How Uber Built Momentum In New Markets

How do you get early traction for your startup? How do you get your first 100 customers? A few years ago I got a part-time job with Uber helping them launch in my hometown Wellington. My job was to help them onboard new drivers and find more drivers to join the platform. Throughout my time with them, I learned valuable lessons on what to focus on in the very early days of launching in a new market or starting a new business. In this video, I share what I learnt from my time at Uber and how you can apply it to your own business. TIMESTAMPS: 00:00 Intro 01:05 How I got the job at Uber 02:17 What did I do for Uber 03:19 How I thought you find suppliers before working at Uber 04:40 The strategy that made the biggest difference in finding drivers at the beginning 06:30 The Four Types of Taxi Drivers 11:30 Where to focus your time and energy finding new drivers 13:00 Why Growth Hacks don't always work at the beginning

Apply the early recruiting lesson

My work in Wellington involved finding suitable drivers and helping them join.

For your marketplace, define which suppliers meet the buyer’s needs. Speak with them directly and record what blocks signup.

Test a short onboarding path before adding broad marketing campaigns. Track qualified conversations, completed profiles, and first useful matches separately.

The recording includes the four driver groups I discussed. Use the steps above to plan your own supplier research.

Before outreach, choose the marketplace niche and identify the specific supplier you need first.

Original video

Watch the original demonstration.