Welcome, this industry newsletter shares key market changes, in a twice-monthly publication, curated by Jeremiah Owyang, Founder of Catalyst Companies™, you can subscribe to the email newsletter on the footer of the homepage.

Lots of Funding: $850 Million in 30 Days
With an influx of capital at the rate $28 million per day, April 2014 ought to be the month that naysayers change their collective minds about the Collaborative Economy. In addition to an abundance of evidence of the sharing mindset becoming commercially accepted worldwide, the capital is flowing into the Collaborative Economy at an unheard of rate. Sharing entities raised more than $850 million during April alone. Funding in these amounts is almost entirely predicated on confidence, and that is precisely what investors are demonstrating. To find out where this money went and why the sharing model is so attractive: Read more.

Airbnb and New York in a Battle
Just as New York State Attorney General, Eric Schneiderman was about to meet Airbnb in court, the leader in the space-sharing sector of the Collaborative Economy dropped 2,000 NY listings from its website and permanently banned an unknown number of registered hosts. Schneiderman’s claim: Airbnb is in violation of a New York law that prohibits the use of apartments as short-term rentals. Airbnb’s claim: “Cities like Paris, Amsterdam and Hamburg are embracing the sharing economy. New York shouldn’t be playing catch up.” Pushback should be expected in response to a disruptive movement. Read More.

Conference: Maker Faire and MakerCon
With 99 speakers, 44 sessions, 10 keynotes and four workshops over two days, MakerCon will offer a plethora of insights into all facets of the Maker Movement on May 13th and 14th in Redwood City, CA. Just three days later, “The Greatest Show and Tell on Earth” will open on May 17th and 18th in the form of the San Mateo Maker Faire, as a celebration of the Maker Movement. To learn more about four fantastic days during a single week in the San Francisco Bay Area that promote creativity, invention and resourcefulness, read more at the MakerCon and Maker Faire websites.

Summit: Share Conference in SF
With top speakers like Lisa Gansky author of The Mesh, Brian Chesky from Airbnb, top startups, thought leaders and more, this conference will be the largest US based conference focused on the sharing economy. Based in SF, near many of the startups forging this market, this two day event will promote the spirit of sharing, take on the hard challenges of regulation, and bring leaders, practioners, and business folks under one roof. Catch Jeremiah Owyang’s keynote, discussing how people are adoption, and corporations are engaging. http://www.shareconference.com

GE and Quirky Continue to Grow
Proving that it really believes its slogans over the years, that include phrases like “Living better,” “Progress is our most important product,” “Bringing good things to life” and its current “Imagination at work,” GE is sharing thousands of patents with the crowd-sourcing invention company, Quirky. Patents often rise up to teach us that Solomon was right when he said that there is nothing new under the sun. Just when some inspired inventor thinks he has a never-before-thought-of idea, he runs smack into an existing patent on that idea that keeps him from developing it. Quirky members (or should I say members of Quirky?) will now be able to bring new products to market without infringing on virtually thousands of latent patents currently owned by GE. The cooperation between corporate giant, GE, and sharing startup, Quirky, vividly illustrates how corporate resiliency and crowd innovation can collaborate to make “Bring good things to life.” Read more.

Catalyst Companies Hosts First Summit for Council Members
On May 8th and 9th in San Francisco, Catalyst Companies will be hosting our first members-only immersion event, featuring tours of Techshop, the Impact Hub co-working space and the famed Autodesk Gallery. We’re expecting more than 35 business leaders from the councils 33 corporations to discuss the collaborative economy and how businesses and crowds can partner. Special guest presenters include Mark Hatch from Techshop, Brit Morin from Brit & Co., and Mike Walsh from Structure Capital. To learn more about Catalyst Companies can do for your large company email jeremiah@catalystcompanies.co.