The disruptive force that is Uber

It is estimated that Uber will generate over $10billion by the end of this year. Five years since it was launched in San Fransisco, the driver and passenger matching service has over a million drivers operating in 311 cities and 58 countries. The FT reported this week that their total funding is now at around $10billion, which is pretty remarkable for a business which is 'asset light'- they don't employ their drivers directly, preferring to describe the relationship as one in which the drivers are freelance contractors, using Uber's software to offer their services to potential passengers in their own cars, which again are not owned by Uber. Investigating their service, and their role in disrupting the market, could make a useful research project for students in the weeks after the AS papers. The following sets out a brief introduction to the firm, and some ideas for areas of research.