Real entrepreneurs say 'I can do that'; Zipcar founder believes companies need to evolve, organize to make a mark.

Byline: Susan Gonsalves

WORCESTER -- Robin Chase, best known as the founder and former CEO of Zipcar, the largest car-sharing network in the world, urges individuals, companies and governments to look for "excess capacity,'' use their assets more efficiently and find ways to find value in the resources they have.

Ms. Chase was the guest presenter at The Worcester Economic Club's Speakers Series meeting at College of the Holy Cross on Wednesday evening. Her topic was "Sharing: A Simple Approach for Maximizing ROI'' -- return on investment.

In addition to establishing Zipcar 15 years ago, Ms. Chase is the co-founder and board member of BuzzCar, a peer-to-peer car service based in France and Veniam 'Works, a vehicle network communications company that turns cars into mobile Wi-Fi hot spots.

Ms. Chase said in an interview before her speech that the world is moving into an age in which every sector of the economy can get the most out of its assets by sharing and seeking innovation. The key to successful ventures is collaboration and building "platforms for participation.''

As an example, she cited a stretch of 130 miles of roadway in Bogota, Colombia, that shuts down to vehicle traffic from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. and opens it up for bicycling, exercising, sunbathing, dancing and more by 2 million people.

When asked how she came to be involved in the car-sharing realm, Ms. Chase replied, "Transportation fascinates me. It is the center of the universe.'' She said that people rely on transportation for every facet of their lives -- education, work, entertainment -- and yet still undervalue its importance.

Pointing out that individuals typically spend $9,000 annually or 18 percent of their income on their cars, Ms. Chase said that figure could be cut down to 10 percent if car sharing alternatives were adopted to get to and from work. The saved money can "stay local,'' she said.

"There are a spectrum of opportunities to use your car when you need to, but save enough money otherwise to lead a happy life and do things like go out to eat,'' Ms. Chase...