Entrepreneurial Thought Leaders (ETL) Stanley Tang (DoorDash) - Scaling the Unscalable
May 14, 2025
Stanley Tang, Co-founder and chief product officer of DoorDash, dives into his entrepreneurial journey that began at Stanford. He reflects on the early chaotic days of the company, illustrating how pivotal moments shaped their commitment to customer service. Tang discusses navigating challenges, from fierce competition to financial crises, highlighting the adaptability required during the pandemic. He emphasizes the importance of resilience and core values in scaling a once-unscalable idea into a thriving $75 billion business.
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Do Things That Don’t Scale
- Doing things that don't scale early helped DoorDash understand every detail of their business.
- This hands-on approach is critical before automating with software and technology.
Series C Near-Bankruptcy Crisis
- DoorDash faced near bankruptcy during Series C fundraising with only two months runway left.
- They cut burn rate by half after an emergency meeting, buying precious time to secure funding.
Suburbs Drive Delivery Density
- DoorDash focused on suburbs instead of urban cores to find delivery density and efficiency.
- This contrarian suburb strategy became key to their operational advantage and market position.