Who became Uber's first employee in February 2010?

Ryan Graves became Uber’s first employee in February 2010.

Graves joined the fledgling company after responding to a Twitter post by Travis Kalanick with the message, “here’s a tip. email me :).” He became the company’s first employee and initially served as its general manager, helping turn the early transportation concept into an operating business.

Uber’s idea had originated with Garrett Camp, who imagined a simpler way to arrange private transportation after frustrations with taxis and the cost of hiring a driver. Camp, Travis Kalanick, Oscar Salazar, and Conrad Whelan worked on the early prototype, but Graves was the first employee formally brought into the venture.

Graves became CEO in May 2010. In December of that year, Kalanick replaced him as CEO, while Graves moved into the chief operating officer role. That history explains why Garrett Camp and Oscar Salazar are associated with Uber’s founding, but neither is the answer to the first-employee question.