SAN FRANCISCO, CA — (Marketwire) — 08/06/12 — INFORUM at The Commonwealth Club today announced that it is tackling the economy — The Shared Economy on Aug. 16. It-s a pioneering event bringing together companies and thinkers who are modernizing the age old idea of sharing. The program is called “The Shared Economy: Doing Business with the Joneses.” The night will start off with a panel conversation featuring Lisa Gansky, author of “The Mesh: Why the Future of Business is Sharing,” Shelby Clark founder and CCO of RelayRides, Leah Busque, founder and CEO of TaskRabbit, and CEO of Hub Bay Area and SOCAP Cory Smith, moderated by Liz Gannes of AllThingsDigital. After the discussion, stick around for INFORUM-s Trading Post, for an even more comprehensive look into The Shared Economy, featuring Shareable, Burning Man Project, TechShop, Getable, Solar Mosaic, LiquidSpace, ThredUP, Vayable, Mesh Labs, RelayRides, TaskRabbit, and Hub Bay Area.
The truly innovative companies are using the connectedness of the internet to minimize waste and extract maximum value from existing goods. This movement has adopted many names — collaborative consumption, shared economy, peer to peer marketplace, freelance nation — the central idea is accessing rather than owning. Why struggle to put together an IKEA dresser when a seasoned pro on TaskRabbit could put it together in a jiffy? Why buy an electric screwdriver when you only really use it once? The benefits of an economy that utilizes this method of interaction touch many of the unsavory aspects of our modern economy — underemployment, environmental degradation, planned obsolescence. In 2009 alone, global use of car sharing diminished carbon dioxide emissions by negating the energy use of about 40,000 houses for a year.
A gaggle of companies are pushing the boundaries in this expanding field, and INFORUM is bringing them to you. Our panelists include the innovative minds behind several companies at the pulse of The Shared Economy. RelayRides has mastered community carsharing, TaskRabbit connects you with people in your neighborhood who can help you get the items on your To-Do list done and Hub Bay Area spurs innovation and builds community by fostering shared workspace. Entrepreneur, investor, instigator, Lisa Gansky chronicled this movement in her book “The Mesh.”
Hear the masterminds at the panel discussion, and then keep The Shared Economy juices flowing at INFORUM-s Trading Post — stay on-top of the latest freelance nation news by checking out Shareable, test out an epilog laser and fume extractor with TechShop, win a signed copy of Lisa Gansky-s “The Mesh: Why the Future of Business is Sharing,” get your wheels registered on the spot with RelayRides, and much more. Bring your ideas for exchange.
It-s a trend, revolution, a step towards repairing the economy; it-s the newest genius in business, and humankind-s oldest mantra — sharing is caring. Join INFORUM for the unique opportunity to engage with the most exciting companies and innovators who are changing how we go about our lives and interact as consumers.
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INFORUM Director, (415) 597-6719,
, INFORUM Public Relations Chair,
The Commonwealth Club of California is the nation-s oldest and largest public affairs forum — since 2002, INFORUM, a division of The Club created by and for people in their 20s and 30s, has spent the past decade stirring things up with a mission to inspire debate around civic issues. INFORUM has played host to a variety of ingenious speakers, like Van Jones and Rachel Maddow, and has reached beyond the traditional model, presenting events that range anywhere from spirits tasting to an exploration of the revolutionary music scene with the founder of Burning Man.
PR Contact:
INFORUM Director
(415) 597-6719
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