.
  • Orders were placed via a Google Voice number that rang all four founders' phones.
ANECDOTE

Early Adopters

  • Early DoorDash customers, primarily moms, provided valuable feedback without incentives.
  • Their repeat business validated consumer demand for the service.
INSIGHT

Driver Motivation

  • Drivers' motivations extended beyond pure monetary incentives, as shown by an early experiment.
  • This revealed the importance of understanding the target workforce's values.
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