Grow up, bro

Uber is one start-up that needs to grow up fast. The Silicon Valley taxi app's disregard for rules has spurred it toward a $30-billion valuation. But executives who threaten to "dig up dirt" on critics, use unsavoury tactics against rivals, and post statistics on customers' one-night stands present an existential business risk and hurt its fledgling brand. Uber needs to rein in its laddish impulses.

Ironically, the latest embarrassment for founder Travis Kalanick came at a dinner in New York hosted by Uber to try to improve the media's perception of the company. Senior Vice-President Emil Michael suggested Uber could look into "your personal lives, your families," and give the media a taste of its own medicine, according to BuzzFeed.
 
The firm's willingness to ignore rules has served it well. Most taxi services are protected and entrenched by local laws that stifle competition. Side-stepping the established order has given the company clients, drivers and the financial might to lobby for forgiveness. Uber has said it is already profitable in many of its largest markets and revenue is at least doubling every six months.

That's given it a huge lead over rivals. It runs in more cities and countries than Lyft and its valuation would be about 40 times as large if Uber is valued at $30 billion, as reports suggest it may be in its next funding round. Yet early this year it bullied venture capitalists not to invest in Lyft and rivals claimed it has deliberately ordered and cancelled rides. Uber has also taken belligerent stances against customers who complain about its service.

Small start-ups may get away with such behaviour because there's little to lose. Uber's size and valuation mean it's no longer excusable. There's more media attention, and damage to Uber's reputation could spur consumers to try rival services.

Investors routinely demand grown-up supervision when they invest in companies. Unless venture capitalists like Benchmark Capital, Goldman Sachs and Jeff Bezos are simply too obsequious, they should demand Uber act like a $30-billion company before they value it as one.