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Pioneers & Protagonists

Hans Schoenburg, co-founder of GiftFlow

GiftFlow aims to…
connect friends and neighbors into a network of giving and sharing. We want to bring neighborhoods closer together, prevent waste and promote the joy of giving.

The idea came from …
ancient history. Gift economies have tied people together into communities of reciprocity and cooperation for millennia. If giving was as natural as consuming then, why can’t it be that way now?

I believe it is the right moment for GiftFlow to take off…
the economic crisis has left everyone looking for ways to consume less and to reconnect with the people around them, and now it is easy to better coordinate real world interactions, using the web.

The easiest way to explain GiftFlow is…
give what you can to get what you need.

The biggest misperception about GiftFlow is…
that we are just like Craigslist or Freecycle. Unlike those sites, GiftFlow is a social network. Stuff is easily searchable and users build reputation, a trusted network and a history of generosity.

The best moment so far…
has been hosting gift circles with friends. We have a potluck dinner and then go around the table, saying what we need and offering what we can give. It is great to see people so excited about giving to each other.

The greatest opportunity for GiftFlow is…
making it easy to give, share and volunteer with local nonprofits, not just with their friends and neighbors. We’re excited to make giving to charity more than just sending a donation via text message.

Another example of Collaborative Consumption I admire…
CouchSurfing! If an online gift economy limited to just hospitality can get so huge, why not build one that’s open to everything from bicycles to yoga lessons to homemade blueberry jam?

If I could tell readers one thing…
it would be that we all have so much we can give to our friends and communities. Do more than just consume: think about the stuff, skills and services you can offer that would help others, and then start giving!

Archive of Pioneers & Protagonists Interviews

  10 Questions for Benita Matofska, founder of The People Who Share

  10 questions for Marta Nowinska, founder of Swapsity

  10 questions for Ryan Rzepecki, founder of SocialBicycles

  10 questions for Jamie Wong, founder of Vayable

  10 questions for Theo Kitchener, founder of The ShareHood

  10 questions for Kelly Scales, founder of Bid & Borrow

  10 questions for Campbell McKellar, Founder of Loosecubes

  10 questions for Marcio Nigro, founder of Caronetas

  10 questions for Jess Ratcliffe, founder of GaBoom

  10 questions for Philipp Rogge, founder of frents

  10 questions for Tim Hyer, founder of Rentcycle

  10 questions for Barbara Pantuso, founder of Hey, Neighbor!

  Ella T. Gorgla, Founder of I-ELLA

  Cathy Tao, co-founder of Tourboarding

  Mike Karnjanaprakorn, cofounder of Skillshare

  Juha Koponen, Founder of Netcycler

  Michelle Shearer, Founder of MamaBake

  Leah Busque, Founder and CEO of TaskRabbit

  Ron J. Williams, founder of SnapGoods

  Stephen Rapoport, founder of Crashpadder

  Anthony Eskinazi, founder of ParkatmyHouse

  Drummond Gilbert, founder of goCarShare

  David Mahfouda, Founder of Weeels

  Andreas Randow, Founder of StudioShare.org

  Emma Jamvold, Founder of SwapItBaby

  Dave Llorens, CEO of One Block Off The Grid

  Orli Cotel, co-founder of Swap for Good

  Owen Rees-Hayward, Co-founder of Thingloop

  Juliette Anich, Co-founder of The Clothing Exchange

  Keara Schwartz, Founder of Share Some Sugar

  Hans Schoenburg, co-founder of GiftFlow

  Meriel Lenfestey, Co-founder of Ecomodo

  Steve Sammartino, Founder of rentoid.com

  Micki Krimmel, Founder of NeighborGoods

  Shelby Clark, Founder of RelayRides

  James Reinhart, Founder of thredUp

For a complete archive of Pioneers & Protagonists Interviews click HERE.