Archive for October, 2007

Inviting 25 Industry Experts to our latest Web 2.0 Start Up: iRent2u.com.

Do You Qualify?
We’re Inviting 25 Industry Experts to a sneak peak of our site.

iRent2u.com is in Live Private Beta set to launch publicly November 15th. We will allow a select group of people early access on Nov 8th. This is your chance to be the first to view this exciting new site.

What is iRent2u.com?
It’s the solution to a problem we all have. A way to get more from less. Its an EBay for Rentals, an Online Rental Marketplace. A two sided market that allows people to lend and borrow private assets from each other. Launching with over 1 million items online, it is sure to make a dramatic impact on the over $100 Billion US rental market.

We are Seeking:
Industry experts in Web 2.0; Online Sales and Marketing, Legal Affairs, Business Development, Venture Firms, Avid Online Users, and of course Bloggers & Podcasters.

Would you like to participate? All recommendations and feedback welcome.

Email: feedback@irent2u.com (subject: industry expert) or reply to this question.

Thank You

Popularity: 10% [?]

iRent2u Prepares for Nov. 15th launch…

November 15th is coming up fast, and we are very excited about it. This is the day that we open up iRent2u.com for the whole world to see. Of course we want to show off our baby a little bit, because we think it looks pretty nice (here’s a screenshot), but we are much more excited for its potential to help people.

With this site we have big plans. Specifically we are going to give people a way to change their worlds. Many people would like the chance to change the world, but it is hard to know where to begin. Well we say, start in your garage. Start by taking all those valuable items that you purchased but are now just waisting away in storage and put them online. Take that power drill, that bike you never use, your super 100 foot hose you bought last year, and your extra set of golf clubs. Take those items, and about ten minutes of your time, and put them online for the whole world to use.

By allowing other people to use your valuable but rarely used possessions, you not only make a little money for yourself, you also help your friends and neighbors save a lot of money. Then someday in the future when you need something, you can also borrow it from one of your neighbors saving time and money. The website makes it easy to find what you need, and helps everyone get more from what they already have, be that money or possessions.

Change Your World

A lot of people talk about changing the world. Usually it is a big idea that has the potential to make everyones lives better. We hope to create a system to do this, but in reality it is not a big change, it is a series of many small changes. Last night I saw ‘Evan Almighty’. In the movie, a politician campaigns that if he is put into office he is going to change the world, but when he wins and gets into office he doesn’t know where to begin. At this point God speaks to him and tells him that the way to change the world is by one random act of kindness at a time.

This is what you will be able to do through iRent2u.com. Each time you create a listing for your items on the site you are doing a small act of kindness, creating a way your neighbors can benefit from what you own. Then every time someone borrows something they save money, and you know you helped someone. Add to this the safeguards that ensure your item is returned in the same condition you lent it, and the bonus that you get paid for lending your items, and you have the perfect system. Everyone is helping each other, and they all are better off for it.

People Helping People

We call this our ‘People Helping People’ lending network. And it is our little way to change the world. And once many people start to use it, together we can take all these little changes and create a real movement, and truly make the world a better place to live.

The journey of a thousand miles begins with one step. In some regards the launching of this site is the end of one thousand mile journey, as we have been working on this a long time. On November 15th we start another journey though, and this one will be a lot more fun because we get to take all of you along with us. We can’t wait to hear your stories of how you used the site, or your ideas for how together we can make it better.

Just the Beginning

The site, as it will launch in a couple weeks, is only the beginning. It will shape and grow over time into whatever you want it to be. We know that people are inherently good. They enjoy being able to help their neighbors, reduce pollution, and save money. They enjoy finding ways to meet new friends, and share their experiences. We know that if we give people the right tools, and then give them the power to improve them, we will all be better off for it.

We already know that ‘Together We Have More’. On November 15th, we finally get the chance to put it into action.

Popularity: 31% [?]

California Wildfires

iRent2u.com would like to take this moment to tell everyone in California our hearts are with you through these terrible wildfires.

This appears to be some of the worst fires our state has seen in a long time, too long to remember. The amazing thing about these horrible situations is the ability for people to band together and help each other. While it is hard to see now, as everyone is too busy evacuating and worrying about their homes, all across the state heroes are emerging to help their fellow man.

The true heroes of your community are the people that go out of their way to lend a hand in your time of need. We may be millions of people living separate lives, but during hardships we come together in an instant bond of friendship, united in a single goal - helping each other.

It is a bit of this power, this spirit of giving and help, that we hope to capture with our new business set to launch next month. By creating a powerful People Helping People lending network, we give a way for people to help each other everyday, to get items they need and save money for what is more important.

Of course it is hard to think about our website when fires are looming down on your property. For those in the path of those horrible blazes we wish for the best, and know that your wonderful community of friends and neighbors will be there to get you through.

A special thanks as well is due to our heroic firefighters, who time and time again go to the most dangerous places, battling on the front lines to keep us safe. To all of you we are truly grateful.

…

Popularity: 9% [?]

Save the World…

October 15th was an important day for bloggers, an important day for the environment, and an important day for the world. It was “Blog Action Day”. One day when bloggers around the world unite to write about one topic, the environment. It was organized from this site http://blogactionday.org/, but is supported by thousands of people who care all across the globe.

Over 15,000 blogs united to address an issue that should be important to all of us, taking care of the planet and the eco-systems we depend on for survival. It is exciting and inspiring to see the world coming together on such vital issues, issues that are core to iRent2u’s mission and values.

These issues are the potential for global warming, as well as many other negative side effects of pollution & the increasing world population. The direct impact of our growing population is the fact that as more people live, they take up more space, and displace the land and resources that previously had been used by not only other species, but also systems which keep this world running smoothly. Of course we all recognize that this planet is in a constant state of change, but it needs to happen at a pace that allows the systems to balance themselves in a peaceful and orderly manner.

iRent2u is working to help restore some order to the system by reducing the necessity for people to buy things, while still giving them the ability to use the items they need. A perfect example is that drill you own yet rarely use. Resources were used to create the drill, and someday you will throw it away, creating waste. By creating a system that allows people to share and rent items from people nearby, we effectively can reduce the number of drills needed in a neighborhood by as much as 75% or more. This saves everyone money, reduces the resources needed to make drills, and reduces the waste from the drills that are thrown away.

Everyone needs to do their part to help out. Luckily, when everyone is focused on helping a problem incredible things happen. Together we will learn overcome any obstacles in our path and be better for it. Together we will find new types of energy and new ways to increase efficiency. Together we can save the world.

Together we have more, and that’s all were fighting for.

Popularity: 6% [?]

Eco Festival - Recap

As you know I (Tim McCormack) spoke Saturday at an event in Malibu called the Wallflower Organic & Eco Festival. You can see pictures from the even here.

Well it turned out to be a fun event, with a lot going on and very interesting speakers. I thought I would give you a quick recap.

I was on the first panel of the day, and it started out better than I expected. We spoke about green investing and the ways that new green startups were being funded and have the potential to change the world. This was of course a great time for me to tell everyone about our upcoming launch, and how iRent2u.com gives everyone the ability to get more from what they already have. They liked the analogy that it is recycling on steroids, because it allows people to cycle around useful items, and not just recreate things from what is otherwise trash.

The resounding message that came from our panel was that there is a revolution occurring right now in the United States. Something happened recently, when Al Gore’s movie caught so much attention, and people are really starting to understand the importance of taking care of the environment, and the potential impact of our enormous national consumption. Because of this, entrepreneurs with incredible inventions have stepped up with great ways that we can make the world more efficient, and thus hopefully reduce our impact on it.

We are seeing huge advances in alternative energies, with everything from solar to alternative oils popping up all over. Additionally new technologies that reduce energy consumption, reduce pollution and save money are also more common.

Plus there are many companies like ours, who offer unique new ways to get more from less. All of these together, along with a growing trend towards green investments, have the great possibility to change the world. It is exciting and inspiring, and you could feel a real buzz at the event.

Speakers throughout the day included such well known activists as Robert Craymer of RC Green, who recently did Live Earth and creates toxin free furniture.

We spoke after his panel, and he really likes our idea. He said that he would like to cover us on his blog, so check in a couple weeks and we may be there.

Also in attendance was Ed Begley Jr., who on top of acting and speaking, also now has his own line of eco-friendly cleaning supplies, called Begley’s Best. Check out his store here

As you probably know I co-host a podcast regarding emerging green technologies with Robert Mechielsen of StudioRMA. He spoke on a couple panels, and talked a lot about his new building system that is 80% more energy efficient than normal homes, is highly earthquake resistant, hurricane resistant, has a fire rating 400% higher than the normal home, and is virtually impervious to all insects and vermin! Wow. It is called SCIP and has the ability to revolutionize the housing market in the US.

Another person I met was Lisa Osborne, of Lisa.fm. She interviewed me after the panel, and so you may get to hear my voice on her show sometime in the next couple of weeks. I will let you know when it is posted. Lisa seemed to be particularly interested in what the majority of people can do to help, and a common theme that was heard yesterday is “voting with your dollars”. The idea behind that is to try to understand what companies you are purchasing from, and buy from companies that sponsor sustainable and healthy business practices.

Well there was more, like a fuel additive that reduces emissions and increases performance on your car, as well as shirts made from bamboo and cars that run on cooking grease, but this is enough for now. Suffice it to say that it was an interesting event and I was glad to be able to feature our company to such a lively and motivated crowd.

Popularity: 8% [?]