IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/spr/jbecon/v95y2025i4d10.1007_s11573-024-01211-w.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

The equity crowdfunding choice: A demand-side perspective

Author

Listed:
  • Jonas Löher

    (Institut für Mittelstandsforschung (IfM) Bonn)

Abstract

In recent years, equity crowdfunding has become increasingly popular for capital-seeking start-ups. A widely held assumption is that these ventures have no other risk capital options and see it as their “last resort” to obtain funding. However, not much is known about their narrow and broader motivational backgrounds. Based on case studies of ten crowdfunded ventures, this study unveils the motives to use equity crowdfunding and links them with organisational characteristics. The analysis shows that ventures’ risk capital choices in this setting are motivated by crowdfunding-specific investment conditions, value-add features, and their fit with ongoing organisational challenges. Thus, I provide a detailed picture of the specific role that equity crowdfunding is intended to play in these firms. Based on the analysis, a theoretical model of four motivational types is developed that could stimulate future research. I argue that instead of focusing exclusively on cost and control arguments, research about investor decisions in equity crowdfunding should also consider different forms of resourcefulness.

Suggested Citation

  • Jonas Löher, 2025. "The equity crowdfunding choice: A demand-side perspective," Journal of Business Economics, Springer, vol. 95(4), pages 527-551, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:jbecon:v:95:y:2025:i:4:d:10.1007_s11573-024-01211-w
    DOI: 10.1007/s11573-024-01211-w
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://link.springer.com/10.1007/s11573-024-01211-w
    File Function: Abstract
    Download Restriction: Access to the full text of the articles in this series is restricted.
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1007/s11573-024-01211-w?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

    for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. N. Berger, Allen & F. Udell, Gregory, 1998. "The economics of small business finance: The roles of private equity and debt markets in the financial growth cycle," Journal of Banking & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 22(6-8), pages 613-673, August.
    2. Regan Stevenson & Sean R. McMahon & Chaim Letwin & Michael P. Ciuchta, 2022. "Entrepreneur fund-seeking: toward a theory of funding fit in the era of equity crowdfunding," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 58(4), pages 2061-2086, April.
    3. Jonathan T. Eckhardt & Scott Shane & Frédéric Delmar, 2006. "Multistage Selection and the Financing of New Ventures," Management Science, INFORMS, vol. 52(2), pages 220-232, February.
    4. Tyzoon T. Tyebjee & Albert V. Bruno, 1984. "A Model of Venture Capitalist Investment Activity," Management Science, INFORMS, vol. 30(9), pages 1051-1066, September.
    5. Berggren, Bjorn & Olofsson, Christer & Silver, Lars, 2000. "Control Aversion and the Search for External Financing in Swedish SMEs," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 15(3), pages 233-242.
    6. 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.
    7. Tommaso Minola & Lucio Cassia & Giuseppe Criaco, 2013. "Financing patterns in new technology-based firms: an extension of the pecking order theory," International Journal of Entrepreneurship and Small Business, Inderscience Enterprises Ltd, vol. 19(2), pages 212-233.
    8. Simon Kleinert & Christine Volkmann & Marc Grünhagen, 2020. "Correction to: Third-party signals in equity crowdfunding: the role of prior financing," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 54(1), pages 367-372, January.
    9. Rosenbusch, Nina & Brinckmann, Jan & Müller, Verena, 2013. "Does acquiring venture capital pay off for the funded firms? A meta-analysis on the relationship between venture capital investment and funded firm financial performance," Journal of Business Venturing, Elsevier, vol. 28(3), pages 335-353.
    10. Baum, Joel A. C. & Silverman, Brian S., 2004. "Picking winners or building them? Alliance, intellectual, and human capital as selection criteria in venture financing and performance of biotechnology startups," Journal of Business Venturing, Elsevier, vol. 19(3), pages 411-436, May.
    11. Schwienbacher, Armin, 2013. "The entrepreneur's investor choice: The impact on later-stage firm development," Journal of Business Venturing, Elsevier, vol. 28(4), pages 528-545.
    12. Colin Mason & Richard Harrison, 2001. "'Investment Readiness': A Critique of Government Proposals to Increase the Demand for Venture Capital," Regional Studies, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 35(7), pages 663-668.
    13. Sapienza, Harry J. & Manigart, Sophie & Vermeir, Wim, 1996. "Venture capitalist governance and value added in four countries," Journal of Business Venturing, Elsevier, vol. 11(6), pages 439-469, November.
    14. 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.
    15. Walthoff-Borm, Xavier & Schwienbacher, Armin & Vanacker, Tom, 2018. "Equity crowdfunding: First resort or last resort?," Journal of Business Venturing, Elsevier, vol. 33(4), pages 513-533.
    16. Tom Vanacker & Sophie Manigart, 2010. "Pecking order and debt capacity considerations for high-growth companies seeking financing," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 35(1), pages 53-69, July.
    17. Simon Kleinert & Christine Volkmann & Marc Grünhagen, 2020. "Third-party signals in equity crowdfunding: the role of prior financing," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 54(1), pages 341-365, January.
    18. Dave Valliere & Rein Peterson, 2007. "When entrepreneurs choose VCs: Experience, choice criteria and introspection accuracy," Venture Capital, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 9(4), pages 285-309, May.
    19. Einar Rasmussen & Roger Sørheim, 2012. "Obtaining early-stage financing for technology entrepreneurship: reassessing the demand-side perspective," Venture Capital, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 14(2-3), pages 77-89, February.
    20. Cassar, Gavin, 2004. "The financing of business start-ups," Journal of Business Venturing, Elsevier, vol. 19(2), pages 261-283, March.
    21. Breugst, Nicola & Patzelt, Holger & Rathgeber, Philipp, 2015. "How should we divide the pie? Equity distribution and its impact on entrepreneurial teams," Journal of Business Venturing, Elsevier, vol. 30(1), pages 66-94.
    22. Björn Berggren & Christer Olofsson & Lars Silver, 2000. "Control Aversion and The Search for External Financing in Swedish SMEs," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 15(3), pages 233-242, November.
    23. Drover, Will & Wood, Matthew S. & Fassin, Yves, 2014. "Take the money or run? Investors' ethical reputation and entrepreneurs' willingness to partner," Journal of Business Venturing, Elsevier, vol. 29(6), pages 723-740.
    24. Estrin, Saul & Gozman, Daniel & Khavul, Susanna, 2018. "The evolution and adoption of equity crowdfunding: entrepreneur and investor entry into a new market," LSE Research Online Documents on Economics 87351, London School of Economics and Political Science, LSE Library.
    25. Fairchild, Richard, 2011. "An entrepreneur's choice of venture capitalist or angel-financing: A behavioral game-theoretic approach," Journal of Business Venturing, Elsevier, vol. 26(3), pages 359-374, May.
    26. Vulkan, Nir & Åstebro, Thomas & Sierra, Manuel Fernandez, 2016. "Equity crowdfunding: A new phenomena," Journal of Business Venturing Insights, Elsevier, vol. 5(C), pages 37-49.
    27. Saul Estrin & Daniel Gozman & Susanna Khavul, 2018. "The evolution and adoption of equity crowdfunding: entrepreneur and investor entry into a new market," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 51(2), pages 425-439, August.
    28. Junge, Louise Bech & Laursen, Iben Cleveland & Nielsen, Kristian Roed, 2022. "Choosing crowdfunding: Why do entrepreneurs choose to engage in crowdfunding?," Technovation, Elsevier, vol. 111(C).
    29. Silvio Vismara, 2016. "Equity retention and social network theory in equity crowdfunding," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 46(4), pages 579-590, April.
    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. Magnus Schückes & Tobias Gutmann, 2021. "Why do startups pursue initial coin offerings (ICOs)? The role of economic drivers and social identity on funding choice," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 57(2), pages 1027-1052, August.
    2. Walthoff-Borm, Xavier & Schwienbacher, Armin & Vanacker, Tom, 2018. "Equity crowdfunding: First resort or last resort?," Journal of Business Venturing, Elsevier, vol. 33(4), pages 513-533.
    3. Saul Estrin & Susanna Khavul & Mike Wright, 2022. "Soft and hard information in equity crowdfunding: network effects in the digitalization of entrepreneurial finance," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 58(4), pages 1761-1781, April.
    4. Gheith, Mohamed Hani & Troise, Ciro & Battisti, Enrico & Christofi, Michael, 2025. "Determinants of entrepreneurs' intention to use crowdfunding in an emerging market," Technovation, Elsevier, vol. 143(C).
    5. Michael M. Moedl, 2021. "Two’s a company, three’s a crowd: Deal breaker terms in equity crowdfunding for prospective venture capital," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 57(2), pages 927-952, August.
    6. Simon Kleinert & Christine Volkmann & Marc Grünhagen, 2020. "Third-party signals in equity crowdfunding: the role of prior financing," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 54(1), pages 341-365, January.
    7. Vaznyte, Egle & Andries, Petra, 2019. "Entrepreneurial orientation and start-ups' external financing," Journal of Business Venturing, Elsevier, vol. 34(3), pages 439-458.
    8. Regan Stevenson & Sean R. McMahon & Chaim Letwin & Michael P. Ciuchta, 2022. "Entrepreneur fund-seeking: toward a theory of funding fit in the era of equity crowdfunding," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 58(4), pages 2061-2086, April.
    9. Michael E. Cummings & Hans Rawhouser & Silvio Vismara & Erin L. Hamilton, 2020. "An equity crowdfunding research agenda: evidence from stakeholder participation in the rulemaking process," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 54(4), pages 907-932, April.
    10. Nguyen, Thang & Cox, Joe & Rich, Judy, 2019. "Invest or regret? An empirical investigation into funding dynamics during the final days of equity crowdfunding campaigns," Journal of Corporate Finance, Elsevier, vol. 58(C), pages 784-803.
    11. Daniel Blaseg & Douglas Cumming & Michael Koetter, 2021. "Equity Crowdfunding: High-Quality or Low-Quality Entrepreneurs?," Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, , vol. 45(3), pages 505-530, May.
    12. Borello, Giuliana & De Crescenzo, Veronica & Pichler, Flavio, 2019. "Factors for success in European crowdinvesting," Journal of Economics and Business, Elsevier, vol. 106(C).
    13. 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.
    14. Mochkabadi, Kazem & Kleinert, Simon & Urbig, Diemo & Volkmann, Christine, 2024. "From distinctiveness to optimal distinctiveness: External endorsements, innovativeness and new venture funding," Journal of Business Venturing, Elsevier, vol. 39(1).
    15. Shabnam Kazembalaghi & Jerry Coakley & José M. Liñares-Zegarra & Silvio Vismara, 2025. "Digital equity and government support during COVID-19," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 64(4), pages 1679-1705, April.
    16. Rosangela Feola & Massimiliano Vesci & Ezio Marinato & Roberto Parente, 2021. "Segmenting “digital investors”: evidence from the Italian equity crowdfunding market," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 56(3), pages 1235-1250, February.
    17. Douglas Cumming & Satish Kumar & Weng Marc Lim & Nitesh Pandey, 2023. "Mapping the venture capital and private equity research: a bibliometric review and future research agenda," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 61(1), pages 173-221, June.
    18. Simon Kleinert & Kazem Mochkabadi, 2022. "Gender stereotypes in equity crowdfunding: the effect of gender bias on the interpretation of quality signals," The Journal of Technology Transfer, Springer, vol. 47(6), pages 1640-1661, December.
    19. Tom Vanacker & Sophie Manigart, 2010. "Pecking order and debt capacity considerations for high-growth companies seeking financing," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 35(1), pages 53-69, July.
    20. Sardo, Filipe & Serrasqueiro, Zélia & Armada, Manuel Rocha, 2022. "The importance of owner loans for rebalancing the capital structure of small knowledge-intensive service firms," Research in International Business and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 61(C).

    More about this item

    Keywords

    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;

    JEL classification:

    • G23 - Financial Economics - - Financial Institutions and Services - - - Non-bank Financial Institutions; Financial Instruments; Institutional Investors
    • 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:spr:jbecon:v:95:y:2025:i:4:d:10.1007_s11573-024-01211-w. 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: Sonal Shukla or Springer Nature Abstracting and Indexing (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.springer.com .

    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.