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Comment by dpflan | Hacker News Reader

Forgive if I am misunderstanding, but Google Ventures invested in Uber, not Google itself. Wouldn't this statement from the article be half incorrect: "This puts Google squarely in competition with Uber, which is both an investment and customer of its Google Maps product."

1. https://www.gv.com/about 2. https://www.crunchbase.com/organization/uber/funding-rounds

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You are, of course, correct, but is that a distinction that matters?

I thought to some degree it does, given the stated 'independence' of GV but the thick spreading of association with Google. Perhaps that is why GV and GC exist, to support technological development, and help spur innovation at the mothership? Google can then acquire the incubated companies or become firmly connected with them.

Even if Google never moves to acquire Uber, though, they may simply look at it as Uber creating the social acceptance and market demand for this type of service. That would then make Google entering into the market with a competing service later an easier and a more predictably profitable venture.

I think it definitely does. Google Ventures has expressed in the past that their investments are not tied to any business plans of Google and function entirely separately.

If you believe that I have a bridge you can invest in!

They clearly invested in Uber because Google wanted to buy them and clearly Uber has said no. So plan B.

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