Start Up Lessons From The Journey Of Travis Kalanick

ravis Cordell Kalanick, born on August 6, 1976, grew up in the Northridge neighbourhood of Los Angeles. Let's explore his formative years:

Early years 

• Travis was known for being competitive and driven to win in middle and high school.

Entrepreneurial Ventures:

• At 18, Travis co-founded a "New Way Academy" test preparation company with a classmate's father.
• His interest in computers led him to study computer engineering and business economics at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA).

• Travis demonstrated determination and confidence from a young age. As a teenager, he sold Cutco knives door-to-door, showcasing his sales skills and work ethic.
• At 18, he launched his first business called New Way Academy, which provided SAT-prep tutoring services to help students boost their scores.

Venturing into Tech:

• Travis's interest in computers led him to study computer engineering at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA).
• While at UCLA, he joined the startup Scour, one of the first publicly available peer-to-peer apps, which indexed shared files for download.
• Despite legal challenges, Travis's passion for technology persisted, and he later co-founded Red Swoosh, another peer-to-peer file-sharing app 1.

The Uber Journey:

• In 2009, Travis co-founded Uber, which revolutionized the transportation industry.
• As Uber's CEO from 2010 to 2017, he faced both success and controversy. His leadership style and the company's corporate culture came under scrutiny.
• Despite challenges, he remains a prominent figure in the tech world, with ventures like City Storage Systems and the ghost kitchen startup CloudKitchens. 

Travis's early experiences laid the groundwork for his entrepreneurial journey, eventually leading to the creation of Uber and other successful ventures.

Lessons from Travis 

Age Is No Barrier:

• Travis's journey began early. Despite scepticism about his age, he started his first business venture at 18. This reminds us not to judge someone's potential based on their youth. 

"As an entrepreneur, I try to push the limits. Pedal to the metal." - Travis Kalanick

Prioritize Over Ideas:

• Travis focused on solving real-world problems. When he noticed the taxi industry's inefficiencies, he founded Uber to make transportation more convenient for drivers and passengers. 

At Uber, I think of myself as the problem solver-in-chief. I want as many hard problems as I can get...You have to be the math professor that keeps looking for the next harder problem." - Travis Kalanick

Embrace Failure:

• Travis faced setbacks and controversies during his tenure at Uber. However, he didn't let failure define him. Instead, he learned from it and kept moving forward. 

"Fear is the disease. Hustle is the antidote. Whatever it is that you're afraid of, go after it." 

Avoid Complacency:

• Travis's relentless pursuit of innovation kept Uber ahead. Complacency stifles growth. 

"We have this culture valued at Uber, which we call the champions' mindset. And champions' mindset isn't always about winning. It's about putting everything you have on the field, every ounce of passion and energy you have. And if you get knocked down, overcoming adversity." - Travis Kalanick

Blend Creativity with Analytics:

• Travis believes that creativity and analytical abilities go hand in hand. Combining intelligence with imagination leads to magic. 

Stay Current:

• Technology evolves rapidly. Travis's vision extends to autonomous cars, which create 3D models of streets worldwide. 

"There is a core independence and dignity you get when you control your own time." - Travis Kalanick