Money: Uber raised capital much faster than Lyft. When Lyft made $250 million in funding, Uber made five times that at 1.2 billion. This capital allows Uber to expand faster and take risks that Lyft can't afford to.

Uber managed to dominate the ridesharing market over Lyft primarily through aggressive global expansion, massive capital infusion, and a "first-mover" advantage in the international arena. While Lyft initially focused heavily on a friendly, "community" vibe with its iconic pink moustaches and a focus on the US market, Uber pursued a "growth at all costs" strategy. Uber raised significantly more venture capital, which allowed them to heavily subsidize rides—making them cheaper for users and more lucrative for drivers—to crush local competition. Uber also diversified its business model much earlier and more successfully with Uber Eats, which provided a critical revenue stream during the pandemic when ridesharing plummeted. Furthermore, Uber's app was often seen as more "professional" compared to the early "ride with a friend" marketing of Lyft, appealing more to business travelers and the premium market with services like Uber Black. By the time Lyft began to expand, Uber had already established a "network effect" where they had more drivers, leading to shorter wait times, which in turn attracted more passengers, creating a cycle that Lyft has struggled to break ever since.