In a very short period of time, Uber outclassed typical cab services and became a leader in the ride-sharing market, leaving the competition speechless and wondering how it achieved such a fast and outstanding success.
In a very short period of time, the company outclassed typical cab services and became a leader in the ride-sharing market, leaving the competition speechless and wondering how it achieved such a fast and outstanding success.
There are multiple reasons behind it. The investigation of all those causes, along with a wider understanding of the markets and their demands, can allow many other startups to get inspired and understand the mechanics of operating a successful business in modern times.
Uber made it convenient
One of the main reasons why Uber became so popular was its focus on people’s convenience. First of all, Uber made it easy for clients to order a ride since it operates on the internet – all they need is the Uber app.
Moreover, it also made it convenient for potential employees to start working for the company, as all they really need is a car, a driving license, and the will to work. The car doesn’t even have to belong to them – they can simply click here.
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The lesson to take from this point is to think about what people care about the most: In this case, it was the convenience of services and saving valuable time.
Uber found the answer to existing problems
Uber did an outstanding job identifying the existing need in society for fast, on-demand transportation services operated through the internet. The founders realised the problems with public transportation in big cities, as well as the typically poor service of cab companies and their high prices, and decided to create a service that will be new, fresh, and deprived of those issues.
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Understanding the popularity of Uber through the lens of finding a demand for the product can help many startups make their first steps in any field.
Uber was the first of its kind
Uber became so popular because it was something new. As the first ride-sharing company, the firm established a strong brand presence and recognition for the years to come.
Similarly, a good startup should not try to follow other companies’ example, but instead, they should find a new path allowing them to carve out their own share of the market and create a unique imperium.
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The three advantages above might explain why Uber became so popular in a very short period of time. Now, the question is: will this success last?
Uber growth problem
For a while now, Uber has been facing a lot of criticism due to its aggressive growth strategy.
As we all have read in the press, Uber uses questionable tactics to acquire new drivers and clients and to convert clients into regular users. The company has a history of fighting with individual governments that want to impose their own rules on Uber’s ride-sharing services.
Needless to say, these actions did not please everyone, and many regulators around the world decided to sanction Uber for its violations of local laws.
Cease-and-desist letter from the California Public Utilities Commission
For instance, in December 2015, the California Public Utilities Commission sent a cease-and-desist letter to Travis Kalanick, the CEO of Uber, and ordered him to halt the company’s operations in California. The specific reason for that was the fact that Uber was using its drivers in California without having a proper license required for ride-sharing companies.
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What’s even more striking about this matter is that Kalanick responded by saying that it would be impossible to comply with such a request from the regulator. In other words, Uber refused to obey the cease-and-desist order and managed to continue operating normally.
How Uber creates favouritism
Uber further angered its critics when it revealed its “Greyball” program, which makes it possible to create unique fingerprinting tools designed to identify local regulators who are working on stopping Uber’s illegal operations around the world. Moreover, Uber has been accused of using these identifying tools to block these regulators from booking cars via its app.
What’s even more concerning is that apparently, the company keeps this operation secret and intentionally hides its existence from both drivers and clients. This lack of transparency has made many people suspicious about what else is hidden behind the walls of this company that we are not privy to know.
#DeleteUber
One of the most recent negative things that happened to Uber was a promotional campaign titled #DeleteUber, which urged clients and potential clients to unsubscribe from the app due to the unfair treatment taken against users who criticized Trump’s refugee ban as well as the immigration ban on people coming to the US from seven predominantly Muslim countries.
Essentially, after many celebrities expressed their discontentment with Trump’s decision through Twitter, taxi drivers in New York decided to support them by staying away from JFK Airport in a protest against the ban.
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Uber took advantage of the protest and turned off surge pricing, thereby reducing the cost of its service to a level lower than that offered by cab companies and other ride-sharing services operating in New York that were not taking part in the strike. Uber later apologised for this action, however, this is just one example of how the company has been treating its clients in general.
The Bottom Line
The truth is that regardless of the dubious business practices used by Uber in the past, it is still the best ride-sharing company in the world, and there simply aren’t that many great alternatives to dethrone it.
Sure, in some regions of the world Lyft or Bolt may have a chance of becoming as popular as Uber, or even be considered to be better, but on the global scale, Uber is dominant, and it looks like it’s going to stay that way for the foreseeable future.
This is because it was the first company of its kind, which allowed it to amass capital much earlier than its competitors. Thanks to its early arrival, most people now associate ride-sharing with Uber — the word has even become a verb synonymous with hailing a ride other than a yellow cab!
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A brand-new immersive ‘walking theatre’ and XR experience has landed in Greater Manchester
Danny Jones
We hear the word immersive thrown around a lot these days, but if the notion of walking through some of your favourite fantasy and sci-fi worlds in a state-of-the-art XR tour doesn’t fit the definition, we don’t know what does.
Get ready to pull on a headset and be dropped into a different universe, Mancs.
This is Immersia XR: an industry-leading immersive entertainment and XR (extended reality) experience has just been unveiled right here in Greater Manchester.
Anyone for a ride on a magic carpet?
Credit: The Manc GroupCredit: Immersia XR (supplied)
Immersia XR specialises in what they call ‘Walking XR Theatre – a new term for a new kind of experience’, and boasts big plaudits across the board, with an average Google rating of 4.8 from dozens of reviews already.
Having just made its Manchester debut to the public at Trafford Palazzo (located right next to 0161’s famous Trafford Centre) this summer, the new addition brings cutting-edge technology blended with iconic family-favourite tales in an “unforgettable walk-through format.”
A lucky few have been treated to our first time, including us here at The Manc, and you’ll have to take our word for it when we tell you it’s a truly incredible experience.
It’s the first of its kind in the UK and Europe, and although there are other similar VR and AR offerings around the region, you won’t find anything quite like ‘walking theatre’ and this free-roam experience.
Credit: Supplied
As you can see above, there are a number of experiences to be enjoyed right from the off, including two modes inspired by childhood classics, Alice in Wonderland and Tales of Aladdin.
Ever fancied trying your hand as an astronaut and walking on the surface of the moon as you look back at the Earth below? Course you have! No training involved in this one, either.
Take that, Katy Perry, you can keep your short-lived Blue Origin nonsense to yourself.
Immersia XR’s ambition doesn’t stop there, though, as they are also preparing to introduce the exciting new ‘Terracotta Army’ experience in the near future.
Here’s a glimpse at how it looks inside the goggles.
Already open to the public and running up until Sunday, 6 July 2025, Immersia XR is fun for all ages, with kid-friendly zones and accessible narratives built into the experience.
Best of all, there are actually very few bells and whistles; no screens, no controllers – it’s just you walking through the story of your choice.
Immersia XR’s founder, Ian Xiang, said: “We’re not just launching a new attraction—we’re pioneering the future of storytelling. Walking XR Theatre is where cinema, theatre, and technology converge to create magic. You don’t just watch the story—you walk through it.”
Tickets are on sale now, with adult prices starting from only £17, children (ages 3–15) from just £12, and family tickets (2 adults, 2 kids) from £54. Great value for money.
Concession tickets are also available for students and over-65s, priced from £16, and group bookings of 10 or more receive 10% off. You can even get 20% off all ticket types with the early bird code: PRESS20. You can grab yours HERE.
5 Easter foods that are toxic to dogs and what to do if they eat them
Emily Sergeant
With Easter upon us, and households nationwide tucking into a feast of chocolate treats and festive leftovers, we need to make sure we keep an eye on those food vacuums.
And by food vacuums, we of course mean our four-legged friends.
We all know that a lot of themed foods and sugary goodness tends to get consumed over the Easter period, and with so much to make your way through, it can be tempting to treat your dogs to some of the leftovers.
But did you know that some common Easter foods can actually make them seriously ill? This is why it’s so important to know which ones should be avoided.
Whilst it’s perfectly fine to offer your pooch small snacks in moderation, there’s lots of foods around at this time of year that your dog may help themselves to if they aren’t stored away, and many of them are extremely toxic – so pet expert and founder of Yappy.com, John Smith, has highlighted which are dangerous for our dogs, what to do if they do consume them, and some of the safer choices to dogs as a well-deserved treat.
Here’s five Easter foods that are toxic to dogs.
Did you know that some common Easter foods can actually make dogs seriously ill? / Credit: Pxfuel
1. Chocolate
Chocolate is obviously one of the most popular treats to find in homes during Easter, but it contains a chemical called theobromine, which is seriously harmful to dogs, and this means that eating even a small amount of chocolate can have serious consequences and result in symptoms such as vomiting, diarrhea, seizures, and death in some serious cases.
2. Hot Cross Buns
Hot Cross Buns are another delicious Easter food that should be kept far away as most contain dried fruit such as raisins, sultanas, and currants, which are toxic to dogs.
The reasons behind why these fruits are toxic is a bit of a mystery, as some dogs have eaten large amounts of dried fruit without feeling unwell, whereas others have become unwell after eating just a small amount – but John says it’s “definitely best to err on the side of caution” and make your own buns using a vet-approved dog-friendly recipe that you can enjoy together as a family without fear.
3. Cooked Bones
Cooked bones come with serious health risks for dogs.
Although they aren’t poisonous, they’re prone to splitting when gnawed and chewed, and this can lead to bone fragments getting stuck in their throats – which can result in choking.
4. Bulb Vegetables
Bulb vegetables are a roast dinner essential, but those such as onions and garlic can cause nasty stomach upsets for dogs, and in some cases, can even cause red blood cell damage, so it’s better to keep them on your plate and out of your pets’ mouths.
5. Meat Skin
It may be tempting to give your dog skin from the leftover chicken, or a fatty piece of meat – but this is far too rich for their tummies, and in some of the worst cases, it can cause inflammation of their pancreas.
Properly-cooked boneless pieces of chicken added to their dog food bowl is a better way to involve them in the Easter fun without risking their health.
Chocolate and hot cross buns are just some of the Easter foods toxic to dogs / Credit: Pexels & FreeImages
What should I do if my pet has eaten something it shouldn’t have?
Even if your pet has only eaten a small amount of these foods, it’s important to do the following:
Call the vet straight away – Don’t wait for your pet to start showing symptoms. A vet will be able to offer advice, and the quicker you act, the better chance your pet will have of recovery.
Note the time and quantity of food ingested – Provide the vet with as much information as you can. This includes the time your pet ate the unsafe food, brand names, the ingredient list and how much you think they consumed.
Don’t try to make your pet sick – Attempting this can cause further health complications. Leave this to your vet, as they are trained to do this in a safe manner.
John adds that dog owners should “keep any dangerous Easter foods well out of paws reach in a high cupboard”, and check that floors are “clear of toxic food scraps” that children may have dropped during Easter egg hunts and parties.
The Manc -
16th February 2021 
