This Week in Startups

Dara Khosrowshahi, Bill Gurley, Brad Gerstner, & Jason Calacanis on Uber's growth and future | E1878

19 snips
Jan 12, 2024
Dara Khosrowshahi, CEO of Uber, recounts his initial hesitations about joining the company before leading it to profitability. Joined by Bill Gurley, a legendary venture capitalist, and Brad Gerstner from Altimeter Capital, they explore Uber's financial resilience during COVID-19 and effective crisis management strategies. They discuss the competitive landscape, the balance between growth and profitability, and how AI is shaping Uber's future. Insights into startup financing and innovations in the gig economy wrap up an engaging conversation.
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ANECDOTE

Dara's Initial Hesitation

  • Dara Khosrowshahi initially rejected the Uber CEO role, citing contentment at Expedia.
  • Daniel Ek, Spotify CEO, convinced him to reconsider, emphasizing Uber's global impact.
INSIGHT

Early Investors' Experience

  • Uber's early investors saw the product's magic after experiencing its seamless functionality firsthand.
  • Initial skepticism existed until investors witnessed a live demo of the cab-hailing process.
INSIGHT

Impact of Valuations on Founders

  • High valuations can influence founders to chase growth at the expense of sound business practices.
  • This pressure to justify inflated valuations can lead to overspending and poor decision-making.
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