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DoorDash Raises $40M, Led by Kleiner Perkins Caufield and Byers

blog.doordash.com

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Re: DoorDash Raises $40M, Led by Kleiner Perkins Caufield and Byers

#31

Post by beachstartup »

hayksaakian wrote: post #28
gmisra wrote: post #18

It's disappointing to see that the biggest "disruption" in the logistics space involves shifting risk further down the economic hierarchy. The most difficult part of last-mile logistics has been capacity planning, both human and infrastructure. And yet, much of this risk is now being pushed down to the entities least capable of absorbing it - what is the opportunity cost of being "available" as a DoorDash driver for…

On the bright side, you can "work for" dozens of on-demand services at once, and take work as you like. You reduce your opportunity costs by multiplying your availability (do Lyft and Uber for example). You can't work 40 hours a week for 5 different companies, but you can be available to 5 different "sharing economy" companies at once.

app idea: manage all of your service economy employee interfaces through one interface.

hell, this probably already exists.

Re: DoorDash Raises $40M, Led by Kleiner Perkins Caufield and Byers

#32

Post by mc32 »

gmisra wrote: post #18

It's disappointing to see that the biggest "disruption" in the logistics space involves shifting risk further down the economic hierarchy. The most difficult part of last-mile logistics has been capacity planning, both human and infrastructure. And yet, much of this risk is now being pushed down to the entities least capable of absorbing it - what is the opportunity cost of being "available" as a DoorDash driver for…

You're right in that these new labor markets, while they remove friction for entities in need of labor, potentially reduce the relative demand for a full time worker.

On the other hand, I would have loved this labor market as a college and university student.

The sad part is that we have an economy where mature adults are in jobs a highschooler could accomplish. No experience or skills necessary. It should not be that way, ideally, but that's how it is.

Re: DoorDash Raises $40M, Led by Kleiner Perkins Caufield and Byers

#33

Post by toomuchtodo »

mc32 wrote: post #32
gmisra wrote: post #18

It's disappointing to see that the biggest "disruption" in the logistics space involves shifting risk further down the economic hierarchy. The most difficult part of last-mile logistics has been capacity planning, both human and infrastructure. And yet, much of this risk is now being pushed down to the entities least capable of absorbing it - what is the opportunity cost of being "available" as a DoorDash driver for…

You're right in that these new labor markets, while they remove friction for entities in need of labor, potentially reduce the relative demand for a full time worker. On the other hand, I would have loved this labor market as a college and university student. The sad part is that we have an economy where mature adults are in jobs a highschooler could accomplish. No experience or skills necessary. It should not be tha…

> The sad part is that we have an economy where mature adults are in jobs a highschooler could accomplish. No experience or skills necessary. It should not be that way, ideally, but that's how it is.

As we continue to automate jobs away, the number of jobs everyone competes for is reduced (yes, yes, some new jobs will be created. How many employees did Whatsapp have?).

What do we do when those with a Bachelor's can't find a job? A Masters?

End game: Automation will continue to eat its way up the chain; we either figure it out with taxes, basic income, or some other form of redistribution, or you hope your robotic army stops mobs with pitchforks.

Re: DoorDash Raises $40M, Led by Kleiner Perkins Caufield and Byers

#34

Post by pkaye »

paul wrote: post #25
jaydz wrote: post #24

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Traditional jobs guarantee a wage for those 8 hours. Most on-demand services guarantee nothing. I'm glad DoorDash at least guarantees an hourly wage in some markets.

My brother-in-law quit a traditional job to drive for Uber, so he must think it's better. (also, he told me that for the first time, he's excited to work in the morning) It's a pretty competitive market -- if a service doesn't provide enough work, they won't be able to retain drivers (plus many people drive for multiple services, especially Uber/Lyft drivers).

How long has he been doing it?

Re: DoorDash Raises $40M, Led by Kleiner Perkins Caufield and Byers

#35

Post by mc32 »

toomuchtodo wrote: post #33
mc32 wrote: post #32

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You're right in that these new labor markets, while they remove friction for entities in need of labor, potentially reduce the relative demand for a full time worker. On the other hand, I would have loved this labor market as a college and university student. The sad part is that we have an economy where mature adults are in jobs a highschooler could accomplish. No experience or skills necessary. It should not be tha…

> The sad part is that we have an economy where mature adults are in jobs a highschooler could accomplish. No experience or skills necessary. It should not be that way, ideally, but that's how it is. As we continue to automate jobs away, the number of jobs everyone competes for is reduced (yes, yes, some new jobs will be created. How many employees did Whatsapp have?). What do we do when those with a Bachelor's can't…

I'm seeing the same endgame. How long it will take to get there i don't know. And how we deal with that future reality you alude to where there are only a few with actual work with concentrated power and a sea of people without jobs and even less power, is unknown. To be sure maybe we'll find a way to avoid this weird dystopia. Going back to the land, certainly is not a solution. Not with this population.

Re: DoorDash Raises $40M, Led by Kleiner Perkins Caufield and Byers

#36

Post by derefr »

paul wrote: post #25
jaydz wrote: post #24

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Traditional jobs guarantee a wage for those 8 hours. Most on-demand services guarantee nothing. I'm glad DoorDash at least guarantees an hourly wage in some markets.

My brother-in-law quit a traditional job to drive for Uber, so he must think it's better. (also, he told me that for the first time, he's excited to work in the morning) It's a pretty competitive market -- if a service doesn't provide enough work, they won't be able to retain drivers (plus many people drive for multiple services, especially Uber/Lyft drivers).

This is a case where money and happiness aren't really correlated. Remember, people get addicted to variable reward schedules, and get bored of fixed reward schedules. Want someone to be more excited to go to work? Flip a coin to determine whether they get paid each day!

Re: DoorDash Raises $40M, Led by Kleiner Perkins Caufield and Byers

#37

Post by sjg007 »

beachstartup wrote: post #31
hayksaakian wrote: post #28

Earlier quoted context omitted.

On the bright side, you can "work for" dozens of on-demand services at once, and take work as you like. You reduce your opportunity costs by multiplying your availability (do Lyft and Uber for example). You can't work 40 hours a week for 5 different companies, but you can be available to 5 different "sharing economy" companies at once.

app idea: manage all of your service economy employee interfaces through one interface. hell, this probably already exists.

if it doesn't it will.

Re: DoorDash Raises $40M, Led by Kleiner Perkins Caufield and Byers

#38

Post by pairing »

I use doordash quite often. Their delivery process is excellent and if you get two meals out of a delivery of one meal (the portions at most places are pretty large) the costs are comparable to eating out.

I'm glad to see they've received more funding. In the south bay at least, doordash far exceeds the competition for the variety of restaurants they offer.

The startup class talk by one of the founders was also quite good.

Re: DoorDash Raises $40M, Led by Kleiner Perkins Caufield and Byers

#40

Post by toomuchtodo »

mc32 wrote: post #35
toomuchtodo wrote: post #33

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> The sad part is that we have an economy where mature adults are in jobs a highschooler could accomplish. No experience or skills necessary. It should not be that way, ideally, but that's how it is. As we continue to automate jobs away, the number of jobs everyone competes for is reduced (yes, yes, some new jobs will be created. How many employees did Whatsapp have?). What do we do when those with a Bachelor's can't…

I'm seeing the same endgame. How long it will take to get there i don't know. And how we deal with that future reality you alude to where there are only a few with actual work with concentrated power and a sea of people without jobs and even less power, is unknown. To be sure maybe we'll find a way to avoid this weird dystopia. Going back to the land, certainly is not a solution. Not with this population.

Interesting times ahead for humanity, that's for sure.
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