John Zimmer

Ridesharing wasn't a thing 12 years ago when John Zimmer was in college. But a class on green cities got him thinking about the glut of underused cars on the road, and eventually led him to co-found Lyft, a company that has helped make ridesharing a way of life. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The early days of Zimrides [2:08]Driving early virality [7:56]Competing with Uber [15:47]Why they took political stances [27:03]Managing through the pandemic [38:09]The future focus for Lyft -- autonomous vehicles and the end of car ownership [42:50]Follow the a16z Club to join conversations with tech founders, builders, and leaders live and in-full.

John Zimmer, co-founder of Lyft, shares insights on navigating the challenges of the pandemic. He discusses a dramatic 75% drop in rides and the company's strategic shift into bike and scooter rentals. Zimmer addresses the complex issue of driver classifications, debating whether they should be viewed as independent contractors or employees. He emphasizes resilience in leadership, innovative urban mobility solutions, and the balance between benefitting drivers while maintaining flexibility. Personal coping strategies for entrepreneurs also take center stage.

Lyft cofounder John Zimmer discusses the origins of Lyft and the company's experimentation with driver incentives. He also emphasizes the importance of setting investment goals and checking stock prices less frequently.

John Zimmer, President and co-founder of Lyft, joins the conversation about the implications of Proposition 22 for gig workers, discussing evolving labor laws and the need for flexible worker benefits. The talk also dives into China's regulatory tightening on financial technology, sparked by Ant Group's halted IPO. Additionally, amid the backdrop of the COVID-19 vaccine rollout, Zimmer shares insights on market strategies and the future of ride-hailing services, highlighting how the gig economy is adapting to new challenges.