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Investor Intention in Equity Crowdfunding. Does Trust Matter?

Author

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  • Mohammed Alharbey

    (Department of Business, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08193 Bellaterra, Barcelona, Spain
    Faculty of Applied Studies, Department of Business Administration, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah 21589, Saudi Arabia)

  • Stefan Van Hemmen

    (Department of Business, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08193 Bellaterra, Barcelona, Spain)

Abstract

Equity crowdfunding (ECF) is becoming a convenient alternative instrument for investing in entrepreneurs’ projects in many countries. The purpose of this study was to investigate the factors that affect the investor’s intentions toward ECF platforms in Saudi Arabia, where they have not been introduced until very recently. This context offers a unique opportunity to test the role of investors’ perceived trust in the context of ECF. The proposed framework builds on two critical layers: (1) trust in the platform (intermediary) and (2) trust in the fundraiser. Structured equation modelling was applied to examine the factors that affect investors’ trust and intentions. The framework was analysed using survey data from 216 users of Manafa, one of the largest ECF platforms in Saudi Arabia. Our findings showed that both fundraiser and platform trust have a significant effect on the investor’s intentions. In particular, trust in the platform substantially impacts the fundraiser’s trust, showing the importance of the fundraiser’s reliance on trusted institutions. On the other hand, to build investors’ trust, fundraisers must deliver high-quality information for their projects.

Suggested Citation

  • Mohammed Alharbey & Stefan Van Hemmen, 2021. "Investor Intention in Equity Crowdfunding. Does Trust Matter?," JRFM, MDPI, vol. 14(2), pages 1-20, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jjrfmx:v:14:y:2021:i:2:p:53-:d:487847
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    2. Muhammad Iqmal Hisham Kamaruddin & Nurul Aini Muhamed & Rafisah Mat Radzi & Wan Nur Fazni Wan Mohamad Nazarie & Aimi Fadzirul Kamarubahrin, 2023. "Financial management practices in Islamic donation-based crowdfunding (DCF) platforms in Malaysia," Future Business Journal, Springer, vol. 9(1), pages 1-14, December.
    3. Alet C. Erasmus & Geoffrey Tocknell & Flip Schutte, 2023. "The potential of crowdfunding to promote business in the context of an emerging economy," Journal of Financial Services Marketing, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 28(3), pages 558-569, September.
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    5. Peter Konhäusner & Marius Thielmann & Veronica Câmpian & Dan-Cristian Dabija, 2021. "Crowdfunding for Independent Print Media: E-Commerce, Marketing, and Business Development," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(19), pages 1-17, October.

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