> all the bloat and corruption of the taxi industry PLUS local municipalities getting their cut
Isn't that simply capitalism? An analog: iPhones default to google for web searches because google paid Apple $1b to keep it the default. Yet we typically don't call this bloat or corruption.
Hertz (or whoever it is these days) is the closest car rental at every airport because they pay the airport the most for this scarce resource.
Yes, this makes it difficult for new entrants into the marketplace. But, don't blame corruption, blame capitalism for everyone maximizing their own profits. Oh, and to bring this back to startups. What is Hertz/Taxi unfair competitive advantage? Multi-year agreements with each airport to give them closest access for airport passenger pickup. That is what Flightier had to overcome, it seems they struggled overcoming their competitors lock-in with the airports.
Isn't that simply capitalism? An analog: iPhones default to google for web searches because google paid Apple $1b to keep it the default. Yet we typically don't call this bloat or corruption.
Hertz (or whoever it is these days) is the closest car rental at every airport because they pay the airport the most for this scarce resource.
Yes, this makes it difficult for new entrants into the marketplace. But, don't blame corruption, blame capitalism for everyone maximizing their own profits. Oh, and to bring this back to startups. What is Hertz/Taxi unfair competitive advantage? Multi-year agreements with each airport to give them closest access for airport passenger pickup. That is what Flightier had to overcome, it seems they struggled overcoming their competitors lock-in with the airports.