Sharing Economy

Sharing Is the New Shopping

Andy Ruben, Co-founder, Yerdle
Bill Parish, President and Co-founder, Solar Mosaic
Lisa Gansky, Author, The Mesh: Why the Future of Business is Sharing

With a slow economy consumers are looking for ways to spend less and waste less. New technologies and innovative business models are changing the way people consume and invest.  Yerdle is opening up the overstuffed garages of old trumpets, unused camping tents, and rarely used power tools to the wider community. Airbnb is making spare bedrooms and empty apartments available to thrifty travelers and homeowners looking to make a profit. Solar Mosaic is taking solar investment to the people to fund community solar projects around the country. Is crowd-funding the future of investment? Does sharing really cut down on waste? How is the sharing economy forcing slow moving tax and regulation models to change with the times?
 

Borrowed Wheels

Scott Griffith, Chairman and CEO, Zipcar
Sunil Paul, CEO, Sidecar 
Susan Shaheen, Co-director, Transportation Sustainability Research Center, UC Berkeley

Innovative companies such as Zipcar and Sidecar are moving in on an expanding market of consumers looking to escape the burdens of car ownership. The cost of parking, insurance, maintenance and gas can add up quickly for auto owners. Ride sharing companies tout lower costs and reduced traffic emissions as benefits of their service model.
 
Quickly evolving business models are forcing uncomfortable, but exciting, changes in cities across the country. Can regulations move fast enough to work with these carsharing entrepreneurs on innovations that can offer mobility and possibly reduce congestion? Does car sharing really reduce emissions? Are automakers threatened? Join us for a conversation of the new mobility society.

Location: SF Club Office
Time: 4:15 p.m. check-in, 5 p.m. first program, 6 p.m. networking reception, 6:30 p.m. second program
Cost: $55 standard, $35 members, $7 students (with valid ID). Includes both programs.