Entrepreneur Stories
Uber’s Chief Product Officer, Jeff Holden Quits!
Post the exit of ex Uber CEO, Travis Kalanick last year, here comes another shocker!
Jeff Holden joined Uber Technologies Inc., back in 2014. He was heading the Uber’s flying car Elevate division. However his departure is quite untimely. According to a source, Elevate will be now headed by Eric Allison. It was just last week, Uber hosted its second annual flying car summit.
Uber Technologies Inc., Chief Product Officer, Jeff Holden is leaving the company amidst the development of the company’s flying car effort, called Elevate.
At the summit, the flying car project got a big boost from the company’s new CEO, Dara Khosrowshahi.
Alongside, the company also came up against some of the realities of the hurdles like technological and regulatory issues that Uber would face in attempting to get Elevate off the ground. Jeff Holden himself brought the regulatory issues to light in his onstage conversations with Dan Elwell, the acting head of the Federal Aviation Administration.
Before flying cars, Holden was involved in leading the self driving efforts. Several sources inside the company described him as a visionary.
The current CEO, Dara Khosrowshahi has been shaking up the company since taking over last August aiming to improve Uber’s reputation after a string of scandals and issues.
Holden told the Uber Elevate Summit held in Dallas that the company is expected to deploy flying taxi services in Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas, and Dubai in 2020.
A spokesperson from Uber said “As demonstrated by last week’s Uber Elevate Summit, we’re incredibly bullish on the future of aerial ride-sharing and under the leadership of Eric Allison, the Elevate team is set up for success, and will continue to chart the course for this growing industry.”
Jeff Holden was one of very few executives in the top levels left at the cab hailing company, Uber!
A decade ago, the success of a startup was measured largely by its ability to raise capital. Today, a different metric is gaining importance: the ability to generate meaningful exits for investors. Large stake sales by early backers are becoming increasingly common, not because growth opportunities have disappeared, but because India’s startup ecosystem is entering a more mature phase where capital is expected to complete its full cycle from investment to returns.
This evolution is particularly significant for consumer brands that have successfully blended technology, retail, and strong brand-building. Companies that were once viewed as high-risk startup bets are now attracting institutional investors capable of absorbing large transactions. Such developments indicate that these businesses are no longer being valued solely on future potential; they are increasingly being assessed on operational performance, market leadership, and long-term profitability. In many ways, investor exits are becoming a validation of a company’s ability to create lasting enterprise value.
The broader implication extends beyond a single company or investor. Successful exits encourage more global capital to enter India’s startup ecosystem because they demonstrate that liquidity opportunities exist at scale. As more venture-backed companies approach public listings, secondary transactions, or strategic investments, the focus of founders and investors alike may shift from chasing headline valuations to building durable businesses. The next chapter of India’s startup journey will likely be defined not just by the creation of unicorns, but by the creation of companies capable of delivering sustained returns to all stakeholders.
Apple has unveiled the new MacBook Air with M5 chip, starting at $999 for 13-inch and $1,299 for 15-inch models. The MacBook Air M5 boasts a 2nm M5 chip with 12-core CPU, 18-core GPU, and 50 TOPS Neural Engine for seamless AI tasks like real-time translation and 8K editing. Up to 22 hours of battery life, Thunderbolt 5, and Wi-Fi 7 make it the ultimate ultraportable, now 10% thinner at 0.44 inches with fanless cooling.
Key MacBook Air M5 features include Liquid Retina XDR display (500 nits, nano-texture option), 12MP Center Stage camera, and six-speaker Spatial Audio. Colors like new Sky Blue join Midnight and Starlight. Pre-orders are live today, with macOS Sequoia 15.4 enhancing Apple Intelligence and iPhone Continuity for students, pros, and remote workers.
Why buy MacBook Air M5 now? It outpaces Snapdragon X Elite rivals with ecosystem magic and future-proof performance, eyeing top 2026 laptop sales. CEO Tim Cook calls it “more capable than ever.” Visit apple.com for M5 MacBook deals and specs.
Delhi NCR-based gaming startup Zupee has acquired Mumbai-based microdrama platform Vertical TV in a deal valued under INR 40 Cr. This move strengthens Zupee Studio, its short-video arm launched in September 2025, by integrating Vertical TV’s expertise in bite-sized dramas like romance and thrillers.
Facing challenges from India’s 2025 real-money gaming ban, Zupee valued at $1 Bn after raising $120 Mn has pivoted to non-gaming content, including recent layoffs of 40% of its workforce. The acquisition builds on its November 2025 purchase of Australian AI firm Nucanon for interactive storytelling, targeting its 200 Mn+ users with engaging, mobile-first formats.
This deal underscores the rising microdrama trend in India, helping Zupee diversify amid regulatory pressures and compete in the short-video space dominated by quick, shareable content for on-the-go audiences.
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