Hacker Newsnew | past | comments | ask | show | jobs | submitlogin

I don't know why this is so hard for people to understand (you obviously seem to get it).

WeWork is basically a hybrid bank/retailer. They take big, complex, slow-moving long-term commitments, just like a car rental company or a bank, and repackage them into shorter-term, small commitments, while managing risk and adding a bunch of value-added services.

I don't know about all this governance stuff or their growth rates, but on its face, that activity clearly DOES add economic value, and might be a viable business if executed well.



Doesn't an REIT (that "might be a viable business") fit your description as well?


No, it's a completely different thing.

A REIT owns real estate assets.

WeWork doesn't need to own assets, they're an intermediary that does something economically useful.




Guidelines | FAQ | Lists | API | Security | Legal | Apply to YC | Contact

Search: