{
  "id": 2026769,
  "title": "Travis Kalanick kicks off another round of VC bashing: ‘1% are helpful’",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/19/travis-kalanick-kicks-off-another-round-of-vc-bashing-1-are-helpful",
  "topic": "tech",
  "section": "Tech",
  "published": "2026-08-19T21:48:24.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "TechCrunch",
    "slug": "techcrunch",
    "url": "https://techcrunch.com/2026/08/19/travis-kalanick-kicks-off-another-round-of-vc-bashing-1-are-helpful/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Travis Kalanick, the founder of Uber, has been vocal about his strained relationship with venture capitalists (VCs). In a recent podcast episode, he stated that only 1% of VCs are truly helpful, while a more attainable 10% adhere to the \"do no harm\" principle. Kalanick's animosity towards VCs stems from a boardroom battle he had with Bill Gurley of Benchmark, which resulted in him being ousted from Uber in 2017. Despite his sour attitude, Kalanick does not advise founders to shun VC funding. Instead, he advises them to create a bidding war among firms by offering a compelling pitch, such as a modestly detailed plan that reflects the rapid pace of technological advancements. Kalanick attributes his hard-charging management style to his previous startup, Red Swoosh, which required extreme focus and precision due to its financial instability. He now recognizes the need for a more balanced approach, emphasizing the importance of managing relationships with disgruntled stakeholders and maintaining a growth-oriented mindset.",
  "summary": "After raising $1.7 billion for his new robotics company Atoms, Travis Kalanick is introspective about the role VCs have played in his career.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}