Crowdfunding - an alternative method of financing

U današnje vrijeme, kojeg posebno obilježava obilata dostupnost informacija, dolazi do velikog napretka u pogledu kreativnosti i inovacija. Međutim velika količina tih ideja ne dolazi do izražaja, najvećim djelom zbog manjka sredstava kojih bi potencijalni inovatori mogli ostvariti putem tradicionalnih izvora financiranja. Kao svojevrstan odgovor tome „nastao“ je crowdfunding, kakvog znamo danas. Ovaj način financiranja pružio je novim poduzetnicima priliku ostvarivanja svojih ideja, planova i vizija kroz alternativnu sferu financiranja, naročito u posljednjih nekoliko godina. U radu će se istaknuti način funkcioniranja crowfundinga, njegove prednosti i nedostaci u usporedbi s ostalim načinima financiranja. Također će se analizirati zastupljenost crowfundinga u Republici Hrvatskoj te zaključiti može li navedeni oblik financiranja biti adekvatna alternativa klasičnom financiranju.In modern times, that are especially characterised by an abundance of available information, there have been many advancements in terms of creativity and innovation. However, a large amount of those ideas is not affirmed, mostly because of a lack of funds available to potential investors through traditional sources of financing. As an answer, crowdfunding as we know it today, was created. This method of financing has given entrepreneurs a chance to realize their ideas, plans and visions through an alternative sphere of financing, especially in the last few years. In this paper, the way crowdfunding works and its strong points and shortcomings will be explained, as well as a analysis of the presence of crowdfunding in the Republic of Croatia in an attempt to conclude whether it can be an adequate substitute for classic sources of financing