IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/finlet/v74y2025ics154461232500011x.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Equity crowdfunding for sustainable oriented ventures: Lead investor impact on campaign success and post-campaign performance

Author

Listed:
  • Del Sarto, Nicola
  • Bellavitis, Cristiano

Abstract

This study examines how lead investors’ human capital influences equity crowdfunding (ECF) outcomes, focusing on campaign success and post-campaign performance, with a specific emphasis on Sustainable Oriented Ventures (SOVs). Using a two-step Heckman model on 508 Italian campaigns (2016–2020), we find that general human capital enhances campaign success universally, signaling credibility to investors. However, for SOVs, specialized human capital becomes critical post-campaign to navigate ESG complexities. In contrast, non-SOVs benefit consistently from general human capital across both stages. These results underscore the dual role of human capital in ECF, offering actionable insights for ventures with diverse orientations.

Suggested Citation

  • Del Sarto, Nicola & Bellavitis, Cristiano, 2025. "Equity crowdfunding for sustainable oriented ventures: Lead investor impact on campaign success and post-campaign performance," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 74(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:finlet:v:74:y:2025:i:c:s154461232500011x
    DOI: 10.1016/j.frl.2025.106746
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S154461232500011X
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1016/j.frl.2025.106746?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Ciro Troise & Guido Giovando & Fauzia Jabeen & Stefano Bresciani, 2024. "Unveiling the role of entrepreneurial teams in the equity crowdfunding journey," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 63(4), pages 1517-1538, December.
    2. Cumming, Douglas & Meoli, Michele & Rossi, Alice & Vismara, Silvio, 2024. "ESG and crowdfunding platforms," Journal of Business Venturing, Elsevier, vol. 39(1).
    3. Battaglia, Francesca & Regoli, Andrea & Agnese, Paolo, 2022. "Do local innovation systems promote successful equity crowdfunding campaigns? Evidence from Italy," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 48(C).
    4. Ajay Agrawal & Christian Catalini & Avi Goldfarb, 2015. "Crowdfunding: Geography, Social Networks, and the Timing of Investment Decisions," Journal of Economics & Management Strategy, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 24(2), pages 253-274, June.
    5. York, Jeffrey G. & Venkataraman, S., 2010. "The entrepreneur-environment nexus: Uncertainty, innovation, and allocation," Journal of Business Venturing, Elsevier, vol. 25(5), pages 449-463, September.
    6. Troise, Ciro & Matricano, Diego & Sorrentino, Mario & Candelo, Elena, 2022. "Investigating investment decisions in equity crowdfunding: The role of projects' intellectual capital," European Management Journal, Elsevier, vol. 40(3), pages 406-418.
    7. Unger, Jens M. & Rauch, Andreas & Frese, Michael & Rosenbusch, Nina, 2011. "Human capital and entrepreneurial success: A meta-analytical review," Journal of Business Venturing, Elsevier, vol. 26(3), pages 341-358, May.
    8. Troise, Ciro & Tani, Mario & Jones, Paul, 2020. "Investigating the impact of multidimensional social capital on equity crowdfunding performance," International Journal of Information Management, Elsevier, vol. 55(C).
    9. Gerrit K.C. Ahlers & Douglas Cumming & Christina Günther & Denis Schweizer, 2015. "Signaling in Equity Crowdfunding," Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, , vol. 39(4), pages 955-980, July.
    10. Troise, Ciro & Tani, Mario & Dinsmore, John & Schiuma, Giovanni, 2021. "Understanding the implications of equity crowdfunding on sustainability-oriented innovation and changes in agri-food systems: Insights into an open innovation approach," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 171(C).
    11. Silvio Vismara, 2022. "Expanding corporate finance perspectives to equity crowdfunding," The Journal of Technology Transfer, Springer, vol. 47(6), pages 1629-1639, December.
    12. Evila Piva & Cristina Rossi-Lamastra, 2018. "Human capital signals and entrepreneurs’ success in equity crowdfunding," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 51(3), pages 667-686, October.
    13. Ciro Troise & Stefano Bresciani & Alberto Ferraris & Gabriele Santoro, 2024. "Equity crowdfunding for university spin-offs: Unveiling the motivations, benefits, and risks related to its adoption," Journal of Small Business Management, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 62(4), pages 1907-1941, July.
    14. Signori, Andrea & Vismara, Silvio, 2018. "Does success bring success? The post-offering lives of equity-crowdfunded firms," Journal of Corporate Finance, Elsevier, vol. 50(C), pages 575-591.
    15. Johan, Sofia & Reardon, Robert S., 2024. "The role of platform stakes in equity crowdfunding success," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 69(PA).
    16. Maiolini, Riccardo & Cappa, Francesco & Franco, Stefano & Quaratino, Giovanni Raimondo, 2024. "The impact of sustainable development goals in lending-based prosocial crowdfunding: A topic modeling analysis on the kiva platform," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 95(PB).
    17. Vismara, Silvio, 2019. "Sustainability in equity crowdfunding," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 141(C), pages 98-106.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Farè, Luca & Meoli, Michele & Vismara, Silvio, 2024. "Sustainable crowdfunding and cultural contexts: Evidence from a longitudinal multi-country analysis," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 70(C).
    2. Billio, Monica & Butticè, Vincenzo & Pietro, Francesca Di & Tenca, Francesca & Vismara, Silvio, 2025. "Rising tides, rising funds: Floods and climate mitigation campaigns in equity crowdfunding," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 74(C).
    3. Ciro Troise & Guido Giovando & Fauzia Jabeen & Stefano Bresciani, 2024. "Unveiling the role of entrepreneurial teams in the equity crowdfunding journey," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 63(4), pages 1517-1538, December.
    4. Lazos, Aristogenis, 2025. "When policy makers want to protect investors in equity crowdfunding: Does it have regional implications?," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 215(C).
    5. Shuangfa Huang & David Pickernell & Martina Battisti & Thang Nguyen, 2022. "Signalling entrepreneurs’ credibility and project quality for crowdfunding success: cases from the Kickstarter and Indiegogo environments," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 58(4), pages 1801-1821, April.
    6. Pirazzi Maffiola, Kevin & D'Angelo, Viviana & Capo, Francesca & Scali, Elena, 2025. "Environmental orientation, regional innovation, and equity crowdfunding campaigns’ outcomes: Evidence from two Italian platforms," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 71(C).
    7. Maiolini, Riccardo & Cappa, Francesco & Franco, Stefano & Quaratino, Giovanni Raimondo, 2024. "The impact of sustainable development goals in lending-based prosocial crowdfunding: A topic modeling analysis on the kiva platform," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 95(PB).
    8. Del Gaudio, Belinda Laura & Lazos, Aristogenis & Previtali, Daniele, 2025. "Does equity crowdfunding enhance the survival of sustainability ventures?," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 75(C).
    9. Maiolini, Riccardo & Nasta, Luigi, 2024. "Crowdfunding for sustainability: How environmental activism moderates support for B2B and B2C campaigns," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 69(PB).
    10. Lorenzo Gai & Carmelo Algeri & Federica Ielasi & Maria Manganiello, 2025. "Sustainability-Oriented Equity Crowdfunding: The Role of Proponents, Investors, and Sustainable Development," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(5), pages 1-25, March.
    11. Mataigne, Virginie & Meoli, Michele & Vanacker, Tom & Vismara, Silvio, 2025. "False signaling by platform team members and post-campaign venture outcomes: Evidence from an equity crowdfunding platform," Journal of Business Venturing, Elsevier, vol. 40(1).
    12. Butticè, Vincenzo & Di Pietro, Francesca & Tenca, Francesca, 2020. "Is equity crowdfunding always good? Deal structure and the attraction of venture capital investors," Journal of Corporate Finance, Elsevier, vol. 65(C).
    13. Felix Reichenbach & Martin Walther, 2021. "Signals in equity-based crowdfunding and risk of failure," Financial Innovation, Springer;Southwestern University of Finance and Economics, vol. 7(1), pages 1-30, December.
    14. Lars Hornuf & Matthias Mattusch, 2024. "Fintech Startups in Germany: Firm Failure, Funding Success, and Innovation Capacity," CESifo Working Paper Series 11301, CESifo.
    15. Maximilian Goethner & Sebastian Luettig & Tobias Regner, 2021. "Crowdinvesting in entrepreneurial projects: disentangling patterns of investor behavior," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 57(2), pages 905-926, August.
    16. Lars Hornuf & Johannes Voshaar, 2024. "What Is an Effective Signal in Crowdfunding? Evidence from Expert Researchers and a Meta-Study," CESifo Working Paper Series 11501, CESifo.
    17. Francesca Pietro, 2021. "The rationale for listing on equity crowdfunding: actual and expected benefits for companies," Economia e Politica Industriale: Journal of Industrial and Business Economics, Springer;Associazione Amici di Economia e Politica Industriale, vol. 48(4), pages 527-549, December.
    18. Coakley, Jerry & Cumming, Douglas J. & Lazos, Aristogenis & Vismara, Silvio, 2021. "Enfranchising the crowd: Nominee account equity crowdfunding," CFS Working Paper Series 664, Center for Financial Studies (CFS).
    19. Mansouri, Sasan & Momtaz, Paul P., 2022. "Financing sustainable entrepreneurship: ESG measurement, valuation, and performance," Journal of Business Venturing, Elsevier, vol. 37(6).
    20. Gallucci, Carmen & Giakoumelou, Anastasia & Santulli, Rosalia & Tipaldi, Riccardo, 2023. "How financial literacy moderates the relationship between qualitative business information and the success of an equity crowdfunding campaign: Evidence from Mediterranean and Gulf Cooperation Council ," Technology in Society, Elsevier, vol. 75(C).

    More about this item

    Keywords

    Equity crowdfunding; Human capital; Lead investors; Sustainable ventures; Venture performance; Campaign success;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • Q01 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - General - - - Sustainable Development
    • L26 - Industrial Organization - - Firm Objectives, Organization, and Behavior - - - Entrepreneurship
    • M13 - Business Administration and Business Economics; Marketing; Accounting; Personnel Economics - - Business Administration - - - New Firms; Startups

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:eee:finlet:v:74:y:2025:i:c:s154461232500011x. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Catherine Liu (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.elsevier.com/locate/frl .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.