Review
'A remarkable book, a sweeping view of a fascinating new economy in which peer-to-peer exchange will be central, written to be simultaneously very intelligent and very readable. Alex Stephany is a rare author, combining the experiential insight of a successful entrepreneur with the longer-range vision of a deep thinker. Read this book.'
-Arun Sundararajan, Professor and Rosen Faculty Fellow, Stern School of Business, New York University
'The Business of Sharing is a great book about history being made today in the sharing economy. Alex Stephany puts together a thorough, insightful, thoughtful and entertaining account of what is transpiring today and what will undoubtedly be here to stay.'
-Alfred Lin, Sequoia Capital
'Alex offers an engaging and informative narrative on the business of 'sharing' that has emerged in recent years. From the perspective of an insider, he brings valuable insight to the waves this industry is creating both inside and outside of itself.'
-Lily Cole, Founder, Impossible.com; actor
'The Business of Sharing is an excellent read for any entrepreneur. Alex gives a great overview of the sharing economy: from how it works to the current key players in the market and the stories, such as my own, of founders who launched businesses that rely upon the sharing economy.'
-Martin Varsavsky, Founder, Fon; serial entrepreneur
'Alex Stephany writes a compelling and incisive guide to how sharing economy dynamics make businesses and communities agile, innovative and powerful. Read this book. Because by the end you'll understand how the sharing economy has unleashed a complex and massive shift in the way business is done.'
-Lisa Gansky, Entrepreneur; author of The Mesh
"The Business of Sharing is one of the most comprehensive books I've read on the subject and, believe me, I've read them all."
- Benita Matofska, Management Today; author of the What We Know About the Global Sharing Economy report; Founder, Compare and Share
Book Description
The “sharing economy” is changing the rules of business.
Why buy a hedge trimmer that you use twice a year? Why not borrow someone else’s? Why leave your driveway empty all day while you’re at work? Why not charge someone to park there while you’re not using it? And, if your business is selling hedge trimmers or parking – or anything else people can share – what do you do about it?
Today, the sharing economy or “collaborative consumption” is letting people earn over $15 billion a year by sharing what they already own: from cars and homes to money and time.
And that’s almost nothing. According to PwC, the sharing economy will grow into a $335 billion market by 2025. TIME Magazine calls it “One of 10 Ideas that will Change the World.” Pulitzer Prize-winner Thomas L Friedman calls it “The real deal”. The world’s top technology investors are already backing the sharing economy’s entrepreneurs to become the next crop of Internet billionaires. And some of the world’s biggest companies are watching their backs.
Written by one of the business leaders of the movement, The Business of Sharing is an insider’s guide to the sharing economy and how to profit from the upheavals ahead. This critically acclaimed new book includes colorful and revealing interviews with entrepreneurs like the founders of Airbnb and Zipcar and the world’s top venture capitalists, plus case studies of major brands from around the world. The Business of Sharing is essential reading for anyone looking to get to grips with one of today’s must-understand global trends.
About the Author
Alex Stephany is the CEO of JustPark (formerly ParkatmyHouse), one of Europe's most renowned sharing economy businesses. Backed by the venture capital arm of BMW and Index Ventures, JustPark is the world's largest website for shared parking with over a million customers. Educated at Oxford University where he read English, Stephany is also a mentor at TechStars, a leading tech accelerator programme. Stephany and JustPark have been featured by ABC, CNBC, NPR, The Daily Telegraph, The Financial Times, The BBC, Wired, The New York Times and Bloomberg among many others.
