> But I wish it had offered more of an explanation about the economics of delivery
I believe delivery is a viable business model, but that isn't what these companies are offering. These companies are trying to monopolize access to restaurants with some "growth & engagement" sprinkled on top.
A simple delivery service where you pay X amount of money to get something from point A to point B would be viable with a network of hyperlocal, real-time-geolocated couriers and modern routing software. It will however not give you a monopoly and the returns VCs hope for (however, in the end the current system doesn't either as VCs spend more money trying to undercut each other's attempts at monpolizing the vertical).
I believe delivery is a viable business model, but that isn't what these companies are offering. These companies are trying to monopolize access to restaurants with some "growth & engagement" sprinkled on top.
A simple delivery service where you pay X amount of money to get something from point A to point B would be viable with a network of hyperlocal, real-time-geolocated couriers and modern routing software. It will however not give you a monopoly and the returns VCs hope for (however, in the end the current system doesn't either as VCs spend more money trying to undercut each other's attempts at monpolizing the vertical).