I don't believe their public letter helps Uber -- it just puts Kapor Capital in an antagonistic relationship with Uber in general and likely Travis in particular, and weakens the plan Uber has committed to (bringing in a former AG, already familiar with the company, with very little delay, to do an investigation -- he's not an outsider, but I respect his integrity more than a completely random attorney), before we've even seen if it produces good results.
I can't tell how much of this was because Uber decided to find someone themselves, vs. relying on Kapor's Project Include.
There is a difference between "held accountable" (which would be shareholder/board actions) and "throwing bricks through the window" (which is this).
Shareholders are well within their rights to take an "antagonistic" stance with respect to companies whose values disappoint. We need more shareholders like this, not fewer.
When one party in a 'relationship' behaves in an increasingly dysfunctional manner, healthy corrective behavior by the dysfunctional party's acquaintances becomes sharper and sharper until it resembles "throwing bricks through the window" to outsiders without historical context.
For example, parents can justifiably kick one of their kids out of their house if that kid is dealing drugs from the parent's house or something similarly extreme.
Thats the kind of situation investors are looking at with Uber. From the "benign" lawbreaking we consider disruption they've moved on to attempts to silence and intimidate journalists, and now a self destructive culture where the strong are preying on the vulnerable inside the company.
In public companies, absolutely (and in public companies, it is often the right course of action.). By investors in private closely held companies, no.
I can't tell how much of this was because Uber decided to find someone themselves, vs. relying on Kapor's Project Include.
There is a difference between "held accountable" (which would be shareholder/board actions) and "throwing bricks through the window" (which is this).