GeekWire Podcast: Uber, Grubhub and Seattle; Amazon on 60 Minutes; Surface Earbuds first take

Right here’s what we’re speaking about this week on the GeekWire Podcast.

Phrase leaked out this week that Uber is contemplating shopping for food-delivery service Grubhub, and it seems there are numerous Seattle connections behind the attainable deal, together with hyperlinks to Expedia and a number of other different corporations.

Meals supply is a troublesome market to make a buck in, for corporations and their drivers, so what’s within the deal for Uber?

• Uber Eats is #2 and Grubhub is #3 in meals supply providers, behind chief DoorDash. DoorDash grew its market share 42% in March whereas Grubhub stayed flat. Uber Eats grew 20% (it has a Starbucks contract).
• Seattle connections: Brian McAndrews, Grubhub board chair, is the previous CEO of aQuantive and in addition served as a managing director at Seattle enterprise capital agency Madrona Enterprise Group. Zillow Group co-founder Lloyd Frink can also be on Grubhub’s board. Frink had government roles at Expedia the place Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi reduce his tooth.
• Australian hedge fund Caledonia Investments owns 16% of Grubhub and has giant possession in Zillow.

Hundreds of Bounce ride-share bicycles vanished from Seattle streets not too long ago within the newest shakeup within the troubled mobility service discipline. The pandemic isn’t making it simple for bike- and scooter-share corporations. Will their rides return to Seattle as soon as the pandemic is over?

• Undecided after they’ll be again however trade will look very totally different on different aspect of COVID-19 disaster: Business will develop into extra consolidated. Not clear if demand will return to pre-pandemic ranges. Micro-mobility corporations will deal with profitability.
• There have been greater than 2.2 million bike-share rides in Seattle final 12 months, averaging greater than 6,000 per day, in response to the Seattle Division of Transportation.
• Final week, Uber invested $170 million in Lyme and mentioned it will hand its bike-share program off to Lyme.
• Earlier than the pandemic, Uber, Lyft, Lime, Spin, Hen, Ojo, and a handful of different corporations have been keen on launching electrical scooter providers in Seattle and elsewhere however now these plans are in limbo.

Amazon unveiled a virus-zapping robotic on “60 Minutes” final Sunday, nevertheless it’s attainable they have been simply attempting to distract from the remainder of the report, which targeted on working situations within the firm’s warehouses throughout the pandemic.

We get our first take a look at Microsoft’s new $199 Floor Earbuds and their look provokes some fascinating reactions. Did somebody say “Frankenstein’s bolts?” Plus, we increase a toast to Seattle permitting eating places to promote takeout cocktails throughout the pandemic.

Hear above, and subscribe in any podcast app.

With GeekWire’s Todd Bishop, Monica Nickelsburg, Taylor Soper and John Prepare dinner. Produced by Curt Milton. Theme music by Daniel L.Ok. Caldwell.