4 Years In – Uber raises 1.2B at 17B valuation(blog.uber.com)
blog.uber.com
4 Years In – Uber raises 1.2B at 17B valuation
http://blog.uber.com/4years
4 comments
There is more discussion at https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=7859084, so we'll call this one the dupe.
I think what they're doing is great. But does anyone else feel like "job creation" is a distracting data point? I can't help feel that companies like Uber are really just positioning themselves early for the self-driving car revolution that is coming. They will be in a very good position and heavily incentivized to switch to a driverless model once the technology arrives. Perhaps I'm premature in my expectations of how soon this will realistically happen.
Kalanick has already been quoted that he'll replace drivers. So you're definitely correct - http://pando.com/2014/05/28/travis-kalanick-i-cant-wait-for-...
I don't think that's incompatible with creating jobs now and I wouldn't fault them for it.
Even if they don't switch to that model, someone else will. Humans are a big expense.
The thought of a fleet of driverless electric taxis is amazing.
Technically they're raising at $18.2B or $18.4B in the typical sense of the word "valuation" since the 17 is pre-money.
Also, as an investor in such a late round, there are likely multiple provisions for getting your money back such that while a large investment, it may not be particularly risky. Even if Uber crashes and burns and gets acquired for only $3B, investors in this round probably still double their money.
Also, as an investor in such a late round, there are likely multiple provisions for getting your money back such that while a large investment, it may not be particularly risky. Even if Uber crashes and burns and gets acquired for only $3B, investors in this round probably still double their money.
They're making the world a better place.