Internationalization pathways of sharing economy companies

The past decade has seen a global surge of sharing economy companies (sharecoms) engaged in increasing cross-border activities. However, the process by which they internationalize remains under-theorized. Addressing this gap, we present new, empirically driven insights into how sharecoms expand internationally. Through a qualitative multi-case study investigation, we discover that sharecoms internationalize through a combination of passive and active means, allowing them to increase their scale and scope simultaneouly—a strategy that constrasts with the processes posited in existing internationalization literature. We identify three key internationalization patterns adopted by sharecoms: the Maximizer, the Optimizer, and the Penetrator. Additionally, we devise a framework of both theoretical relevance to scholars and practical relevance to sharecom founders and managers.