Request from Tim - Class Project

Hello Again!

I have a question for you. I am working on a project for my Entrepreneurial Class here at IESE, something we are nicknaming iRent. The concept is a web platform like eBay that enables people to rent items to and from their neighbors. Protections for the lender would be included such as full deposit and ratings systems.

One of the early stages of our project includes market research, and since I am over here in Spain it is difficult for me to go around to houses and ask their thoughts. I thus have 3 Questions for you.

What I really need to know is the following:

1) Would you be willing to lend things for money to others over a website, assuming the system was easy to use and there were sufficient protections (full deposits & you couldn't be sued)?

2) Would you ever consider borrowing from others over this same website, assuming locations were close and prices were cheaper than professional companies (such things like if you needed an extra barbecue for a gathering and didn’t want to buy it)?

3) Finally, assuming you would be willing to lend things, I would really appreciate if you could go look in the garage (or wherever) and tell me 10 items that you would actually be willing to lend. I am trying to get an idea what types of things people would lend and what are their relative values.

One thing is clear, I don't want you to say that you would be willing to lend or borrow simply because you know me. Pretend like you heard about this from someone else, and make your decision accordingly.

I appreciate your help in this. At this point it is the best market research I can do from here.

Please send your responses directly to me at tim805@gmail.com

Thank You!!!

Blogger Lives!

Well everyone, it appears that blogger is finally working again for me. I will take this opportunity to update you all a bit on what is going on.

First of all I am still in Spain, but all alone. Laura has been back in the states since the 16th of October for her interviews. Out of the 5 schools she applied to she received interview invitations to 4 of them (I am very proud). So far she has completed 3 of her four interviews, and is just waiting for her last one at Loma Linda on Sunday.

As for an update on how her interviews are going, so far everything has gone well. These programs are very competitive, so you never know, but so far she feels good about how they have gone. Don't bother to ask if she been accepted anywhere though, because we wont know until the end of November.

As for me I am plugging away at my classes. IESE has been pretty great, and I am learning a lot. I have five classes right now, two strategy classes, my entrepreneurial class, Spanish, and my very difficult one, Intro to Investment Banking. That class is kicking my butt, but it is good. The teacher treats the class like it is a trading floor, and likes to kick people out who are caught not paying attention! Never a dull moment in there, but that is good because I am learning a lot.
I don't have any pictures for you, and for once that is not Blogger's fault. When Laura went back to the US she took her computer with her, which happens to have most of our more recent pictures on it. Then after she has left I really haven't taken any because I haven't done anything interesting.

I am working on a fun business plan in my entrepreneur class, one that you will hear again more because I am posting a little survey about the concept on here for you all to complete. I hope that you will take the time to answer my questions, because it will really help for the market research aspect of my assignment.

Thanks for listening. Hope you are all doing great!