Uber's earliest big investor made its fortune betting on Travis Kalanick — then organized the campaign that removed him and later sued him.
Kalanick's leadership and the scandals threatened Uber's value; the investors acted to protect the company and its employees.
Kalanick's side framed Benchmark's actions — especially the lawsuit — as an attempt to seize control of the company and its board.
Originated the idea and founded UberCab; StumbleUpon co-founder. Funded the earliest work and served as chairman.
Co-founder who became CEO in December 2010 and drove Uber's aggressive global expansion and culture. Forced out as CEO in 2017 amid a cascade of scandals.
Hired via a tweet as Uber's first employee/General Manager; served briefly as CEO before Kalanick took the role, then led global operations and sat on the board.
Built the first Uber prototype; a key early technical contributor sometimes described as a founding engineer.
Benchmark partner who led the Series A and held the board seat; the driving force behind the 2017 campaign to remove Kalanick.
Former Uber engineer whose February 2017 blog post about harassment and a broken HR culture triggered the chain of events that led to Kalanick's ouster.
Former Expedia CEO who succeeded Kalanick and led Uber to its 2019 IPO.
1 of 7 have put their version on the record.
Unable to get a taxi during a conference in Paris, Garrett Camp and Travis Kalanick discuss an app to summon a car on demand. Camp begins developing it.
Camp founds UberCab, with Kalanick as co-founder and Oscar Salazar building the first prototype.
Kalanick tweets looking for a lead; Ryan Graves replies and becomes Uber's first employee and briefly its CEO, before Kalanick takes the role.
The app launches in San Francisco (2010). After a regulatory cease-and-desist over 'cab,' the company drops the word and becomes Uber. It closes a ~$1.25M angel round.
Kalanick takes over as CEO; Graves moves to lead operations. Kalanick's aggressive style comes to define the company.
Benchmark led Uber's 2011 Series A and Bill Gurley held the board seat. In early 2017 Uber faced a cascade of scandals (Fowler's post, Waymo suit, Greyball, the Holder report). In June 2017 five investors led by Benchmark demanded Kalanick resign, and he did. In August 2017 Benchmark sued Kalanick; the suit was later moved to arbitration and dropped.
Kalanick's leadership and the scandals threatened Uber's value; the investors acted to protect the company and its employees.
Kalanick's side framed Benchmark's actions — especially the lawsuit — as an attempt to seize control of the company and its board.
Unresolved: Whether the removal was primarily about protecting value or about seizing control.
That removing Kalanick was necessary to save the company from its scandals, governance failures, and leadership crisis.
Kalanick's side characterized Benchmark's subsequent lawsuit as a 'public and personal attack' and an attempt to seize control, disputing the framing of his conduct.
Alongside Fowler's post: Waymo sues Uber over self-driving trade secrets; the 'Greyball' tool to evade regulators is exposed; a video shows Kalanick berating a driver; and the Holder report recommends sweeping governance changes.
Benchmark led Uber's 2011 Series A and Bill Gurley held the board seat. In early 2017 Uber faced a cascade of scandals (Fowler's post, Waymo suit, Greyball, the Holder report). In June 2017 five investors led by Benchmark demanded Kalanick resign, and he did. In August 2017 Benchmark sued Kalanick; the suit was later moved to arbitration and dropped.
Kalanick's leadership and the scandals threatened Uber's value; the investors acted to protect the company and its employees.
Kalanick's side framed Benchmark's actions — especially the lawsuit — as an attempt to seize control of the company and its board.
Unresolved: Whether the removal was primarily about protecting value or about seizing control.
Fowler's blog post recounts her year at Uber — harassment reported to HR, retaliation, and a broken culture — a firsthand account that became a catalyst for the leadership crisis. (Placeholder summary; full text at the linked source.)
Benchmark led Uber's 2011 Series A and Bill Gurley held the board seat. In early 2017 Uber faced a cascade of scandals (Fowler's post, Waymo suit, Greyball, the Holder report). In June 2017 five investors led by Benchmark demanded Kalanick resign, and he did. In August 2017 Benchmark sued Kalanick; the suit was later moved to arbitration and dropped.
Kalanick's leadership and the scandals threatened Uber's value; the investors acted to protect the company and its employees.
Kalanick's side framed Benchmark's actions — especially the lawsuit — as an attempt to seize control of the company and its board.
Unresolved: Whether the removal was primarily about protecting value or about seizing control.
Benchmark led Uber's 2011 Series A and Bill Gurley held the board seat. In early 2017 Uber faced a cascade of scandals (Fowler's post, Waymo suit, Greyball, the Holder report). In June 2017 five investors led by Benchmark demanded Kalanick resign, and he did. In August 2017 Benchmark sued Kalanick; the suit was later moved to arbitration and dropped.
Kalanick's leadership and the scandals threatened Uber's value; the investors acted to protect the company and its employees.
Kalanick's side framed Benchmark's actions — especially the lawsuit — as an attempt to seize control of the company and its board.
Unresolved: Whether the removal was primarily about protecting value or about seizing control.
Expedia's Dara Khosrowshahi is named CEO, beginning a governance and culture reset.
SoftBank leads a major investment and tender offer, adding governance reforms (one-share-one-vote) and easing the board conflict; Benchmark trims its stake.
Uber completes its IPO. Kalanick, still a director and large shareholder, leaves the board in December 2019 and sells his stake.
Ousted as CEO (2017); left the board and sold his stake (2019); founded CloudKitchens.
Remained a director/chairman for years; focused on Expa and investing.
Left as an executive in 2017; angel investor/philanthropist.