[Semaphor]

The thing is not that Lyft takes longer or is more expensive. The thing is that Lyft is not an Uber competitor for the vast majority of the world. They are US only. In a few markets they have partnerships with local services, but that's it currently.

[a3n]

If Uber suffered hard enough, do you think VC money might shift or otherwise move into Lyft? Even if all of Uber's VC money vaporized? Billionaires gotta make a living too.

[enraged_camel]

>>If Uber suffered hard enough, do you think VC money might shift or otherwise move into Lyft?

Probably not. The main reason Uber got so much VC funding is because they promised investors that they would be treated as a technology services company, which would allow them to ignore various laws and regulations taxi companies are subject to and eventually drive them out of business to become a monopoly.

If Uber fails at executing this business model, it's not clear why investors would take a second chance with another company of the same type.

[seangrant]

Are these venture capitalists even seeing a return on their money? I was under the impression that with how much Uber receives and loses, the only people gaining are paid Uber employees and riders getting discounted rides.

Where does the profit come from, and does it go to the VC investors?

[rockinghigh]

Money only goes back to VCs in a liquidation event (IPO or sale). Uber may have made some deals to buy back shares but it has to be limited in scope.