Live data from Hacker News

End of the Line for Uber

mostlysignssomeportents.tumblr.com

41–42 of 42 posts

Re: End of the Line for Uber

#41
post #14

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I’ve wondered this because I’ve “just not understood how they can lose money.” I suppose during bankruptcy someone can buy their matchmaking tech and IP and relaunch without all that debt and overhead. Seems like a good target for someone to just run and pump cash out of as there should be a way to make money out of “market rate” * 15% fee for matchmaking. I mean taxis were profitable and this is just a better taxi a…

> I suppose during bankruptcy someone can buy their matchmaking tech and IP and relaunch without all that debt and overhead. Seems like a good target for someone to just run and pump cash out of as there should be a way to make money out of “market rate” * 15% fee for matchmaking. I don't see that happening but do you have examples where that strategy has worked (in tech)?

Iridium networks [0] initially launched with lots of capital and kind of only made it after stuff was sold at bankruptcy prices. Although I don’t think they are phenomenally successful.

I think there were a few dot coms that got bought out of bankruptcy by larger firms, maybe pets.com and toys.com (although toysrus is gone now).

Polaroid [1] too although I think that’s more branding than technology.

[0] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iridium_Communications [1]

Re: End of the Line for Uber

#42
post #14

Given the numbers of this article, we should expect Uber to go bankrupt within the next two years or so. I'm fairly cynical and find it a reasonable prediction, but even if you don't agree with me, please play along. My question then is, when Uber goes bankrupt, what happens then? Would it spook the market? There are after all many other companies that have floated on investor capital. Would this sort of event be eno…

I’ve wondered this because I’ve “just not understood how they can lose money.” I suppose during bankruptcy someone can buy their matchmaking tech and IP and relaunch without all that debt and overhead. Seems like a good target for someone to just run and pump cash out of as there should be a way to make money out of “market rate” * 15% fee for matchmaking. I mean taxis were profitable and this is just a better taxi a…

The value is in their user base and driver portfolio. If they're worth anything, it's the contracts they have with drivers and cities to host an automated taxi dispatching service via mobile phones.
Post reply on HN