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Crowdinvesting in entrepreneurial projects: Disentangling patterns of investor behavior

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  • Maximilian Goethner

    (FSU Jena)

  • Sebastian Luettig

    (FSU Jena)

  • Tobias Regner

    (FSU Jena)

Abstract

Crowdinvesting emerged recently as an alternative way of funding for start-up projects. Our dataset consists of all pledges made at Companisto, one of the largest crowdinvesting platforms in Europe. Using cluster analysis based on individual investment histories, we find that crowdinvestors differ in their investment strategies and motivations. We can distinguish three types of crowdinvestors that vary in their response to project quality signals of entrepreneurs, project-related information reducing the degree of uncertainty and social influence by fellow investors: Casual Investors, Crowd Enthusiasts, and Sophisticated Investors. We conclude that crowdinvestors are anything but a homogeneous group. Instead, they are motivated by different factors and respond to different signals when making investment decisions.

Suggested Citation

  • Maximilian Goethner & Sebastian Luettig & Tobias Regner, 2018. "Crowdinvesting in entrepreneurial projects: Disentangling patterns of investor behavior," Jena Economics Research Papers 2018-018, Friedrich-Schiller-University Jena.
    • Handle: RePEc:jrp:jrpwrp:2018-018
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    Cited by:

    1. Goethner, Maximilian & Hornuf, Lars & Regner, Tobias, 2021. "Protecting investors in equity crowdfunding: An empirical analysis of the small investor protection act," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 162(C).
    2. Lars Hornuf & Matthias Schmitt & Eliza Stenzhorn, 2022. "The local bias in equity crowdfunding: Behavioral anomaly or rational preference?," Journal of Economics & Management Strategy, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 31(3), pages 693-733, August.
    3. Sophie Pommet & Alexandra Rufini & Dominique Torre, 2024. "The role of lead investors in equity crowdfunding campaigns with a secondary market," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 63(1), pages 243-273, June.
    4. Julian Bafera & Simon Kleinert, 2023. "Signaling Theory in Entrepreneurship Research: A Systematic Review and Research Agenda," Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, , vol. 47(6), pages 2419-2464, November.
    5. Joern H. Block & Alexander Groh & Lars Hornuf & Tom Vanacker & Silvio Vismara, 0. "The entrepreneurial finance markets of the future: a comparison of crowdfunding and initial coin offerings," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 0, pages 1-18.
    6. Camilla Civardi & Andrea Moro & Joakim Winborg, 2024. "“All that glitters is not gold!”: The (Unexplored) Determinants of Equity Crowdfunding," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 63(1), pages 299-324, June.
    7. Joern H. Block & Alexander Groh & Lars Hornuf & Tom Vanacker & Silvio Vismara, 2021. "The entrepreneurial finance markets of the future: a comparison of crowdfunding and initial coin offerings," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 57(2), pages 865-882, August.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Crowdinvesting; Entrepreneurial finance; New ventures; Cluster analysis; Social influence; Signaling;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • G23 - Financial Economics - - Financial Institutions and Services - - - Non-bank Financial Institutions; Financial Instruments; Institutional Investors
    • G41 - Financial Economics - - Behavioral Finance - - - Role and Effects of Psychological, Emotional, Social, and Cognitive Factors on Decision Making in Financial Markets
    • L26 - Industrial Organization - - Firm Objectives, Organization, and Behavior - - - Entrepreneurship

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