Uber vs. Airbnb: Purpose, Profit, and a (Bold) Prediction

Today, both Uber and Airbnb, two of the world's tech giants, released new features that aim to diversify their offerings. Uber's release, Uber Works, is first being released in Chicago as a place for gig workers to search for short-term (temporary) jobs. Airbnb's release, on the other hand, called Airbnb Animals, is a component of their experiences business that partners with animal protection and welfare agencies to allow travelers to interact with animals on their trip adventures.

2019 has been, well, an awful year for tech IPOs. First Lyft, then Uber, then the recent failure and downfall of WeWork, to more recent plunges by SmileDirect and Peloton, it seems as if something is just off. Yet Uber has been notoriously poor in the market, falling more than 30% from its original IPO price. With the year's performance in mind, what do Uber and Airbnb reveal with their new features?

For one, Uber's seemingly playful adventure into the job search space seems desperate. As a company searching for any way to turn profitable, Uber appears to stray further and further from its mission of transforming transportation and setting the world in motion. After all, just ask yourself: with many companies offering gig workers with short-term jobs, would you choose a company known for their scandals, poor culture, and crime? It appears as a meaningless move with no purpose other than profit.

Airbnb, on the other hand, continues to dig deeper into hyper-personalized experiences, providing travelers with opportunities to engage with their favorite animals and further strengthening their core mission of making people around the world feel like they can belong anywhere. After all, who wouldn't a beach day with rescue dogs or a tea party with "naughty" sheep (yes, you read that right)? But more than just this offering, they promote responsible animal tourism, changing an industry known for its gross mistreatment of living creatures.

Humans seek connection and purpose. In the information age, studies show that young people seek deeper and more meaningful connections with brands. The choice of a brand is becoming a way to express ourselves, a way to show people what we stand for. As Uber ventures further and further away from its mission, people begin to lose the connection to its brand. While the market may have a different reaction, I can confidently say as a consumer that the decisions Uber has made are driving me further away (pun intended), while Airbnb continues to draw me closer. I find myself no longer seeking to affiliate with a brand that has lost its sense of purpose, yet hooked by the inclusive and experiential feel of the Airbnb brand.

In no way do I attempt to persuade your choice in technology or the brands you identify with. I only hope to offer my stance as a member of this young generation. I believe that passion drives profit. Daniel Pink, the author of Drive, shares his view of motivation as having three essential components: autonomy, mastery, and purpose. To be truly motivated, people yearn the achievement of something larger than themselves. And in a company where purpose has become entangled with profit, Pink's theory says that Uber's employees will lose motivation, and so will their customers.