Keycafe is a simple way to exchange keys, allowing homeowners to remotely manage access to their home. The idea came to Co-Founder Clayton Brown while he was renting out his house as an Airbnb host in Vancouver. He found the process of exchanging keys difficult and time-consuming, having to go out of his way to… Read more
We scour the internet to find the most interesting news on the collaborative consumption front. Here are our picks for the week: The new ‘New Deal’? Sharing responsibility in the sharing economy Arun Sundararajan, Policy Network New peer-to-peer ‘sharing’ platforms have the potential to boost living standards across the many countries which they span…. Read more
Lucy Gao, Canadian Global Curator, visited various companies in three U.S. cities as part of a Sharing Economy tour sponsored by TheWashington Foreign Press Center,visiting New York, Las Vegas and San Francisco. This is part 3 of a 3-part series showcasing companies she visited in each city, featuring familiar incumbents and new startups to look out… Read more
We scour the internet to find the most interesting news on the collaborative consumption front. Here are our picks for the week: Following A Drop In Completed Jobs, Errands Marketplace TaskRabbit Shakes Up Its Business Model Sarah Perez, TechCrunch Errands marketplace TaskRabbit is shaking things up today with a change to its business model. The… Read more
Uber’s taxi offensive here to stay Paul Wallbank, Business Spectator Uber chose Sydney as one of the first places to roll out the ride sharing service and to pick a fight against a government that’s been remarkably supportive of transport and taxi apps since being elected two years ago. Uber probably won’t win that fight —… Read more
A Shareable City enables residents to efficiently and safely share all kinds of assets – from spaces to cars, skills and utilities – to create stronger, healthier and more connected communities. From a policy perspective, a Shareable City looks at multiple aspects of urban planning and community well-being through a collaborative economy lens and proactively… Read more
Over the past few months Airbnb has conducted a few studies examining the impact of their global operations on local economies. The most recent study looked at Berlin, which is most certainly a recipient of economic benefits due to Airbnb’s presence as visitors are attracted to neighbourhoods not conventionally frequented by tourists. Also, once there, these… Read more
Heavy funding has propelled growth in the collaborative economy, and key trends have begun to emerge among investors in the growing space. A study of 200 startups indicated that 37% had been funded, raising an average of $29m—a high amount for such an early market that will certainly attract additional funding as it heats up…. Read more
SF72, San Francisco’s collaborative consumption-based disaster preparedness plan, is already being tested just weeks after launch. Employees of the Bay Area Rapid Transit have initiated a strike against unfair wages, shutting down the public transportation system just prior the July 4th holiday. Ride-sharing service Sidecar published a blogpost offering alternative commute options, and short-term office… Read more
The short-term commercial rentals marketplace Storefront announced yesterday that it has raised $1.6M in seed funding from Mohr Davidow Ventures, Great Oaks Venture Capital, 500 Startups, BoxGroup and Sand Hill Angels. Storefront launched out of startup accelerator Angelpad in San Francisco last fall and has already helped 100 pop-ups for brands and listed over 3M square feet in retail space. The startup… Read more