A decade ago, Robin Chase founded Zipcar in the US, now the largest car-sharing company in the world. Now she's exploring the next level of car-sharing: Buzzcar, a French startup that lets people rent their own cars to others. The details are fascinating (how does insurance work, exactly?), and the larger vision (she calls it Peers, Inc.) points to a new definition of ownership and entrepreneurship.

Excuse me, may I rent your car?

Platforms that blend corporate structure with community participation are reshaping ownership and access. One shared car can replace up to 15 private vehicles, proving the huge impact of collaborative models. By connecting individual assets and creativity with institutional resources, platforms like Buzzcar, Etsy, and carpooling services drive innovation, customization, and efficiency that traditional companies struggle to match. This fusion of peer networks and corporate capacity sparks solutions to challenges once thought too large or urgent to tackle.

Peer Power Unleashes a New Era of Shared Value

Since the Talk: Why we need more sharing platforms

business

collaboration

consumerism

transportation

women in business

TED Stage Talk

Robin Chase: Excuse me, may I rent your car?