Zipcar, an entity I consider to be a Slingshot-esque pioneer, is helping to drive a new lifestyle trend. And it is potentially a significant one, shifting consumers’ mindsets from that of owning to that of sharing.
Via BusinessWeek:
What’s driving the boom isn’t just that it’s easier to share, he says, but that it’s often a hassle to own. Case has also invested in such ventures as Exclusive Resorts, a high-end vacation club that gives members access to luxury homes worldwide, and LivingSocial, which encourages shared experiences with incentives for friends who buy together. He’s not alone. Witness the growth of Airbnb, which lets users rent their homes, to ParkingPanda, a new site that lets people rent out those precious parking spots when they’re not in use. Next in line for an overhaul, Case argues, are areas such as education, health care, and government services. His fund has invested in FedBid, which lets government agencies buy through online auctions, and Echo360, which works with colleges serving more than 1 million students to bring more teaching and learning tools online.
[Image via Readwrite.]
