Cargo CEO on Uber Partnership: We Want to Reinvent the Experience
*By Max Godnick*
Uber redefined the ride-hailing industry for driversーnow it's adding another level of convenience to the passenger seat.
Last week, the company launched an exclusive global partnership with Cargo, the in-car commerce platform that allows drivers to sell daily essentials to riders. The service was already live in seven U.S. cities and has expanded to Los Angeles and San Francisco as part of the new deal.
The announcement marks the next phase of growth for Cargo, which has close to 8,000 drivers and has seen its fleet expand by 35 percent month over month since its rollout in 2017.
"The fastest way for us to really scale our platform and get Cargo into the hands of as many drivers as possible is to do it through Uber themselves," said Cargo founder & CEO Jeff Cripe in an interview with Cheddar on Monday. "We were united by wanting to provide the best in-car experience possible."
Uber drivers in Los Angeles and San Francisco can now collect Cargo boxes at driver support locations called Greenlight Centers. The boxes are filled with snacks, electronics, and cosmetics that customers can purchase. Cripe noted that many Uber drivers already offer these products but must pay out of pocket to do so.
Now, they can provide the same serviceーbut make money, instead of losing it.
"What \[drivers\] recognized in us was a partner that could streamline that and put that money back in their pockets as opposed to taking it out," Cripe said.
Cripe says drivers have, combined, made more than $1 million and sold over a million products to date. He added that those behind the wheel also tend to see their passenger ratings rise once they start using Cargo.
But will passengers be willing to spend on food and other items if fares surge?
Last week, Uber sent emails to its New York customer base, notifying them that its services may grow "more expensive and less reliable" if the city approves [new regulations](https://cheddar.com/videos/new-york-could-pump-the-brakes-on-ride-hailing-apps) for ride-sharing companies.
While New York is currently Cargo's largest market, Cripe says he's not concerned.
"I don't necessarily think any fare increases or decreases will have much of an effect on us."
As for the future, Cripe says the company is paying close attention to Uber's plans for self-driving taxis. He explained that autonomous fleets would require a system for unattended merchandisingーbut he revealed it's a reality he's preparing for. He also sees more opportunities for entertainment, gaming, and connectivity.
"We want to establish ourselves as the leading provider of in-car service for ride sharing," Cripe said. "So, when autonomy does roll around, we're the best logistics provider in the market."
For full interview, [click here] (https://cms.cheddar.com/videos/VmlkZW8tMjEzMTg=).
According to data from Dealogic, the Nasdaq is on track to beat the NYSE in IPOs this year, raising $191 billion so far, compared with the NYSE's $109 billion. Louis Cordone, senior president of Data Strategy at AST, discusses why 2021 was so successful for IPOs, and what differentiates the two exchanges.
Bitcoin took a nosedive over the weekend, falling to its lowest price level in nearly two months. According to data from Coindesk, the crypto dropped more than 20% to $42,000 on Saturday before rebounding some. Prices of Ether, Dogecoin and Shiba Inu dropped as well, with Ether tumbling by more than 15%at one point. Lance Ippolito, head trader at the Future of Wealth, joined Cheddar to discuss why crypto plummeted and what to expect next.
Less than six months after making its public debut on the NYSE, Chinese ride-hailing giant Didi says it will delist in the U.S. and pivot to Hong Kong instead. Chinese regulators are citing cybersecurity and data concerns. Shehzad Qazi, Managing Director, China Beige Book International joined Cheddar's Opening Bell to discuss.
As offices shifted to remote schedules, and people were forced into a new way of work, many began to re-think their career path and their purpose in the workforce, leading to what many are calling 'The Great Resignation.' During the last year, Americans quit their jobs in unprecedented numbers, seeking more flexibility, better benefits, a higher salary, and ultimately greater independence. Danielle Neal, CEO of Digital with Danielle, is just one of the millions who quit their job during the pandemic, and she joined Cheddar's Opening Bell to tell her story.
As Americans quit their jobs in record numbers this year, companies have been scrambling to try and fill those gaps. Gad Levanon, head of the labor market institute at The Conference Board, says companies need to focus more on salary if they want to better retain their employees. Levanon joined Cheddar to discuss the labor shortage, the "Great Resignation," and what companies can learn from it going into 2022.
The U.S. has seen several retailers across the country forced to close their brick-and-mortar stores amid the rise of e-commerce over the past few years. However, we are in the midst of a brick-and-mortar boom, with retailers expected to open more stores this year than they close, for the first time since 2017, according to an analysis of more than 900 chains by IHL Group, a research and advisory company. At the same time, the e-commerce businesses of retailers have become more dependent on physical stores to fulfill orders, especially during the holiday shopping season. Lionesque Group CEO Melissa Gonzalez joins Cheddar News' Closing Bell to discuss.
Alyse Killeen, Founder & Managing Partner at Stillmark VC, joins Cheddar News' Closing Bell to discuss what the jury had to evaluate in the Craig Wright trial and if uncovering the identity of Bitcoin inventor Satoshi Nakamoto will actually impact crypto investors.
Heila Technologies, a startup that develops hardware and software to integrate renewables and batteries on a microgrid, is helping to power the first clean energy microgrid for Auto Mercado, a top supermarket chain in Costa Rica. The plant will reduce 20 tons of CO2 emissions per year. Heila Technologies CEO Francisco Morocz joins Cheddar Climate to discuss.
GitLab CFO Brian Robins joined Cheddar's "Closing Bell" to discuss the single platform software development app's first earnings report since going public in October. The company frames itself as a one-stop-shop for businesses to transition into software development to manage in-network chat, video conferencing, and meeting scheduling among other applications. GitLab saw Q3 revenue jump 58 percent and was able to add a number of new customers since its IPO.
