The Battle for New York – Episode 5 with Josh Mohrer
Big things start small. The Early Podcast. Stories and insights from early employees and innovators who’ve shaped the future.
The Battle for New York: How Josh Mohrer Helped Uber Win in NYC
As the saying goes, "If you can make it in New York, you can make it anywhere" — but what happens when the city tries to regulate you out of existence?
In Episode 5 of The Early Podcast, I sat down with Josh Mohrer, one of Uber's earliest employees and the driving force behind Uber’s explosive growth in New York City. What unfolded was an inside look at one of the most intense and high-stakes startup stories of the last decade.
Building Uber in NYC: Not for the Faint of Heart
When Josh joined Uber, the company was just getting started in New York. Unlike other markets, NYC came with a highly regulated and deeply entrenched taxi industry — one that didn’t take kindly to disruption. As the city began to push back against Uber’s growth, Josh found himself in the center of a regulatory firestorm.
From late-night meetings with regulators to city hall battles with Mayor Bill de Blasio, Josh shares how Uber navigated a complex political environment and scaled into a household name. It wasn’t always pretty — and at times, it got personal — but ultimately, Uber didn’t just survive in New York. It won.
What We Covered
In our conversation, Josh shared:
How Uber approached NYC’s tough regulatory environment
What it was like to scale operations in a city that moves at warp speed
The media controversies that changed how Uber was perceived
Why product-market fit wasn’t the problem — supply was
His transition from GM of Uber NY to solo founder of an AI-powered note-taking app called Wave
Lessons for Founders and Operators
Josh’s story is a masterclass in grit, resilience, and strategic execution. For anyone building a startup in a tough environment, this episode is a must-listen. Whether you’re an operator navigating bureaucracy, a founder solving a supply-side problem, or a tech worker thinking about what's next — you’ll find something in this story that resonates.
Where to Listen:
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THIS was episode FIVE! New episodes (at least) every Tuesday, and I’d love your feedback on who we should interview next. Email me: max@earlypod.com
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