Directory lists businesses that are based on sharing and participation

Regular Springwise readers are already familiar with transumers and the many ways in which they share and exchange goods without ever having to own them. The Mesh Directory is an online network that attempts to encapsulate that trend, aggregating all the many companies that now “create, share and use social media, wireless networks, and data crunched from every available source to provide people with goods and services at the exact moment they need them, without the burden and expense of owning them outright,” in the site’s own words. Similar in many ways to Milk or Sugar, the Mesh Directory provides a freely searchable index of some 1,500 companies that are helping to enable the new sharing economy. Designed as a companion site to a forthcoming book on the same topic, the directory allows users to browse alphabetically or by category as well; among the categories included are transportation, fashion, food, real estate, travel, finance and entertainment. Provided for each company on the list are its URL and contact information along with a description of its offerings; there’s also an option for companies not already on the list to request to be added. Included on the list, incidentally, are numerous “alumni” of our pages, including Kisskissbankbank, RelayRides, thredUP, Kickstarter and Aakash Ganga. Given the rapid growth and far-reaching impact of many consumer trends, figuring out what’s already out there can be a considerable challenge. Where else might web users need some guidance navigating new ground…? (Related: First magazine for green weddings — Product portal for independent retailers — Online library of green building materials.) Spotted by: Jon Wisler