Travel aggregation to ride-hailing, welcome to India's shared economy

Starting with travel aggregation and ride hailing, it is quickly evolving across categories like furniture rentals, bike sharing, and peer-to-peer lending

When Jeemon Jacob moved to Gurugram to join an information technology company, he rented a two-bedroom flat with four colleagues. Instead of buying furniture and electronic goods, they decided to rent them — four beds, a refrigerator, a television, and a study table for just Rs 2,500 a month from a start-up. 

Jacob is learning to play guitar and has rented one till he can save enough to buy it. One of his flatmates has rented a treadmill, while another rents a bike for weekend trips. Their boss, Venkat, rents a car from Zoomcar on weekends and uses cabs on weekdays.

Welcome