Harnessing the Crowd: The Demand-Side Dynamics of Equity Crowdfunding in Nascent Entrepreneurial Ventures

Equity crowdfunding has rapidly established itself as an important part of the funding landscape for entrepreneurial ventures. However, little is known about the ‘demand’ for equity crowdfunding. This paper reports on a large-scale study of UK equity crowdfunded firms. The study found strong demand for equity crowdfunding from entrepreneurs in consumer-focused, early stage firms. Many were ‘discouraged borrowers’, attracted by the ability to obtain finance quickly with little diminution in their equity or autonomy. Crowdfunding also seems to confer important intangible benefits to investee companies, in terms of firm valuation and product validation. Implications for theory and future research are outlined