AUSTIN, Texas, Dec. 4, 2013 /PRNewswire/ — The ATX Women's Network group had their first monthly event in Austin, Texas. The event was aimed at honoring rising startups in the sharing economy. Julie Davis, executive director of TechAssure Association, provided the guest keynote speech.
As one of the fastest-growing technology segments, the sharing economy is expected to grow over $110 billion in 2014 and Austin has a great opportunity to lead that growth. The sharing economy includes categories of transportation, real estate, ride-sharing, renewable energy, recreational goods, labor and task sharing. Firms like AirBnB, Getaround, Relay Rides and Task Rabbit are just a few examples that operate in the sharing economy.
The event highlighted ways that the sharing economy is unlocking avenues for government, private sector and social enterprises to work together to solve some of our toughest challenges. Improved technology, changes in business and social needs are driving growth for collaborative sharing firms. But the opportunities in the robust peer-to-peer market comes with significant challenges.
During the keynote presentation, Julie Davis presented, "Sharing economy firms have the opportunity to pioneer new markets, tap into mainstream markets, bring scale and distribution, innovate new products and services and be the first to recognize the changing needs in their local communities. But in order for the sharing economy to continue on that growth path, firms must manage eight critical areas for success. They include risks in legal, finance, legislative reform, regulations on production and commerce, regulations in employment, insurance innovation, business model innovation and trust. New market opportunities are never without risk. It is challenging work, but the companies that take risks and turn into a positive will be the winners."
Attendees of the event included Dell, University of Texas, IBM, Apple Computer and smaller organizations in the Austin area.
The event is the first of many forums scheduled in 2014. To learn more about the ATX Women's Network, please visit our page on MeetUp.
Contact Information:
Anna Smith, President, California Women's Network Group, 408-439-2654, Email