BookRenter
{{Short description|Former online textbook rental company}}
{{Infobox company
| name = BookRenter
| logo =
| type = Private
| industry = Education
{{nowrap|Online retailing}}
| fate = Acquired by eCampus.com
| predecessor =
| successor =
| founded = 2006 in Silicon Valley, California, US
| defunct = {{End date|2016}}
| hq_location_city = San Mateo, California
| hq_location_country =
| area_served =
| key_people =
| products = {{nowrap|Online textbook rental}}
{{nowrap|eTextbooks}}
| owner =
| num_employees =
| num_employees_year =
| parent =
| website =
}}
BookRenter was an American online textbook rental company based in San Mateo, California.{{cite news|title=Bookrenter Binds Up $10M More As Textbook Rentals Spread|url=https://blogs.wsj.com/venturecapital/2010/06/03/bookrenter-binds-up-10m-more-as-textbook-rentals-spread/|publisher=The Wall Street Journal|access-date=May 26, 2018|date=June 3, 2010}} It was founded in 2006 and was acquired by eCampus.com in 2016.
History
BookRenter was founded as an online textbook rental service in 2006. Colin Barceloux founded the company as a startup in Silicon Valley.{{cite news|title=Company Gives College Students The Option To Rent Expensive Text Books|url=http://boston.cbslocal.com/2011/08/23/company-gives-college-students-the-option-to-rent-expensive-text-books/|access-date=May 26, 2018|work=CBS Boston|date=August 23, 2011|language=en}}{{cite news|last1=Goldfisher|first1=Alastair|title=BookRenter competes for huge textbook market|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-peweek-earlystage-roundup-bookrenter/bookrenter-competes-for-huge-textbook-market-idUSTRE65E4PO20100615|access-date=May 26, 2018|work=Reuters|date=June 16, 2010}} Barceloux worked with two engineer majors, Chris Williams and Philippe Huibonhoa to create the website. The company partnered with college bookstores by setting up a virtual rental store on their own websites.{{cite news|title=BookRenter Opens Up Textbook Rentals To Campus Bookstores And Other Partners|url=https://techcrunch.com/2010/03/03/bookrenter-opens-textbook-rentals-campus-bookstores-partners/|publisher=TechCrunch|access-date=May 26, 2018|date=March 4, 2010}} In 2010, it reportedly served 6 million students on over 5,000 campuses in the US.{{cite news|title=Little Bookrenter Is Narrowing The Gap With Chegg|url=https://techcrunch.com/2010/12/09/bookrenter-gap-chegg/|publisher=TechCrunch|access-date=May 26, 2018|date=December 10, 2010}}
In 2009, Mehdi Maghsoodnia became CEO of the company, replacing Colin Barceloux.{{cite news|title=BookRenter.com Names Mehdi Maghsoodnia Chief Executive Officer as Company Witnesses Explosive Growth|url=http://www.marketwired.com/press-release/bookrentercom-names-mehdi-maghsoodnia-chief-executive-officer-as-company-witnesses-explosive-1220248.htm|access-date=May 26, 2018|date=June 24, 2009|language=en}} In 2010, Netflix co-founder Marc Randolph joined the board of directors.{{cite news|title=BookRenter Adds Netflix Co-Founder Marc Randolph To Its Board Of Directors|url=https://techcrunch.com/2010/05/07/marc-randolph-bookrenter/|publisher=TechCrunch|access-date=May 26, 2018|date=May 7, 2010}}
As of 2011, the company had raised $60 million in funding.{{cite news |date=February 23, 2011 |title=BookRenter raises $40M |url=https://www.bizjournals.com/sanfrancisco/news/2011/02/23/bookrenter-raises-40m.html |access-date=May 26, 2018 |work=www.bizjournals.com}}{{cite news |date=February 23, 2011 |title=BookRenter Raises $40 Million To Take On Chegg In Textbook Rentals |url=https://techcrunch.com/2011/02/23/bookrenter-raises-40-million-to-take-on-chegg-in-textbook-rentals/ |access-date=May 26, 2018 |publisher=TechCrunch}}
It was the recipient of About.com’s 2012 Reader Choice Award for "Best Site for Renting Textbooks".{{cite web |title=Bookrenter.com Review – Is it Really Cheaper? |url=https://gazettereview.com/2016/09/textbook-rentals-bookrenter-com-review/ |access-date=May 26, 2018}}
In 2014, BookRenter partnered with Staples to expand its textbook rental service delivered through Staples.com.
In May 2017, the company was acquired by eCampus.com.{{cite news|title=eCampus.com Announces Expanded Course Material Solutions with Purchase of Rafter Assets, Including Rafter360|url=https://www.prweb.com/releases/ecampus_com_announces_expanded_course_material_solutions_with_purchase_of_rafter_assets_including_rafter360/prweb14290148.htm|access-date=May 26, 2018|date=May 2, 2017}}{{cite news|title=ECampus.com ALL Access Partners with Schreiner University to Offer In-Tuition Textbook Model to Save Students Up to 50% or More on Textbook Costs|url=http://www.weny.com/story/38180288/ecampuscom-all-access-partners-with-schreiner-university-to-offer-in-tuition-textbook-model-to-save-students-up-to-50-or-more-on-textbook-costs|access-date=May 26, 2018|work=WENY-TV|date=May 14, 2018|language=en|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180526190635/http://www.weny.com/story/38180288/ecampuscom-all-access-partners-with-schreiner-university-to-offer-in-tuition-textbook-model-to-save-students-up-to-50-or-more-on-textbook-costs|archive-date=May 26, 2018|url-status=dead}}
See also
- {{section link|Amazon Kindle|Textbook rentals}}
- {{section link|Google Play Books|Books on Google Play}}
- Chegg
References
{{reflist}}
Category:2006 establishments in California
Category:Book selling websites
Category:Educational technology companies of the United States
Category:Education companies established in 2006
Category:Retail companies established in 2006
Category:Internet properties established in 2006