The Pop Princesses of the Sharing Economy
Because sometimes in the rented. office we just need to blast some Britney and have some fun, it got us to thinking: If sharing economy companies were pop princesses, who would they be?
Britney Spears and Airbnb
A very natural place to start. Like its pop namesake, Airbnb was Born to Make You Happy, but drives many regulators Crazy. From (somewhat) innocent schoolgirl, to being perceived as Toxic after shaving her head, to a recent resurgence with her own Vegas show, the X Factor, and hit after hit, she has proven she can Work B**ch. Airbnb’s storyline follows a similar trajectory from startup darling, to “it’s all over” histeria when a home was trashed, to its current $25+ Billion valuation. It would be unwise to ever write either of these two off.Till The World Ends both have shown us that Everytime someone wants to count them out they will hit us …Baby One More Time.
Disney and Y Combinator
If Airbnb is Britney, then Y Combinator is Disney — the hit machine that has produced many a princess. Disney was the original home of princesses from Britney and Christina, to Miley and Lindsay, to Selena and Demi. Y Combinator was the early home of companies from Airbnb and Instacart, to MyVR and Superhost/Guesty, to ViaCycle and EquipmentShare and SmartHires and more. Being accepted to Y Combinator is apparently the startup equivalent to earning a spot as a Mousketeer.
Madonna and Couchsurfing
Like its pop equivalent, Couchsurfing was around before many of these other princesses were even born. Yes, there was a time long ago when this princess wasLike a Virgin, but it appears their 4 Minutes of fame are now up. Whether they will go quietly into the night, or fight back given their Rebel Heart, is still to be seen.
Lady Gaga and Rent the Runway
The current queen of the audacious wardrobe, Gaga’s corollary has to be this princess. Whether you want to look Beautiful, Dirty, Rich, or to leave all who see you Speechless, this princess has you covered. With the ability to change your look daily, Anything Goes, and when you live such a Lush Life, the Paparazzi will not be far behind.
Lorde and Etsy
Not the professionally polished princess of many others on our list, Etsy is not your typical capitalism-first venture either, but it certainly has Bravado. With its quirky/cool vibe, like its namesake this princess has been able to build mainstream popularity without conforming to the mainstream. And as one of the few public “unicorns,” Etsy is certainly now among the Royals.
JoJo and Napster
Before you tell this entry to Leave (Get Out), think about it. Like this pop princess, this sharing economy princess (remember, it was one of the first to enable the “sharing” of music) was on top of the world in the early 2000s. Like the pop princess, you probably forgot Napster was even a thing until you read this post. Both may be trying reinvention and relevancy, but likely it is Too Little Too Late.
Nicki Minaj and Kickstarter
Just how the pop princess with which it shares a spot on this list is best known for her collaborations with other artists, Kickstarter helps companies on its platform build those Starships with collaboration from its user community. Sure, both can be a Champion in their own right, but they find that they are more likely to Flywith a little help from their friends.
Paris Hilton and BlackJet
Like the heiress with which it shares a spot, this “sharing” economy company wants you to think there is Nothing In This World it wouldn’t do to get you access to a private jet. However, unless like Miss Hilton you are also in the 0.00001%, they must think the Stars Are Blind and so are you as to whom they are really serving. Rather than their jets Not Leaving Without You, if you are unable to come up with the big bucks, you are effectively Screwed.
Miley Cyrus and Homejoy
This Disney princess started off sweet, and clean, just like Homejoy promised to make your house. But after consistently failing to Get It Right, whether with questionable performances on stage or questionable hiring practices in various US cities, they have now come Full Circle. Now a Wrecking Ball seems to have hit both, so let us bid them Goodbye.
Taylor Swift/Katy Perry and Uber/Lyft
No, this was never going to be left a Blank Space. I have already documented the Taylor/Uber tie as two perfect products, but the relationship goes deeper. TheBad Blood between these two California Gurls (companies) is as public as that between the pop princesses. Despite its bright pink and immediately recognizable mustaches, Lyft is no doubt the Dark Horse in this race. However, it would be wise to Choose [Its] Battles because it would be Treacherous to go after Uber. With its deep pockets, the ridesharing titan is Fearless, and some might argueUntouchable.
Beyonce and rented.
In this Countdown that only leaves us with the Diva: Queen Bey. Think it is just Ego that has us believing we are Flawless enough to compare ourselves to pop royalty? Honey, you must not know ‘bout us. Like Yonce, we are quickly becoming Irreplaceable in the sharing economy. With our common double barreled beginnings (Destiny’s Child and VacationFutures), we have both since decided to Start Over, branching out on our own to now be recognized by single names. So don’t be Jealous, just Listen to what we have to say on our Video Phone, because if experience is any guide, we can Upgrade U.
XO,
Originally published at www.linkedin.com.
