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A cross-platform analysis of the equity crowdfunding Italian context: the role of intellectual capital

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Listed:
  • Francesca Battaglia

    (University of Naples Parthenope)

  • Francesco Busato

    (University of Naples Parthenope)

  • Maria Manganiello

    (University of Naples Parthenope)

Abstract

Does intellectual capital positively affect the success of the equity crowdfunding campaigns? This paper answers this question using an original dataset of 191 equity crowdfunding campaigns, gathered from Italian platforms over the period 2014–2018; special attention is dedicated to patents effect, R&D and team’s education level on funding success, as they may serve as signals of unobservable quality of equity crowdfunding campaigns. Then, following literature on success factors for crowdfunding, the paper analyzes the signaling role of equity share retained by founders and by their social network size. Results suggest that intellectual capital (i.e. patents, R&D, team’s education level), amount of equity retained by projects’ founders and size of their social network have a positive and significant impact on fundraising success and are perceived as quality signals of crowdfunding campaigns by external investors.

Suggested Citation

  • Francesca Battaglia & Francesco Busato & Maria Manganiello, 2022. "A cross-platform analysis of the equity crowdfunding Italian context: the role of intellectual capital," Electronic Commerce Research, Springer, vol. 22(2), pages 649-689, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:elcore:v:22:y:2022:i:2:d:10.1007_s10660-020-09453-w
    DOI: 10.1007/s10660-020-09453-w
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Equity crowdfunding; Signaling theory; Intellectual capital; Entrepreneurial finance; Information asymmetries;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • D82 - Microeconomics - - Information, Knowledge, and Uncertainty - - - Asymmetric and Private Information; Mechanism Design
    • G11 - Financial Economics - - General Financial Markets - - - Portfolio Choice; Investment Decisions
    • G21 - Financial Economics - - Financial Institutions and Services - - - Banks; Other Depository Institutions; Micro Finance Institutions; Mortgages
    • G24 - Financial Economics - - Financial Institutions and Services - - - Investment Banking; Venture Capital; Brokerage
    • G30 - Financial Economics - - Corporate Finance and Governance - - - General
    • G32 - Financial Economics - - Corporate Finance and Governance - - - Financing Policy; Financial Risk and Risk Management; Capital and Ownership Structure; Value of Firms; Goodwill
    • L26 - Industrial Organization - - Firm Objectives, Organization, and Behavior - - - Entrepreneurship
    • M13 - Business Administration and Business Economics; Marketing; Accounting; Personnel Economics - - Business Administration - - - New Firms; Startups

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