The Twenty Minute VC (20VC): Venture Capital | Startup Funding | The Pitch

20Growth: Uber's Expansion Playbook for Scaling from 10 Cities to $10BN in Revenue | How Uber Acquired 1M Drivers | How Uber Solved the Chicken and The Egg Problem in New Markets and What Uber Would Be Like with Travis Still There with Scott Gorlick

32 snips
Aug 30, 2024
Scott Gorlick, employee #99 at Uber, shares insights from his six years driving the company's growth. He reveals the driver acquisition playbook that brought in 1 million drivers and the unique strategies for expanding into new markets. Gorlick discusses how promotions influenced demand and why Uber often let Lyft test markets first. He reflects on leadership lessons learned from Travis Kalanick and the possible trajectory Uber could have followed under his guidance, highlighting the culture and followership he cultivated.
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ANECDOTE

First Uber Experience

  • Scott Gorlick's first Uber experience was in Chicago during rain when he couldn't find a taxi.
  • He then emailed Travis Kalanick directly, leading to his role as employee #99, launching Uber's 10th city.
ADVICE

Early Driver Acquisition

  • Start marketplaces by focusing on supply acquisition.
  • Early driver acquisition involved contacting drivers directly, offering incentives, and guaranteeing hourly pay.
ANECDOTE

Atlanta Demand Explosion

  • Initially, Uber's car utilization was very low in new cities.
  • However, demand in Atlanta suddenly exploded one Friday night, shifting the focus to scaling car supply.
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