Market-Entry

Why Uber’s Billion-Dollar Gamble in China Crashed

Why Uber’s Billion-Dollar Gamble in China Crashed

The Quick Take Uber entered China in 2014 thinking it could outspend and out-innovate local rivals. Instead, it got steamrolled by Didi Chuxing, drained over $2 billion, and retreated in under three years.

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Walmart in Germany: When Scale Isn’t Enough

Walmart in Germany: When Scale Isn’t Enough

In the late 1990s, Walmart charged into Germany. Local grocers shrugged, unions sharpened their knives, and by 2006 the world’s largest retailer packed up, with $1B+ in cumulative losses. How could the company that conquered America get crushed abroad—even with unlimited firepower?

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Amazon in China: When Even the Best Need to Walk Away

Amazon in China: When Even the Best Need to Walk Away

Amazon’s global playbook has rewritten markets from Seattle to São Paulo. But in China—a $1 trillion e-commerce battlefield—it spent 15+ years losing ground. In 2019, Amazon finally shuttered its Chinese marketplace, conceding defeat to local champions Alibaba and JD.com. What really happened? And how can founders spot the signs before it’s too late to pivot or exit?

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