Swiss Sharing Economy on the Rise
The new Sharing Economy is mainly dominated from international companies like Uber and Airbnb. Switzerland also has a dynamic Sharing Economy, which brings new business models to the market like Autoscout or Sharely.ch.
The Sharing Economy is at the moment in a strong growth phase. Companies like Airbnb and Uber are expanding their business model and operating in several new countries. Investors are becoming attentive to the companies. Recently Uber received a funding of the Government of Saudi Arabia in the amount of 3.5 billion Swiss Francs. This is the largest investment which has ever been made into a young and not stock exchange listed company. The investment is looked at a strategic alliance for both, because the Middle East and Asia have an enormous market potential.
Origin in the Silicon Valley
The Sharing Economy isn’t a new phenomenon as the old student’s central “Mitwohnzentralen” show. A meteoritic rise the branch realized with the founding of Uber 2009. The taxi service
The taxi placing service was founded from Travis Kalanick and Garrett Camp in the Californian Silicon Valley and distributed rapidly to the whole world. Business models like Airbnb (2013) or ParkU (2013) followed in short time.
The Sharing Economy had to take criticism. The established businesses from the taxi and hotel industry defended themselves strongly against the new competition. Since they don’t have to consider official requirements, safety restrictions or minimum trainings, the new companies can offer their services far cheaper.
Some Governments resorted to drastic regulations to ensure equality under the market participants: In Berlin a misappropriation prohibition act “Zweckentfremdungsverbotsgesetz” was launched. The SVA Zürich demands from Uber Switzerland a resubmission of the AHV, because Swiss Uber drivers are treated differently concerning the law. Uber will go to court due to the new regulations.
Swiss Sharing Economy
In Switzerland Uber and Airbnb are active. We know some other strong companies:
• Sharely: The Online-Platform was launched 2013 over STARTUPS.CH and has specialised on everyday objects. The offer is free for tenants, because the platform finances itself over a part on the rental income.
• Rentscout: The rent and lease portal was founded by three Entrepreneurs from Aargau. Already in the first month a half a million advertisements were online.
• Shareline: The young company offers e sharing platform for several services for e.g. catering to finance consulting.
