http://www.wsj.com/articles/technology-bubble-ask-waffle-house-1424754062 In the latest bid to disrupt FedEx Corp. and United Parcel Service Inc., startup Roadie Inc. aims to entice college students and other travelers to earn some extra pocket money by delivering packages on the way to where they’re already going. Waffle House Inc. will unveil a partnership Tuesday to become part of the network of pickup points for the service, offering a place for drivers to rendezvous with both senders and receivers. Roadie, which launched late last month and aims to become the Uber of package delivery, is still tiny. So far, the app has been downloaded about 7,500 times, while drivers have been recruited to deliver about 50 items. But big investors have signed on for the over $10 million initial investment round, including Square Inc.’s co-founder Jim McKelvey, TPG Capital founder David Bonderman and even UPS, according to Roadie. This partnership is a first for Waffle House. The eateries are open 24 hours a day, and Chief Executive Walt Ehmer says it is the first time the chain of 1,750 has joined with a startup, something he hadn’t previously envisioned. “We’re just bacon and eggs over here,” Mr. Ehmer said in an interview. “I’ve been amazed with the explosion of Uber and Airbnb and other technology that kind of enables people to get together and conduct business together.”
