Platform Innovation™ Weekly Round Up – June 27

By Nicholas L. Johnson

Here’s what we’ve been reading this week.

1. The powerful economic principle behind Yo goo.gl/7HbN1v

A great look at how unbundling affects platform businesses.

2. Android Wear 101: Google Explains Its Smartwatch Platform goo.gl/vclZ4M

A short video from Google explaining the perks of Android Wear.

3. Airbnb, Snapgoods and 12 More Pioneers Of The ‘Share Economy’ goo.gl/EcTpE4

A quick tour through some of the services platforms leading the ‘sharing economy’

4. What ridesharing actually is goo.gl/hJ7uXT

The founder of platform startup Bandwagon takes issue with the common understanding of what “ridesharing” really is.

5. Airbnb vs. New York: A Fight Over What It Means to Share goo.gl/36v6SK

Mashable takes an in-depth look at the legal fight facing platform mega-startup Airbnb.

6. The Pros and Cons of Sharing http://goo.gl/cNql5u

NYT columnist Anand Giridharadas raises some common questions around services platforms. A lot of people don’t yet understand how platform businesses work and why they’re different from traditional companies, so the kind of confusion the author portrays is common.

7. “There’s not really a single ‘technology industry ‘—every industry is being shaped by tech.” goo.gl/KeajTz

A short interview with VC Hunter Walk. One of the highlights:

“The connective tissue for me between Second Life, AdSense, and YouTube is they’re all bets on people. Giving creative tools to people; creating products and services within communities that serve as both consumers and collaborators; and providing a business model so the creators can realize economic value. You can’t pay rent or buy food with YouTube views alone!”

8. Google spells out ambitious plan: Android world domination goo.gl/odsJDh

The message to developers at Google’s I/O fest this year was crystal clear: Android software will power everything from phones and cars to TVs and beyond.

9. ZocDoc Is Raising $150 Million At $1.6 Billion Valuation As Digital Health Heats Up goo.gl/syQBEY

Platform startup Zoc Doc, which lets patients take empty slots in doctors’ schedules with their smartphones, is on course to raise $152.6 million in a new round of funding.

10. Video: The Growth of the Sharing Economy goo.gl/w8PPz0

Zipcar U.K. General Manager Mark Walker and Park At My House CEO Alex Stephany discuss the sharing economy and how their businesses are thriving because of people sharing goods and services.

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Filed under: Platform Innovation | Topics: Airbnb, android, Google, I/O, news, sharing economy