Sharingear: Marketplace for Musicians to Rent Their Instruments

TL;DR: Sharingear was founded in 2014 in Denmark by Mircea Gabriel Eftemie, a founder with a decade of touring experience. The platform let independent musicians post and rent instruments and gear. The startup raised only 15K euros in one funding round. The fundamental problem was the market was too small. With only a small commission per transaction, the business model could not cover operations. Musicians said the product was great but chose cheaper alternatives. Musical instruments are personal and delicate, creating trust barriers around renting. Running out of budget with departing employees, Sharingear shut down in late 2015.