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Crowdfunding in Portugal—Using the Raize Platform to Ensure the Sustainability of Companies and Projects

Author

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  • Bruno Torres

    (NECE-UBI, Research Centre for Business Sciences, Department of Management and Economics, University of Beira Interior, 6201-001 Covilhã, Portugal)

  • Zélia Serrasqueiro

    (CEFAGE-UBI, Department of Management and Economics, University of Beira Interior, 6201-001 Covilhã, Portugal)

  • Márcio Oliveira

    (NECE, Research Center in Business Sciences, University of Beira Interior, 6201-001 Covilhã, Portugal
    School of Education and Social Sciences, Polytechnic of Leiria, 2411-901 Leiria, Portugal)

Abstract

This study aims to analyse the reasons why entrepreneurs choose to use collaborative financing through the Raize platform to finance their companies or projects through peer-to-peer crowdfunding (loans). This study is pertinent because it deals with an innovative, differentiated topic that presents itself as a possible disruptive form of financing and an alternative to traditional bank financing. Its use and significant take-up and the rapid and continuous growth of users on this type of crowdfunding platform is a strong sign of the need to better understand and study this phenomenon, its benefits, weaknesses, gaps and future mutations. Based on a comprehensive literature review and sound research methods such as exploratory qualitative multiple-case analysis, the aim is to gain a comprehensive understanding of the reasons why entrepreneurs and businesses choose crowdfunding through the Raize platform as a financing alternative. The aims of this study are to understand how financial accessibility, trust in the investor community, ease of use of the platform, competitiveness of fees and preference for crowdfunding over bank financing influence entrepreneurs’ decision to fund themselves through the Raize platform. The results reveal that entrepreneurs opt for the Raize platform due to a combination of factors. These reasons, clearly highlighted, provide a deeper understanding of entrepreneurs’ decision making in relation to financing their projects through crowdfunding. This study not only contributes to the literature on crowdfunding and entrepreneurship, but also offers practical pointers for entrepreneurs looking to obtain funding through a new financing system that is offered through the Raize platform, as it continues to support innovation and business growth in Portugal. Such funding contributes to and enhances the sustainability of companies in terms of their funding profile and attractive positioning in the market.

Suggested Citation

  • Bruno Torres & Zélia Serrasqueiro & Márcio Oliveira, 2024. "Crowdfunding in Portugal—Using the Raize Platform to Ensure the Sustainability of Companies and Projects," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(11), pages 1-23, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:16:y:2024:i:11:p:4439-:d:1400610
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Massimo G. Colombo & Chiara Franzoni & Cristina Rossi–Lamastra, 2015. "Internal Social Capital and the Attraction of Early Contributions in Crowdfunding," Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, , vol. 39(1), pages 75-100, January.
    2. 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.
    3. Joern H. Block & Massimo G. Colombo & Douglas J. Cumming & Silvio Vismara, 2018. "New players in entrepreneurial finance and why they are there," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 50(2), pages 239-250, February.
    4. Mollick, Ethan, 2014. "The dynamics of crowdfunding: An exploratory study," Journal of Business Venturing, Elsevier, vol. 29(1), pages 1-16.
    5. Myers, Stewart C. & Majluf, Nicholas S., 1984. "Corporate financing and investment decisions when firms have information that investors do not have," Journal of Financial Economics, Elsevier, vol. 13(2), pages 187-221, June.
    6. Sabrina T. Howell, 2017. "Financing Innovation: Evidence from R&D Grants," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 107(4), pages 1136-1164, April.
    7. Douglas Cumming & Sofia Johan, 2013. "Demand-driven securities regulation: evidence from crowdfunding," Venture Capital, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 15(4), pages 361-379, October.
    8. Lars Hornuf & Armin Schwienbacher, 2017. "Should securities regulation promote equity crowdfunding?," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 49(3), pages 579-593, October.
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    Cited by:

    1. Andreas Gregoriades & Christos Themistocleous, 2025. "Improving Crowdfunding Decisions Using Explainable Artificial Intelligence," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(4), pages 1-19, February.

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