Uber raises $39mm Series B  

From Shervin Pishevar at Menlo Ventures:

I’m thrilled to announce today that Menlo Ventures is leading a $39m Series B investment in Uber, an on-demand car services company that is truly revolutionizing personal transportation. […] Uber is my largest investment since joining Menlo in June and I am honored to join the company’s board as a board observer.

Uber is an awesome company that is disrupting a territorial industry (and fighting archaic laws meant to keep the status quo). I’m rooting for them. I am curious, though, why they felt the need to raise $39mm. Advertising? A huge sales team? Are they planning on building a custom hardware device?