Articles about Sharing Economy

Peer-to-peer on-demand moving startup Dolly raises $7.5M to expand across the U.S. and globe

Things are moving at Dolly. The Seattle startup just raised $7.5 million, bringing its total funding to $20 million. The… Read More

TLDR: Remembering Paul Allen

Today’s featured stories Bill Gates pays tribute to Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen: ‘Personal computing would not have existed without him’… Read More

Uber drivers are earning less, Airbnb hosts are making more, and other insights from a new study on the gig economy

In average monthly payments, Uber drivers are earning less than half what they made back in 2013, when on-demand transportation… Read More

Startup founder unleashes new venture: SniffSpot looks to connect dog owners with safe play spaces

When David Adams moved back to Seattle, he settled in an apartment on the seventh floor of a building in… Read More

Complaints from bike-share workers reflect new reality for labor force that powers sharing economy

After four months working with Ofo, Sean Healy reached a breaking point. He started driving vans and trucks for the… Read More

Internet Association, a powerful Silicon Valley lobby, is opening an office in Seattle

Internet Association — which lobbies on behalf of top tech companies like Amazon, Microsoft, Google, Facebook, Airbnb and Uber — is… Read More

Vancouver, B.C. cracks down on Airbnb with tough new short-term rental regulations

Vancouver, B.C. has passed a set of stringent regulations in an attempt to curb the proliferation of Airbnbs and free… Read More

Boatsetter brings Boatbound aboard, acquiring Seattle-based ship-sharing startup

Boatbound has found a new captain. The Seattle startup that operates an Airbnb-like marketplace for boat owners has been acquired… Read More

Car2go passes 100K member milestone in Seattle, its biggest U.S. market

Update Aug. 30: Car2go officially passed the 100,000 member milestone in Seattle Wednesday. To celebrate, car2go is reimbursing members up to… Read More

Airbnb launches ad campaign to influence Seattle debate over short-term rentals

By September of an election year, anyone who still has cable is used to an onslaught of political ads sponsored… Read More

Libertarian presidential candidate Gary Johnson stops in Seattle, says he wants the future to ‘be Uber everything’

Gary Johnson has a vision for the future: Apply Uber’s on-demand, sharing economy model to just about everything. The libertarian… Read More

‘Exploited and defeated’: Tensions mount as Seattle lawmakers debate banning short-term rentals in secondary homes

A crowd of homeowners, rental site representatives, and residents gathered today at City Hall as Seattle councilmembers proposed a simplified set… Read More

Regulating Airbnb: Seattle residents pack City Council chambers for hearing on short-term rentals

Seattle residents lined up Wednesday morning to speak out about housing affordability and short-term rental regulations at the Seattle City Council… Read More

Startup Spotlight: ShareGrid helps filmmakers and photographers rent gear to other local pros

The “sharing economy” has disrupted everything from transportation to lodging, and many industries in between. ShareGrid is betting it can… Read More

Frustrated homeowners say Expedia’s HomeAway changes ‘dramatically impact’ their rentals

In 2005, Susan and Bob Frank built their dream retirement home in North Topsail, N.C., a popular vacation spot known for… Read More

Amazon has big plans for Uber-like ‘Flex’ package delivery service, job postings reveal

Amazon says its experiment with an Uber-style delivery network called Flex has gone so well in Seattle over the past few… Read More

Expedia completes $3.9 billion acquisition of Airbnb competitor HomeAway

Expedia just finalized its acquisition of HomeAway, meaning the online travel giant is now officially going head-to-head with Airbnb. The blockbuster… Read More

Guest Commentary: Don’t impose antiquated rules on the Sharing Economy

Seattle has been on the leading edge of many of the cultural shifts transforming our nation for nearly a quarter… Read More

On-demand valet service Zirx sued over workers’ independent contractor classification

A former Zirx worker says she was required to work set hours and wear a uniform when she parked cars… Read More

Uber policy advisor David Plouffe calls proposed Seattle ordinance to unionize drivers ‘puzzling’

David Plouffe thinks a proposed ordinance to help Uber drivers unionize is “puzzling,” and one that may cost the City… Read More

Why Expedia CEO Dara Khosrowshahi isn’t worried about competition from Airbnb

Expedia may be about to plop down $3.9 billion to acquire an Airbnb competitor, but Expedia CEO Dara Khosrowshahi insists that has… Read More

Uber sued by former worker seeking at least $44M on behalf of all Washington state Uber drivers

A former Washington state Uber driver has filed a lawsuit alleging he was wrongfully classified as an independent contractor by the ride-sharing… Read More

Uber says it’s tired of waiting, calls on Port of Seattle to allow airport pickups ‘immediately’

Uber says tens of thousands of Seattle travelers walk out of Seattle-Tacoma International Airport each month and pull out their… Read More

Flexe raises $4.4M as it builds a marketplace to turn empty warehouse space into extra cash

Flexe announced $4.4 million in funding on Thursday as the hot Seattle startup gets ready to expand its marketplace that acts… Read More

Survey shows consumers may need some time to warm up to Amazon’s new crowdsourced deliveries

While companies like Uber and Amazon continue to turn to tech savvy city-dwellers to test new business models that rely on crowdsourced… Read More

Why Expedia isn’t taking on Airbnb: Travel giant still searching for ‘magic bullet’ in sharing economy

Expedia is still keeping the so-called sharing economy at arm’s length, even as companies like Airbnb have swooped into the online… Read More

Instacart will allow some contractors in Seattle, Portland to become part-time employees

Seattle and Portland are the latest Instacart cities where personal shoppers can become part-time employees. The grocery delivery company announced… Read More

Former aQuantive exec heads up fast-growing on-demand warehousing startup FLEXE

A Seattle startup is helping warehouse owners make extra money while providing businesses with an easy way to find storage space.… Read More

Former Rhapsody execs launch startup that lets you share items, services with neighbors

A new Seattle startup wants to help neighbors share items and expertise with each other while donating to a good… Read More

Airbnb faces massive fines as Portland registration deadline looms

Airbnb and other short-term rental marketplaces are risking massive fines as a deadline looms in Portland. Last year, the city… Read More