Companies applying Uber's aggressive growth strategies might face several obstacles. Firstly, they might face legal and regulatory challenges, as Uber did when it clashed with taxi unions and local governments. Secondly, they might face backlash from the public or existing industry players. Thirdly, the cost of such aggressive growth can be high, as it often involves significant investment and potential losses. To overcome these obstacles, companies could ensure they have a strong legal team to navigate regulatory challenges, build good relationships with all stakeholders, and ensure they have sufficient funding to support their growth strategies.

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Super Pumped: The Battle for Uber

Learn how Uber's growth was fuelled by obsessive product focus, broken rules, growth at all costs and minimal bureaucracy from the book that inspired...

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Kalanick had designed Uber for battle with the taxi unions and local governments. He considered local transportation hopelessly compromised with cronyism and regulatory capture. When Uber entered a new city, it moved so fast that, before the officials arrived, Uber would hit critical mass, which made it difficult for officials to shut down a large fleet that was popular with citizens. Uber urged drivers to stay on the road even if ticketed. The company would bear all costs. To Kalanick, fines and tickets were just the cost of business.

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Regulatory capture is a theory associated with economics and political science. It occurs when a regulatory agency, created to act in the public interest, instead advances the commercial or special interests that dominate the industry or sector it is charged with regulating. In the context of "Super Pumped: The Battle for Uber", the term is used to describe the situation where local transportation is heavily influenced or controlled by taxi unions and local governments, leading to a lack of competition and innovation. Uber, under Kalanick's leadership, aimed to disrupt this by rapidly establishing its services in new cities, reaching a critical mass of users before regulatory bodies could effectively intervene. This strategy often led to conflicts with local authorities, but Uber viewed any resulting fines or tickets as simply a cost of doing business.

The strategies presented in Super Pumped: The Battle for Uber can be applied in various real-world scenarios. For instance, the idea of moving fast and hitting critical mass before regulatory bodies can intervene can be applied in any disruptive business model. This strategy can help businesses establish a strong user base and make it difficult for regulators to shut them down. Additionally, the concept of bearing all costs, including fines and tickets, can be seen as a form of aggressive investment in growth, which can be applied in scenarios where businesses need to take calculated risks to achieve rapid expansion. However, it's important to note that these strategies should be used responsibly and ethically, considering the controversies Uber faced due to its aggressive tactics.

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