Creating a company based on digital platforms in Europe: challenges and lessons

Marco TorregrossaManaging Director, European Sharing Economy Coalition

Secretary General, European Forum of Independent Professionals

European Parliament ITRE Committee 14 July 2015

What do the following brands have in common?

Zero

The power of zero

The world’s largest taxi companyowns ZERO vehicles. 41 M. $.

The world’s most popupal social media creates ZERO content. 184 M. $.

The world largest accomodationprovider owns ZERO real estate.

$20 M. $.

The world’s most valuable retailerowns ZERO inventory.

$210 M. $.

Lend £10.5 million to UK businesses in 1 week (june 2015) and ZERO

credits.

LEARNING

p2p learning open courses & moocs

PRODUCTION

co-design / co-innovation

digital peer production

distributed fabrication (makers)

FINANCE

p2p fundingp2p

paymentsp2p insurance

compl. currencies

GOVERNANCESWARM

participatory organizations

participatory government

blockchain / DAO

CONSUMPTION

redistribution

local food systems

product-serviceon-demand

services

Collaborative Economy Framework

Platform-ed Business Model

“Products have features; platforms have communities”

Marshall Van Alstyne, Associate ProfessorBoston University, Initiative on the Digital Economy

From Decentralisation to Distribution

Collaborative Economy Value Chain

1. Invest in invisible infrastructures (platforms) without having to spend on concrete and help to build consumers’ confidence.

2. Apply regulations in the same way – but with proportionality –given the small size of micro-businesses on some platforms.

3. Set clear minimum standards on health and safety for platforms to make clear upfront to their users and help them comply by pointing to applicable government guidance.

4. Update procurement frameworks, so that platforms are an option alongside traditional service providers.

5. Partner with platforms in the organisation of large events, natural disaster response, tax collection, re-usable items hubs.

6. Establish a “database of available hours” aggregating providers’ availabilities, trust rating and prices across platforms.

7. Assist the digitally excluded get online, so that they can access the opportunities platforms can offer.

Final Takeaways (Policy Recommendations)

Marco Torregrossahttp://about.me/marcotorregrossa

@EuroFreelancers | #SharingEconomy | #CollEcon

Thomas Doennebrink, OuiShare Connector, Reinventing DB - Share and Collaborative Economy http://de.slideshare.net/doennebrink/reinventing-db-share-and-collaborative-economy?from_action=save

Jeremiah Owyang, Founder Crowd Companies, Keynote: The Collaborative Economy with Jeremiah Owyang http://www.slideshare.net/jeremiah_owyang/collaborative-economy-keynote-jeremiah-owyang

Albert Canigueral, OuiShare Connector, TEDxESADE - 2014 - Platforms are eating the world http://www.slideshare.net/acanyi/tedxesade-2014-platforms-are-eating-the-world-albert-caigueral

Sources