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As the sharing and on-demand sectors continue to grow, we’re starting to see them intersect and complement each other. What does this mean for sharing companies, like Uber and Lyft? In this episode, I chat with Don Stalter of Global Founders Capital about the growth of the on-demand economy and what the future of companies in this sector could look like.
If you’d like to read a transcript of this podcast, please click here.
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Intro
- I’ve always focused on the experience of rideshare drivers on this podcast, but over the years, the industry has become so big we’re beginning to see rideshare and the on-demand economy intersect in a lot of different ways
- In this episode, I’m speaking with Don Stalter, a venture capital investor from Global Founders Capital (GFC)
- He has worked with companies like Airbnb, Cherkr and some companies you probably haven’t heard of – yet.
- Don has approached the industry from a different angle than myself, and I’m excited to have you listen/read what he has to say about the on-demand industry
- This podcast episode is sponsored by Take 5, and their goal is to get your oil change done in just a few minutes. In fact, Take 5 will actually allow you to stay in your car while they change your oil! Also, they really only focus on basic services like oil changes, transmission fluid, air filters, etc. so you won’t be upsold anything like “blinker fluid” (which doesn’t exist in real life).
- Take 5 is not yet in California but they are available in the Southeast, and right now Take 5 is offering 25% off oil changes. Find more about it here!
Interview with Don Stalter
- Don Stalter is Global Founders Capital US partner based in San Francisco
- He was an early employee of both Groupon and Airbnb, where he had senior operational roles across markets in the US, Europe, and Asia
- He invested in Fintech, PropTech, consumer, and consumer infrastructure from the press all the way through the late stage
- Knew that Airbnb was going to be big when he was traveling abroad, paying friends to sleep on their couches – knew people would want a service like this
Work with Global Founders Capital (GFC)
- Went to work with GFC after several years – during that time, met founders of Spotify, Unity, and CityDeal (which was later sold to Groupon)
- After that time, was offered the opportunity to return to California and work with Airbnb on worldwide growth
- While working with Airbnb, other on-demand companies popped up, like Handy for cleaning services
- Began to recognize the connections among on-demand companies and sharing companies
- Made sense to join GFC because of Don’s background and the companies GFC was working with
What Type of Areas Do You Focus On?
- Mainly consumer businesses that can demonstrate through past profitability into the future
- Looking for high energy, electric entrepreneurs
- Has worked with Checkr, which works with a number of companies including Uber, DoorDash and others
Growth of the On-Demand Economy
- With fast-growing sectors, there will always be issues – one step back, two steps forward
- Learning experiences – we’re still in the early days of the on-demand economy
- There will be a lot of growth around “cottage industries” too – the companies that support on-demand companies (like Checkr)
Identifying Promising Companies
- Has also invested in companies in the shipping/logistics space – Shipwell, based in Austin, TX
- Although there may be companies pursuing similar outcomes, it’s all about the power of focus – the problem you’re solving, the team you’re working with, etc.
- Bolt, based out of LA, focuses on short haul shipping, is another company Don has invested in
- Artificial intelligence is another category to stay focused on in the future
Outro
- Big thanks to Don for coming on and sharing is perspective on the on-demand and sharing economies
- You can connect with Don Stalter on LinkedIn or via email at [email protected]
- It’s interesting to see how the sharing economy has evolved in a short amount of time – now our terminology is starting to shift to the on-demand economy
- Finally, this podcast episode is sponsored by Take 5, and their goal is to get your oil change done in just a few minutes. In fact, Take 5 will actually allow you to stay in your car while they change your oil! Also, they really only focus on basic services like oil changes, transmission fluid, air filters, etc. so you won’t be upsold anything like “blinker fluid” (which doesn’t exist in real life).
- Take 5 is not yet in California but they are available in the Southeast, and right now Take 5 is offering 25% off oil changes. Find more about it here!
Show Notes
If you’d like to read a transcript of this podcast, please click here.
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I'm Harry, the owner and founder of The Rideshare Guy Blog and Podcast. I used to be a full-time engineer but now I'm a rideshare blogger! I write about my experience driving for Uber, Lyft, and other services and my goal is to help drivers earn more money by working smarter, not harder.
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