Over last couple of years, peer-to-peer service/economy has been taken by storm. Specially in travel and accommodation industry. For most of the tech savvy folks Airbnb and Uber or Lyft has been way of travel. Also there is upcoming startup Flytenow for peer-to-peer flights between different locations. There are ideally two types of industries.
- Everyone has their market share and competitiveness among similar business model
- Winner takes all
When it comes to social networking, back in 2002 – 2006 many startups with similar model and more or less similar growth trajectory. In early 2010 Facebook took a leap forward and emerged as clear winner, leaving other social networks much behind. Its reached a place where its difficult for anyone to step in now.
Same applies to Google search, even Google started much after Altavista but it didn’t took much time for them to surpass their rivals due to their founders vision and excellent technology. Microsoft Bing and Yahoo search are distant runner-up in search in race. Google take away more than 80% search market by storm.
In peer-to-peer economy, airbnb has taken leap ahead in accommodation and taking on traditional hotel business and regulators. When it comes to most promising industry for peer-to-peer – taxi /cab service, there are two clear frontrunners – Uber and Lyft. Both started almost same time, similar business model, similar service and even some drivers drives for both Uber and Lyft.
With ongoing tussle to tap more market, Uber as well as Lyft are trying to woo riders (customers) with one or other offers all the times. It’s good for common public. In days to comes, it would be interesting to see whether both companies will continue to operate independently as they are now or become formidable company by merger/acquisition?
elance and odesk has merged recently to provide better work platform for freelancers and businesses. My take, merger of uber and Lyft in next couple of years!
Leap Forward 