>The result is a Cambrian explosion of software launches.
Citation needed. There was a HN post a few weeks ago (I've lost it since) that said there isn't actually a measurable increase in App Store submissions and other such metrics to indicate that more software applications are being launched, in the last few years.
Also, in my view one of the most overlooked moats that incumbent software companies have is product quality. You can't upset Uber and Lyft primarily because you don't have the resources/skills to build an app of that quality (and your VC doesn't trust you can build one even given the resources). It's not due to business dev, marketing or "network effect" reasons; a lot of drivers tag-team both Uber and Lyft anyway, it doesn't cost them anything to onboard into a 3rd app even if it initially yields them 1 passenger a week.
Citation needed. There was a HN post a few weeks ago (I've lost it since) that said there isn't actually a measurable increase in App Store submissions and other such metrics to indicate that more software applications are being launched, in the last few years.
Also, in my view one of the most overlooked moats that incumbent software companies have is product quality. You can't upset Uber and Lyft primarily because you don't have the resources/skills to build an app of that quality (and your VC doesn't trust you can build one even given the resources). It's not due to business dev, marketing or "network effect" reasons; a lot of drivers tag-team both Uber and Lyft anyway, it doesn't cost them anything to onboard into a 3rd app even if it initially yields them 1 passenger a week.