[rembrandt]

It is not about the app - that is the easiest part. You need a massive investment fund to subsidize the rides and promote the platform against Uber and Uberlike clones. You also need the fund to absorb initial losses. We are taking about millions if not billion. Whatever you do , that is only going to help the cheap riders , not the drivers.

 

[rembrandt]

I'd join in a heartbeat, but logistically, it seems impossible. In addition, Uber would squash any competition with theit billions, a la Microsoft

That is right. TNC model is not per se a directly profitable venture and the true target is the IPO value. Uber reinvests it's earnings in promotions, subsidies , lobbying etc to prop up the assumed IPO value.
Drivers will not join a platform if there is no ride request ( for instance Lyft in greater broward ). It is not possible to get new riders without giving them free or subsidized rides and compensate the drivers at the same time. This will require a lot of money. Uber can afford to offer free rides for months because they have massive funds. Eventually , this will end up a race to the bottom.