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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Yungblud channels a bit of magic that’d make Ozzy proud on huge headline night in Manchester
Danny Jones
A darkened arena erupts into life as Yungblud storms the AO Arena main stage for his biggest Manchester show to date.
He flickers across the giant screens, projected against a curtain that stretches the full width of the AO Arena. Then that unmistakable Doncaster drawl cuts through the noise, urging the audience to make some noise (even more of it), and they oblige – gladly.
When the lights come up, a barrage of lights flickers, pyrotechnics explode, and chaos ensues. Manchester crowds are no strangers to Yungblud; he’s a livewire performer with seemingly endless energy, a proclivity for raw emotion, and a fiercely loyal fanbase: the self-proclaimed ‘Black Hearts Club’.
Dressed in a grungy pair of Chrome Hearts leather trousers, a leopard-print waistcoat and sunglasses so thick he could look directly at the sun with no issues, he tears straight into the opening track (Hello Heaven, Hello) with barely a second to breathe.
He then pauses – hands extended to the crowd, a cheeky grin – and bang: confetti fills the room.
If previous Manchester shows hinted at his stamina, this one confirms it. The scale may be bigger, but the intensity hasn’t dipped. The floor quickly becomes a sea of movement, with mosh pits swelling and collapsing in waves, sending bodies ricocheting across the arena.
It’s the kind of gig where you’re never quite safe from getting drenched either – water cups are less for drinking and more for launching, with sprays arcing out over the front rows like some kind of punk rock baptism of fire. So many flames.
The audience was on the ball; at one point, Yungblud’s comb was hurled into the crowd. Showgoers in the area tussled over the item for a minute before returning to the mayhem unfolding around them.
Part conductor, part chaos agent, part mic-wielding cowboy, he commands the room with ease. The mic stand, placed in front of him between each song by the production team, is repeatedly cast to the back of the stage, and he flails the mic above his head on more than one occasion – always catching it again before it can strike anyone else. It’s reckless, but never careless.
Because beneath the sweat and noise, there’s something more deliberate at play. His speeches on identity, equality, belonging and mental health feel less like interludes and more like the backbone of the entire night.
This isn’t just performance: it’s a space he’s actively shaping, one where thousands feel seen. Towards the back end of the set, he invites the whole crowd to look left and right and tell each other how much they f***ing love one another.
Tracks like ‘Loner’, ‘Lowlife’ and ‘Zombie’ land with particular weight, their messages amplified by a crowd that knows every word. At one point, the lights swing out over the audience, and for a moment the focus shifts – not just to the performer, but to the community he’s built.
With a touching tribute to the late, great Ozzy Osbourne, Yungblud is visibly emotional, with tears in his eyes for his dearly departed friend. And if the ringing in my ears is anything to go by, I’m pretty sure Ozzy heard it and was looking down with pride.
If you haven’t guessed by now, Yungblud knows how to command a room, but things definitely took a turn when he invited a member of the crowd on stage.
Holding a poster that read something along the lines of “I can play guitar”, she was brought up and proceeded to absolutely bring the house down, performing alongside him for a song. Daisy, hats off – you absolutely SMASHED it.
Congratulations are in order as well to the happy couple who got engaged at the gig. We really hope your first dance is to a Yungblud track.
Even in a venue of this size, he moves like he’s trying to outpace it; sprinting, leaping, barely standing still long enough to catch a breath. It’s hard not to feel like this is still just a stepping stone. Because if he can command a room like this with such force, it’s not a stretch to imagine Yungblud scaling even bigger stages before long.
Loud, relentless and emotionally charged, this wasn’t just a gig, it was a statement – a place to escape the struggles of day-to-day life and bolster an ever-growing community built on all the right things: acceptance, harmony, and just a little bit of chaos. In short, he’s welcome back anytime.
Rochdale AFC vs York City is set upto be one of the most blockbuster title-deciding matches ever
Danny Jones
In case you haven’t been keeping track of the absolutely incredible story that’s been unfolding in the National League, local club Rochdale AFC and York City have put on one of THE very best season-long shows in recent memory, and it’s all set to be decided this Saturday, 25 April.
Despite both teams having surpassed the 100-point mark and only losing 10 games between them – just four in the case of current ‘favourites’, York – it’s still anyone’s guess as to who could win the title.
One of the most divisive but undeniable dramatic things about non-league‘s top division is that only one team is promoted: the one that wins the lot and lifts the trophy.
At present, the table toppers need just a draw to claim victory and wrap up what has been nothing short of an incredible 2025/26 term, but Rochdale need all three points to pip them to the post after an equally praiseworthy campaign. We can all agree it would make for quite the Hollywood ending.
We’re obviously biased towards the Greater Manchester hopeful, but it’s worth mentioning that The Dale have been just as good value for money in terms of entertainment this year.
Having most recently finished with yet another late goal in (get this) the 99th minute of extra time against Braintree last weekend, it’s basically become a habit for them over the past few months.
Mani Dieseruvwe’s winner is just the latest in a long line of similar blockbuster moments for Rochdalians, both home and away: Luke Hannant won it in the 90th minute to beat Wealdstone in the previous game, Ian Henderson netted in the 97th against Sutton United before that.
There’s also been plenty of goals post the 80-minute mark, and so on and so forth.
Honestly, there have been so many of these at-the-death moments during the 25/26 contest; here’s just one of many examples that produced unbelievable limbs in recent weeks…
York City beat these boys 4-1 in the reverse fixture, but how will they fare on the road?
Weren’t not exaggerating when we say there’s been so much last-minute bedlam from both outfits that you’d think the novelty might have possibly worn off by now – a bit Ross and Rachel, ‘will they, won’t they?’. Rest assured, it absolutely hasn’t.
Not a little bit.
Currently sitting just two points behind their Yorkshire title rivals, with a goal difference of nearly 50 to boot, in most instances, this would be far and away enough to make it over the line most years.
However, the Minstermen have had other ideas, leading the pack pretty much from day one, not only racking up 107 points but also amassing a whopping 105 goals so far – quite literally the same number of points that Jimmy McNulty’s squad have in their entirety up to this point.
Truly staggering stuff, and not just in terms of the stats themselves, but because this could still prove not enough to lift the all-important piece of silverware and secure a place back in the EFL. It’s already produced plenty of hold-your-breath level viral clips on social media:
York City’s players reactions to Rochdale’s 99th minute winner to deny them winning the league😂😂😂
With that in mind, it’s no surprise that Rochdale have sold all of their home tickets to fill the max capacity of the 10,249-seater stadium as they prepare to host the league leaders at the Crown Oil Arena.
Equally, the entire 850 allocation afforded to fans travelling from York was snapped up in less than 10 minutes earlier this month, with supporters queuing around the ground at the crack of dawn to secure their spot in what will be an unforgettable and no doubt crucial away end.
We have no idea how things are going to pan out, especially given all the players and plot points that have made this one of the most box office title sporting contests ever (you heard), but we do know that it’ll be a day that stays with all those involved forever.
The two sides have even penned a joint statement ahead of this highly anticipated conclusion, reiterating this as the best advert for the tier teetering on the edge of the professional pyramid: “This Saturday’s game brings an end to one of the most thrilling, exciting and unpredictable title races in football history.
Both ourselves and Rochdale have the chance to write our names in National League history. The National League is no longer a non-league competition. It is effectively a League 3, with fully professional clubs operating at a level equal to or higher than many of those in League 2.”
They all know how much this one game means not just for the respective organisations and fan bases, but their communities, culture and native areas on the whole.
Kyron Gordon wants Rochdale fans to bring the energy tomorrow 💥 An exclusive Kyron Gordon interview features in NL72 | Promotion Race Preview, which is free to watch on DAZN with no sign up required ▶️
It continues: “We both understand how important this game is to both clubs and supporters. We both pledge now that whatever happens tomorrow, we will both continue to fight for 3UP.
“Both clubs sit on over 100 points. One of us will have to fight once more in the National League Play-Offs. However, we both strongly believe that this shouldn’t have to be the case.
“We call on the National League, Football Regulator, EFL and Premier League to come together immediately and resolve this issue, so that we do not have to highlight this injustice year after year.”
Rousing stuff, to be sure.
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They sign off by adding: “For both sets of supporters attending the Crown Oil Arena this weekend, we say thank you for being with us all season. The passion you’ve shown for both clubs has been felt across the world. This game will be seen far and wide.
“We want to showcase this league for all its potential. Keep your support in the stands, not on the pitch, and let’s all protect the game we love. Thank you! Rochdale AFC & York City FC.”
Naturally, we’re wishing all the best for Rochdale, but who do you fancy to put a ribbon on this truly unreal title race?
The Manc -
16th February 2021 
