Oscar Salazar: Tech and Government Need to Get Along

When it comes to public policy and social action, tech entrepreneurs these days are often stereotyped as Ayn Rand devotees who ignore laws and regulations in the name of efficiency. Or they're dismissed as political naifs who believe that “liking” the Facebook pages of local charities is effective volunteerism. 

Against this background, it’s refreshing to talk to Oscar Salazar, chief product officer at a soon-to-be launched rideshare startup called Ride. 

Yes, Mr. Salazar was employee number two at Uber, the on-demand ride service known for bitter battles with municipal governments. But his personal philosophy on regulators is much more conciliatory. “The antagonism between regulators and startups, old and new ways of doing things, isn’t getting us anywhere,” he says.