The story of Uber, one of Silicon Valley’s most successful and most destructive unicorns. Pivoting on Travis Kalanick, Uber’s hard-charging CEO who ultimately was ousted in a boardroom coup, the season depicts the roller-coaster ride of the upstart transportation company, embodying the highs and lows of Silicon Valley.
Social
Community reviews for Super Pumped: The Battle for Uber, shown here with its season details.
Joseph Gordon-Levitt carries this series on his back and doesn't buckle. For those close to Silicon Valley I think this is a must-watch, though it may be a bit too detailed / long for those that don't have an interest in tech or this sector specifically.
Episode 1
UberCab CEO Travis Kalanick sets his sights on landing an important partner for his fledgling company: VC powerhouse Bill Gurley. But Gurley’s money might not be enough as UberCab employees take to the San Francisco streets to recruit & conquer and the support of his loved ones can’t stop the stressed leader from cracking.
Episode 2
Uber engineers develop new technology to help skirt their legal problems while working towards slaying the biggest giant yet: New York and the taxi commissions. Travis rewards the Uber team for their hard work with a blowout in Las Vegas, courting the unwanted attention of the press. Friction develops between Travis and Angie.
Episode 3
Gurley sends a reluctant Travis and Emil on a roadshow to raise money, but Travis has other ideas for this raise round. With Lyft gaining momentum in the ride-sharing space, Travis wages war and won’t back down. Gurley gives an enlightening interview.
Episode 4
The boardroom becomes a battle zone for how best to run the fast-growing company. Meanwhile, the Uber team attends one of the biggest events in the Valley — Code Conference — where they interact with tech legends like Sergey Brin and Arianna Huffington. While there, Travis gains an ally. He is ecstatic when it seems he’s been given his due, but his mood quickly changes when an announcement derails his plans. Austin deals with a personal matter and comes to Travis for support.
Episode 5
Travis finds himself on trial at Apple HQ, fighting for Uber’s very existence. In defense, he explains the Uber team’s strategy to conquer fraudsters in China and deal with their bad press problem. Arianna and Bill disagree on how best to steer Travis in the right direction. Emil has an illuminating conversation.
Episode 6
A new development throws a wrench in Travis’s confidence, leaving him and the rest of the team scrambling for solutions. When his other allies turn their backs, Travis leans on Emil to restore his faith. The Uber team hires someone big to rein in their toxic culture problem.
Episode 7
Gurley and his backers present Travis with an ultimatum that will change the course of the company forever. Travis searches the city for supporters to rally in his defense. The two men go head-to-head in a final, last-ditch battle for Uber. Season finale.