The sharing economy is well known in industries such as transportation with companies like Uber and Lyft, and housing with Airbnb. The city of New Orleans now has another option, renting camera equipment through ShareGrid, a startup launched in 2015 that was previously only available in a few cities across the country.
ShareGrid, considered the “Airbnb of camera gear,” is a marketplace that helps creatives connect and safely rent out their equipment. The company says it’s not only a way to exchange equipment, but also a way for New Orleanians to find jobs and learn about opportunities in the city.
Available items on the marketplace include cinema cameras, lenses, lighting equipment, drones, audio, accessories, and more. Renting through ShareGrid, according to the company, saves members an average of 30-50 percent on rentals.
“I am passionate about ShareGrid because it democratizes production,” says CEO and co-founder Marius Ciocirlan. “People in New Orleans can now afford to shoot on equipment that was out of reach before, while others are making a return on their equipment investments.”
Existing markets for ShareGrid include New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Atlanta, San Diego, San Francisco, and Seattle. All members receive instant insurance and bank level fraud protection when using the marketplace for rentals. ShareGrid now has more than 50,000 members and manages more than $500 million of gear.